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NFL Wild Card Game Preview, Odds & Picks: Packers vs. Cowboys (Sunday)

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Two of the NFL's most storied franchises will square off Sunday afternoon in a game that will help shape the narrative around both of these teams and both of these quarterbacks. It's somewhat of a revenge spot for Cowboys' head coach Mike McCarthy after a successful tenure in Green Bay that didn't end on the greatest note. Green Bay brings in young quarterback Jordan Love in his first playoff start, but can he live up to the standard set by Packer quarterbacks before him? Let's take a deeper look at the matchup.

Wild Card Game Preview: Green Bay Packers at Dallas Cowboys

(Odds courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook.)

The Cowboys have won 16 consecutive home games dating back to Week 1 of last season. They've done so by relying on an opportune pass defense that has been adept at creating turnovers. This will be a key matchup against the Packers as QB Jordan Love has thrown 10 of his 11 interceptions in their eight losses this season but threw only one in the last eight weeks of the season. If the Cowboys can force Love into turnover-worthy throws, it could be a long day for the Packers.

The big question at hand here is whether or not the Packers can slow down this Dallas offense. Defensively, the Packers struggled mightily stopping both the run and the pass. They ranked 26th in DVOA in both facets. This is a defense that in the month of December gave up 34 points to the Buccaneers then followed it up by giving up 30 to the Panthers. They finished with impressive showings against the Vikings and Bears, but both of those offenses sit in the bottom third of offensive production per DVOA.

Dallas will hope to not have to rely solely on Dak Prescott, Ceedee Lamb, and the passing game. However, the rushing results this season haven't been impressive. Although Tony Pollard did eclipse 1,000 yards on the season, he only produced one game with 80 or more. Both he and Rico Dowdle will be needed to take pressure off of Dak and the passing game against the sixth-ranked sack-rate defense in Green Bay.

There are two key factors in this game. Can the Cowboys force Jordan Love into committing turnovers? Can the Dallas run game get going against a putrid Packer run defense? If the answer is yes to both, Dallas should win this game somewhat comfortably. If not, Dallas should still be able to score in bunches, but Green Bay will too. A shootout in Dallas is brewing on Sunday afternoon.

Pick: Over 50.5 (-110)

Make sure to check out our other best bets for Saturday:


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