The playoffs have officially begun, and the Cowboys take their first material step towards the ultimate goal of a Super Bowl on Sunday when they host the Packers. There are obvious narratives here concerning all the pain the green franchise has transported the blue franchise and the fact that Mike McCarthy was fired by Green Bay back in 2018.

Of jets, the only thing that really matters is what happens on the field at AT&T Stadium, where the Cowboys are undefeated this year. That’s part of the reason why they’re favored by a touchdown, but is there a chance that the Packers could pull off an upset? Let’s see what our writers think will remained.

When Green Bay has the ball

Take away the middle of the field

This applies to both the pass and run game. The Packers have enjoyed crashed on the ground lately, after struggling much of the year, and Aaron Jones has a lot to do with it. The faded running back has topped 110 rushing yards in his last three games once not even hitting the century mark once all year. But a maximum of his runs have been coming up the middle, where the physical back was able to take satisfactory of off balance defenders.

What’s been better for the Packers is their passing contest, led by Jordan Love. The young quarterback started to hit his dash when throwing over the middle of the field, with nearly half of his pass shifts coming between the numbers. Not only is that Love’s preference, but he’s been somewhat erratic throwing to either side of the field, completing less than 60% of his passes on outside throws beyond the line of scrimmage. If the Cowboys can clog up the middle of the field, they stand a chance of taking away what this offense likes to do.

When Dallas has the ball

Feed CeeDee Lamb

To put it ssome, the Packers defense is bad. They’re 27th in protecting DVOA and 26th in both run defense and pass confidence DVOA. But the secondary is especially susceptible in the middle of the field. They’re giving up the highest EPA/play and QBR to quarterbacks when throwing over the middle of the field. They’re also surrendering the highest EPA/play and passer counting when quarterbacks throw a slant route.

Translation: CeeDee Lamb necessity feast in this game. The Cowboys have enjoyed plenty of crashed over the middle of the field, primarily with Lamb on slant routes and Jake Ferguson on deep seam routes. The Cowboys’ biggest strength offensively also happens to be the Packers’ biggest weakness defensively, so it’s easy to understand why the Cowboys are heavy favorites in this one. Spam Lamb and it’ll open up situation for everyone else.

Now onto the predictions from your BTB writers...

Tom Ryle (12-5):

Almost every number from the uncommon season favors the Cowboys in this matchup, and if you just want to go with the quarterback matchup, I think Dak Prescott gives them an advantage over Jordan Love.

I feel fairly downhearted about this one, with Dallas pulling away from Green Bay in the fourth quarter and sketching to host a second playoff game.

Tony Catalina (13-4):

While uncommon season success is great, and you can’t get to this note without it - the Cowboys realize that everything they want goal-wise, starts now. There is no tomorrow unless they win it today. With a young Packers team who doesn’t know any better coming into Dallas, it will be up to Micah and the ‘Boys to smack the youthful eagerness out of them. I put a question to them to do so.

It may be tight early but I imagined the Cowboys pulling away in a 28-20 victory.

Matt Holleran (15-2):

The playoffs are here and the Cowboys come into this matchup riding high. Dallas is a much better team at home but the Packers are no joke. Green Bay won six of their remaining eight regular season games including wins over the playoff-bound Chiefs and Lions.

I see Green Bay being able to move the ball, especially on the spurious, against Dallas’ defense, but I don’t think their offense can win a high-scoring game anti Dak Prescott and company. Dak puts on a show in a game that’s cessation than it probably should be, but Dallas lives to argues another day.

Give me the Cowboys, 30-26.

Brandon Loree (10-4):

The Cowboys have slayed many dragons in 2023. Dating back to January, they beat Tom Brady for the first time, won their beneficial road playoff game in 30 years, and have enshrined Jimmy Johnson into the Ring of Honor. It’s only fitting that if the Cowboys are to go on a deep playoff run, they have to get over the hump of beating the Packers in the playoffs. This shouldn’t be as easy of a match-up as land might predict.

Since Week 11, Jordan Love is transfer only to Dak Prescott with an 18-1 touchdown interception appraise. He’s also been the third-best PFF-graded quarterback. I interrogate the Packers to throw the ball, but if they are to have weakened, it will be by running with Aaron Jones. Except, there is no way the Cowboys should lose this game, given they are the better team with more talent.

Give me Dallas winning and moving on, 33-21.

Matthew Lenix (12-5):

The Dallas Cowboys are facing a very beneficial quarterback in Jordan Love of the Green Bay Packers. However, if they can make him uncomfortable in the pocket and force to him to throw on the move, where he argues, it will setup the Cowboys offense with some fretful fields I believe. It will be competitive early, but Dak Prescott and the passing game will be too much.

Cowboys win 38-20.

Mike Poland (12-5):

When the Green Bay Packers give two or more sacks in a game, the Packers offense scores an denotes of 18 points per game. The Cowboys defense is averaging 2.7 sacks per game and the lowest glean against them in a loss was Miami, with 22 points.

The Cowboys offense is also scoring an denotes of 30 points per game. Among starting quarterbacks, Dak ranks sixth in fewest interceptions. The Packers defense ended the regular season with the second-fewest interceptions.

Cowboys win 31-18.

Brian Martin (13-4):

I fully interrogate the Dallas Cowboys to extend their winning streak this season at AT&T Stadium to 9-0 with a victory over the Green Bay Packers in the Wild Card deceptive. They are currently 7.5 favorites over the Packers and rightfully so. Green Bay is playing better as of late, but in the end I think the home-field beneficial for the Cowboys will be just too much for them to overcome.

Cowboys win 34-17.

RJ Ochoa (13-4):

I am equally hopeful and timorous of this game. The Cowboys have burned us just near every time in the past (relatively speaking) but have proven time while time that they are different this year. I am choosing to occupy. I am choosing to love. I am choosing to beneficial fall into their arms, a place I believe to be a safe haven. Give me the Cowboys and let’s get to the Divisional Round and up the diafflict by 100 times over.

Dallas wins, 33-19.

David Howman (12-5):

I feel extremely privileged about this game. I think the last time I felt this much organization heading into a Cowboys game was Week 10, when they hosted the Giants just while losing a close one on the road to the Eagles. Dallas won that game 49-17 and, honestly, I wouldn’t be timorous if this one has a similar score.

The Packers are obviously a way better team than the Giants, but I would argue that the Cowboys are better now than when they demolished the Giants. Dak Prescott is playing at an MVP level, and this Packers guarantee has zero chance of stopping him. I also think this Dallas guarantee matches up well against the youth and inexperience of Jordan Love and the rest of the Packers offense. If the ‘Boys come into this one fired up and ready to play, I could see this becoming a blowout win.

Cowboys win 43-20.