5 Packers’ Players To Watch Against The Cowboys

 

It’s a no-brainer that Jordan Love has to shine Sunday if the Green Bay Packers hope to upset the Dallas Cowboys.

And considering the Packers’ quarterback has thrown 18 touchdown passes and just one interception in the last eight games, there’s a good chance Love continues to excel.But that might not be enough.

Dallas is one of the NFL’s elite teams. The Cowboys are 8-0 at home this year with an average victory margin of 21.5 points per game. And Dallas is currently favored by 7.5 points.

So the Packers will need difference-makers all over the field. Here are three players that must shine for Green Bay to shock the Cowboys

1. Jaire Alexander, CB

It’s been largely a lost year for Alexander, the NFL’s highest-paid cornerback.

Alexander played in just seven games this season due to shoulder and back injuries, as well as a one-game suspension for insubordination.

Even when he did play, Alexander didn’t perform like the Pro Bowl player he once was. His tackling has been subpar, he doesn’t have an interception and he’s posted just five pass breakups.

Alexander can make everyone forget his disappointing regular season, though, with a big postseason.

Dallas’ CeeDee Lamb has been the best wideout in football this year, with 135 receptions, 1,749 yards and 12 touchdowns. In Lamb’s last two games alone, he caught 26 passes for 325 yards and three scores.

If Alexander follows Lamb — and can keep him from going wild — the Packers’ defense has a chance to succeed.

“The guy’s a playmaker,” Dallas quarterback Dak Prescott said of Lamb. “You’ve got to stretch the field, and I think we do that, show that we’re going to do to that, it allows everything to come off of that.”

2. Aaron Jones, RB

When Jones excels, so do the Packers.

There are four games this season in which Jones has 100-plus total yards — including the last three contests. The Packers are 4-0 in those contests.

Jones has enjoyed remarkable success against Dallas during his career.

He had 134 total yards and a touchdown during a 2017 win. He had 182 total yards and four TDs during a 2019 win. And last season, Jones had 156 total yards and a touchdown in another Green Bay win.

In all, Jones is 3-0 against the Cowboys. He’s carried the ball 62 times for 370 yards (6.0), has 11 receptions for 102 yards (9.3) and six total touchdowns.

“He’s gone for over 100 yards the past couple of weeks, which is something that’s not easy to do,” Green Bay quarterback Jordan Love said. “So it gives our whole offense a big boost when you can run the ball, get other guys in there and then obviously it helps the passing game out.”

“When you can run the ball the way he runs the ball, it just sets up more opportunities for everybody else. He’s just a phenomenal player, you know, love to have him out there.”

3. Kenny Clark, DE

The Packers moved Clark from nose tackle to defensive end this year and he responded with one of the best seasons of his terrific eight-year career.

Clark had a career-high 7.5 sacks, and his 16 quarterback hits were the second-most of his career.

Dallas quarterback Dak Prescott has had an MVP-level season, leading the NFL with 36 touchdown passes and throwing for 4,516 yards. Prescott isn’t the same player, though, when he’s forced to leave the pocket and throw on the run.

Clark should be primarily matched up with Dallas’ underwhelming right tackle Terrence Steele, who’s allowed eight sacks and has seven penalties. If Clark can dominate that matchup and make Prescott uncomfortable, it could make life tricky for the Cowboys’ passing game.

“They’ve been able to make a bunch of explosive plays,” LaFleur said of the Cowboys’ offense. “They’re scoring at a high rate. I just think a lot of it comes down to how well the quarterback’s playing.”

4-5. Rasheed Walker, LT and Zach Tom, RT

Dallas edge rusher Micah Parsons is arguably the best in the business at his position.

Parsons led the NFL with 103 quarterback pressures in 2023 and finished seventh in sacks with 14.0.

Dallas will move Parsons all over the field, looking for matchups to exploit. But he does most of his work off the edges, meaning Green Bay’s tackle tandem of Rasheed Walker and Zach Tom will be put to the test often.

Tom has had a sensational second season, allowing just two sacks in 1,068 snaps. Walker has improved throughout the year, but he has also allowed six sacks and nine penalties in 851 snaps.

That means Parsons might line up over Walker more than Tom.

“I think ‘Sheed’s done a pretty good job,” Packers coach Matt LaFleur said of Walker. “I still think what’s exciting about Sheed is there’s still room for a lot of improvement, I would tell you. But I think all in all he’s handled himself well and he’s going to continue to get better the more he plays.”