The Green Bay Packers (9-8) will go on the road to play the Dallas Cowboys (12-5) in the NFC Wild Card Round on Sunday at AT&T Stadium. The Packers and Cowboys are both in the playoffs for an NFL-high 36th time, and Sunday’s showdown between Green Bay and Dallas will mark the ninth all-time in the postseason, tying the NFL record for playoff meetings between two teams.
Can the Packers upset the Cowboys as touchdown underdogs on Sunday and earn a trip to San Francisco to play the top-seeded 49ers?
Here's how the staff at Packers Wire believes the wildcard round showdown with the Cowboys will go down:
Zach Kruse (9-8): Cowboys 31, Packers 24
I certainly think the Packers can win, and there is a clear path to victory for Matt LaFleur’s team, but the Packers must play at a very, very high level to accomplish the task Sunday. The NFC East champion Cowboys have the edge at quarterback, at the line of scrimmage, in the turnover battle, situationally and on special teams, and they are the healthier team and playing at home, where Dallas has won 16 straight games. The Packers must dominate in the run game, play turnover free and get a hugely disruptive performance from the defensive front to escape Dallas with the upset win. They are capable, especially given the way they finished the season. The run game came alive, Jordan Love has played at increasingly high level and hasn’t thrown the ball away, and the big dogs up front on defense have gotten after the quarterback. Still, the guess here is that at least one part of the winning equation goes sideways and the young Packers aren’t able to overcome it against a veteran football team that has won a lot of games in recent years and is pushing for bigger things. An upset win would be historic (no No. 7 seed has won a playoff game). The experience will be invaluable either way.
Brandon Carwile (8-9): Cowboys 31, Packers 24
I’d be more confident in picking Green Bay if I knew Jaire Alexander and Christian Watson were going to play. Alexander vs. CeeDee Lamb would have been an awesome matchup, but the Packers corner’s status is up in the air after suffering a freak ankle injury in practice. Meanwhile, Watson hasn’t played since Week 13 and it may be in everyone’s best interest to shelf him until next season. Still, it would be nice to see what Watson could do in Dallas after his breakout performance there last year (four catches for 107 yards and three touchdowns). In the end, even if Green Bay doesn’t win, this season has been a massive success. They have their franchise quarterback and are maybe a couple of safeties away from being a complete team. I predict a strong outing from Jordan Love, but the defense is unable to get enough stops against a Cowboys offense that has been virtually unstoppable at home.
Paul Bretl (7-10): Packers 27, Cowboys 24
Call it a gut feeling. Maybe a little blind faith in a young team that has embraced the underdog role, but feel like the Packers pull this one out somehow. Doing so on offense is going to require a big day from Aaron Jones, with the ground game proving to be a path to victory for several of Dallas’ previous opponents this season. Success on the ground should open up opportunities in the passing game, take away at least some of the bite from the Cowboys’ pass rush, and help the Packers defense out by allowing Green Bay to control the clock. On the other side of the ball, I’m not sure what the exact path to victory is going to look like, this is a very difficult matchup, but it’s going to have to consist of the Packers creating pressures and sacks – something they’ve done well as of late – along with generating a turnover or maybe even two.
Brennen Rupp (9-8): Cowboys 41, Packers 27
They made it (Joker voice). Yes, I know that’s not the exact quote. After losing four straight games to bring their overall record to 2-5, it’s amazing that the Green Bay Packers, boasting a bunch of baby faces made it to the playoffs. That tells you a lot about the grit and never-say-die attitude that this young core possesses. Count this season as a success. Now they are playing with house money. Jordan Love and the young offense will score points in this one, I just have concerns about the defense slowing down Dak Prescott & Co. With Jaire Alexander’s status in doubt, it’s hard to imagine Green Bay’s defense slowing them down. It will be a track meet and ultimately the Cowboys will pull away, putting an end to Joe Barry’s tenure in Green Bay.
Season prediction records
| Writer | Record | Prediction | Score |
| Zach Kruse | 9-8 | Loss | 31-24 |
| Brandon Carwile | 8-9 | Loss | 31-24 |
| Paul Bretl | 7-10 | Win | 27-24 |
| Brennen Rupp | 9-8 | Loss | 41-27 |
