The Packers’ Week 6 matchup with the Cowboys arrives with Green Bay’s defense taking hit after hit, and that’s forcing the burden onto Jordan Love and the offense.
Green Bay comes in riding two straight wins, but the path to a third may have to run through a side of the ball that’s suddenly thin. Two weeks ago, linebacker Edgerrin Cooper tore his Achilles, a major blow to both the linebacker group and the defense overall. Then, in last week’s 31-7 win over the Chicago Bears, Javon Hargrave also tore his Achilles in what was effectively garbage time.
The injuries don’t stop there. Nose tackle Jonathan Ford is on injured reserve with a calf issue, leaving the defensive line even more stretched.
On top of that, cornerbacks Keisean Nixon and Brandon Cisse are dealing with groin and hip injuries, respectively. The result is a Packers defense that’s heading into a matchup with little room for error.
That makes the offense even more important, especially with Dallas capable of putting up points in a hurry. Green Bay saw how wild this series can get last year, when the teams played to a 40-40 tie.
The encouraging sign for the Packers is that their last outing looked a lot like the version of the offense people expected before the season. Against Chicago, Green Bay was rolling for long stretches. Love was pushing the ball deep, MarShawn Lloyd found the end zone twice, and the team kept its foot on the gas even after grabbing a lead.
Jordan Love's numbers vs. Cowboys in two career games
Passes
47/64
Completion %
73.4%
Yards
609
TDs
6
INTs
0
Passer rating
134.2
Outside of a rough second quarter, the Packers controlled the game on offense. If they can bring that kind of rhythm again Sunday night, they’ll give themselves a real chance against a Cowboys team that’s coming off a tough loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
The Packers don’t just need offense this week - they need the offense to set the tone. Love has already had success against Dallas, and Green Bay’s best route to a 4-2 record is to keep that level of play going. If the consistency slips, the margin gets a lot thinner, fast.
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Packers Defense Suddenly Looks Thin At The Worst Possible Time
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The problems are most pronounced in the secondary, where the Packers can least afford to be stretched thin. Keisean Nixon is expected to play, but Brandon Cisse remains questionable, along with defensive tackle Anthony Campbell and wide receiver Savion Williams, so Green Bay is still waiting on a few key decisions before kickoff. [Read more 🡒]
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The projections for the game lean into that idea, with Green Bays edge rush and ground game viewed as the clearest paths to control. A breakout night from one young pass rusher would go a long way toward changing the feel of the matchup, and the same can be said for a tight end who has already become a steady part of the offense. If the Packers are going to come out on top, they may need both of those elements to show up in a hurry. [Read more 🡒]