Sunday night is a good night for NFL fans as heavyweights Dallas Cowboys take on the Green Bay Packers. Both teams currently sit second in their respective divisions with the Cowboys one win behind the Philadelphia Eagles and the Packers on the same record as the Detroit Lions, but that could all change in round 5 of the NFL this week.
It might only be early in the season, but losing this game will put either team on the back foot. Punters are loving the match-up this week and bookmakers seem split on which team should be favoured. The Cowboys have home ground advantage which is likely why they are the slight favourites at the time of writing, but the Packers bring in some loyal fans and they will no doubt be betting this game with passion. It’s a great late Sunday evening game to have on the cards and it will be the highlight game this round of the NFL.
Dallas Cowboys form
The Dallas Cowboys have been inconsistent this season to say the least. They started out strong in round 1 with a win over the New York Giants, but were quickly brought back down to earth with a 42-17 loss to the Denver Broncos. A stronger defensive effort was evident when they defeated the Arizona Cardinals at home, but what looked like a turning point in the season was anything but.
They lost poorly to the L.A. Rams which scored them through the air with rookie quarterback Jared Goff and that’s not a good sign. Many bettors believe the Cowboys defense is one of the best in the league, but they’re giving up more points that they are scoring (24.3 – 23.5) and that’s a sign of a bad team.
Second-year QB Dak Prescott is having an indifferent season with eight touchdowns and three intercepts, but surprisingly he’s not getting the same pocket time as he did last season. The Cowboys offensive line is considered the best in the league, but they’ve been put on their heels this season.
Running back Ezekiel Elliot has scored only two touchdowns in what has been a troubled season on and off the field. If the Cowboys are to win, Elliott needs to be at his electrifying best. The Cowboys will be hoping to turn around a 31-34 defeat to the Packers last season in the playoffs, but they were winners at Lambeau Field in 2016 when winning by 30-16.
Green Bay Packers form
Green Bay have a knack of winning games they shouldn’t, and they do it in exciting fashion. The Cowboys’ fans will have last year’s hail mary playoff win fresh in their mind, but the Packers just go about their business as if it happens every week – because it almost does. The Packers pulled off a stunning comeback win against the Bengals two weeks ago when quarterback Aaron Rodgers lead them down the field on multiple occasions in the second half. It’s their ability to come back from any position which makes them tough to beat and they have since padded that victory with an easy win over the Chicago Bears.
Rodgers might not have the same offensive weapons to throw to as other teams have, but he makes do with what he’s got on offer and average players step up in his presence. The Packers have scored 25.5 points per game which is a good average and most of the damage is done through the air. They have rushed for only 74.5 yards per game this season, but that won’t worry this pass-happy team. Everyone knows they win games by passing the ball and the Cowboys secondary is nothing to speak highly of.
Cowboys vs. Packers betting tip
The Packers match up extremely well against the Cowboys this week, despite playing away from home. The Cowboys rely heavily on their rushing defense and offense, but the Packers will target their weak secondary through the air and the Cowboys running game has been average so far this season.
The bright lights of Dallas might put off some of the Packers players, but captain Aaron Rodgers has seen it all before and he’s due another five-star performance for the MVP candidate. Packers bettors are getting 11/10 for them to win outright and that’s our tip this week. The Packers could win this game by double digits to give the home team something to think about.