Green Bay Packers (+7) at Dallas Cowboys: After getting whipped at home in Week 8 against my Vikings, the Packers were 2-5 and a non-factor in the NFC North. In listening to the Packers postgame show on WTMJ that Sunday, the general sentiment among callers was to clean house and perhaps look to find a different QB because Jordan Love ain't it (to be fair, sports radio callers are not necessarily an accurate representation of an entire fan base). Turns out, this current collection of front office, coaches and players seem legit. While this was supposed to be a rebuilding year for GB with Love in his first season as a full time starter, the Pack showed some flashes in getting to 9-8 and earning a playoff berth.
Green Bay's reward is to take on the most dominant home team in the NFL this season in the Dallas Cowboys. While QB Dak Prescott has been solid on the road, he's played at an MVP level at Jerry World AT&T Stadium. Dallas went 8-0 at home, winning by an average margin of close to 22 points per game.
The combo of Prescott to WR CeeDee Lamb (135 catches, 1,749 yards and 12 TDs in the regular season) will be a tall order for the Packers pass defense to slow down. And given the Pack has a porous run defense, RB Tony Pollard has a chance to make some serious hay. I also expect the Cowboys' stud pass rusher Micah Parsons to become well acquainted with Love all game.
The Packers are in a good position here, given they have a legit "no one expected us to be here" mindset. As such, they won't exactly be feeling immense pressure. I suspect they'll make it close for a while, particularly if they pound RB Aaron Jones against a mediocre Cowboys run defense. However, Dallas will pull away in the second half.
Dallas 35 Green Bay 21
Los Angeles Rams (+3) at Detroit Lions: After having spent the first 12 seasons of his NFL career with the Lions, Matthew Stafford returns to Ford Field as quarterback of the Rams.
L.A. stumbled into their bye week at 3-6, but ended the season winning seven of their final eight contests (the only blemish was an OT loss in Baltimore against the AFC's top seeded Ravens). When Stafford guided the Rams to a Super Bowl title in this first season with the club, many surmised he'd be content to ride off into the sunset. Ah, but Stafford's play this season suggests he'd like to solidify his Hall of Fame credentials by snagging a second championship ring.
The Lions came into 2023 with actual expectations, a scenario that has rarely occurred over the past half century. But Detroit fulfilled those hopes with a 12-win season, the most victories they've had since that 1991 campaign when they last won a playoff game. In fact, that '91 postseason win was the only playoff game they've won over the past sixty five years.
Jared Goff, the key piece in the Stafford trade three years ago, was thought to be a mere placeholder at QB for the Lions. But this year Goff threw for more than 4,500 yards this year as well as 30 TDs. While the Lions' passing game has been great, their pass D is near the bottom. That bodes well for both their current and former quarterbacks.
If you like offense, this game's for you.
Los Angeles 38 Detroit 35
--------------------------------------------------------
No comments:
Post a Comment