Packers GameDay: Five things to watch, stats, predictions.
MOUNTAIN MEN: When these two teams met at Lambeau Field last year, Cowboys defensive end David Irving dominated. In 19 snaps, the 6-7 1⁄2, 290-pound Irving registered three forced fumbles, four tackles and a sack. Irving missed the first four games of the season while serving a suspension for PEDs, but he returns this week and is expected to play. Don’t be surprised if the Cowboys employ Irving inside instead of at the end position opposite NFL sack leader DeMarcus Lawrence. Irving’s huge wing span could cause quarterback Aaron Rodgers problems getting the ball over the middle. Watching center Corey Linsley and left guard Lane Taylor – or Lucas Patrick if David Bakhtiari doesn’t start – give up four inches to Irving could make for an interesting day. RANDALL OR ROLLINS? The Packers have been getting away with using safeties Morgan Burnett and Josh Jones as the slot corners in their nickel and dime packages, but they might have to employ a corner there Sunday because of Cowboys receiver Cole Beasley. The 5-8, 180-pound Beasley is too quick for Burnett and Jones and probably will need to be handled with a cornerback, particularly in man-to-man coverage. Beasley has just 11 catches for 86 yards this season, but he had 10 catches for 103 yards and two touchdowns in two games against the Packers last season. Randall is quicker than Rollins, but coming off his meltdown in the Chicago game, he’s not exactly reliable. Another option would be Josh Hawkins. MORE MIKE: There’s never a time that defensive tackle Mike Daniels wants to come out of the game and after the better part of the last three games due to a hip injury he’s going to be politicking for extensive playing time. However, defensive line coach Mike Trgovac isn’t going to let him overdo it Sunday. In fact, Trgovac doesn’t want him to overdo it at all, so that Daniels is fresh in the latter stages of the season. He would like to get him on the field more on third downs, so he may have to rely more on Quinton Dial and Dean Lowry on early downs. BACK TO BACK TO BACK: With starting running back Ty Montgomery (broken ribs) doubtful, the weight of the running game and backfield protection will fall on rookies Jamaal Williams, Aaron Jones and Devante Mays. It’s likely all three will be active. The question is who’s going to carry the load? Coach Mike McCarthy admitted he didn’t get his young backs enough carries in the exhibition season, but he said he’s not concerned now. “I feel like I know all three of the young guys as far as how we want to play them,” he said. Jones has the best chance of getting double-digit carries based on his production against Chicago (13 carries for 49 yards and a touchdown). McCarthy was impressed with what Jones added after Montgomery and Williams (knee) went out with injuries. One big consideration for McCarthy is pass protection. Williams has the edge over the other rookies in that department. ZEKE-D: If anyone knows how tough it is to stop Dallas running back Ezekiel Elliott it’s the Packers. In two games last year, he carried 50 times for 282 yards (5.64 average). The one thing the Packers did do well was keep him from breaking off a long touchdown run. He did not score in either game and his longest rush was 29 yards. Elliott is averaging only 3.6 yards per carry this year and his longest run is 30 yards. You can bet it will be a Cowboys priority to get him started Sunday. The Cowboys’ offensive line could be without left tackle Tyron Smith (back) and left guard Chaz Green (hip), but either way, the combination of an excellent blocking scheme and three Pro Bowl linemen make the running game hard to stop.