NFL Week 10 Pick: Cowboys vs Packers

Sunday, November 15th –;Lambeau Field – Green Bay, WI

A month ago, the Dallas Cowboys were a team in search of an identity. Now, the Cowboys haven’t just found an identity; they’ve discovered a winning persona. A gut-check 20-16 win in Philadelphia lifted coach Wade Phillips’ team to the top of the NFC East. The best feature of Dallas’ winning streak has been quarterback Tony Romo’s combination of patience and discipline. By merely avoiding big mistakes, Romo is allowing a fire-breathing defense, led by an amped-up DeMarcus Ware, to intimidate opposing quarterbacks and influence games. A disciplined Tony Romo means bad news for NFC opponents, and that’s the last thing the reeling Green Bay Packers want to hear. After handing the Tampa Bay Buccaneers their first win of 2009 last weekend, the Pack Attack must regroup in a hurry if it wants to merely be somewhat competitive on home turf.;

NFL Handicapping: What The Cowboys Have To Do To Win;

Don’t try to do too much. As long as this Tony Romo – on display over the past few weeks – continues to show up, opponents such as Green Bay shouldn’t give Dallas too much trouble. The Cowboys’ front four is hammering opponents by pushing upfield in passing situations and clogging holes in short-yardage rushing situations. Romo is learning to be more of a distributor and less of a playmaker; he’s making the proper reads and is accepting the need to throw to his check-down option when downfield receivers are covered. This isn’t sexy, and perhaps that’s hard to stomach for fans of the NFL’s most visible franchise, but it wins games and makes the Cowboys that much more of a factor in the NFC race. As long as Romo continues to resist the urge to throw passes into tight windows against double coverage, Dallas should continue to beat mediocre foes, inside and outside its conference.;

NFL Handicapping: What The Packers Have To Do To Win

Make sure Aaron Rodgers stays alive. Green Bay’s offensive line has been a sieve all season long. Through eight games, the 4-4 Packers have allowed 37 sacks, the worst total in the NFL. This past Sunday against Tampa Bay, Rodgers –; receiving pass protection far worse than anything Brett Favre had to deal with in Titletown U.S.A. – was sacked six times. The Buccaneers pounded Rodgers into submission, forcing the panicky quarterback to throw the ball inaccurately and prematurely. The results were predictably awful: Rodgers tossed three interceptions, the last one turning into a game-sealing pick-six by Tampa’s Tanard Jackson in the final minute of regulation. Green Bay walked away from Raymond James Stadium with a 38-28 defeat, a heap of humiliation… and a lot of bruises on Aaron Rodgers’ body

Against Dallas’;thriving front four, it will be a tremendous challenge for Green Bay to limit the Cowboys to fewer than five sacks. If the Packers can allow just two or three sacks, and find pass protection and blitz pickup schemes that can facilitate downfield passing, they have a shot. If the guys in green jerseys can’t fend off the Dallas pass rush, it’s all over at Lambeau Field.