The Matchup: To slow the Cowboys’ big-play passing attack, the Packers need big games from Kampman and Gbaja-Biamila. Romo is difficult to sack, gets good protection and has great escapability. Gbaja-Biamila is one of the game’s best 3rd-down speed rushers and Kampman is a savvy defensive end who uses speed, intelligence and an array of moves to confound slow right tackle Marc Colombo.
Romo is excellent on the move and he will not be an easy target in the pocket. Since the Cowboys also have a productive running game, look for Romo to lean on the ground attack and roll out passes in the early going. Once the running game is established, Romo should be able to take over with his pinpoint accuracy.
Key stats
Romo: 223-of-352 for 3,043 yards with 29 TDs and 13 interceptions
Kampman\" 51 tackles, 11.0 sacks, 1 forced fumble, 1 fumble recovery
Gbaja-Biamila: 22 tackles, 9.5 sacks, 2 forced fumbles
Edge: Even."; spt_NFL_matchup[i++] = new Array("","Barber, Jones vs. Barnett, Hawk","Cowboys running back Marion Barber scores.","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/msnbc/Components/Photos/070912/070912_nflcollision_vlrg_8a.vmedium.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "left", "Matt Slocum", "AP", "236", "198", "#000000", "", "", "", ""); spt_NFL_matchup[i-1].body = "Cowboys backs Marion Barber and Julius Jones vs. Packers linebackers Nick Barnett and A.J. Hawk
The Matchup: The Cowboys figure to have a significant advantage over Green Bay here. Barber is a tough, hard-nosed runner who gains tough yards. He also has enough speed to run away from tacklers. Jones is the Cowboys’ speed back, but he is not limited to running outside. He can make positive plays inside as well. But when the game is on the line Barber will get the call.
League scouts like Barnett, who may be the league’s most underrated player. He is an excellent and passionate tackler who diagnoses plays well and gets to the running back quickly. Hawk has tremendous athletic ability and has become a major force in his second year. If the Packers are going to come up with the road win, Barnett and Hawk are going to have to contain Barber and Jones.
Key stats
Barber: 145 carries for 715 yards, 7 TDs
Jones 124 carries for 495 yards, 2 TDs
Barnett 91 tackles, 1.5 sacks, 2 interceptions, 1 fumble recover
Hawk 72 tackles, 1 interception, 1 fumble recovery
Edge: Barber and Jones."; spt_NFL_matchup[i++] = new Array("","Owens, Witten vs. Woodson, Harris","Terrell Owens","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/msnbc/Components/Photo_StoryLevel/071118/071118_cowboysSkins_vlg5p.vmedium.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "left", "Ronald Martinez", "Getty Images", "265", "198", "#000000", "", "", "", ""); spt_NFL_matchup[i-1].body = "Cowboys receiver Terrell Owens and tight end Jason Witten vs. Packers cornerbacks Charles Woodson and Al Harris
The Matchup: Owens is a dynamic receiver who has been a team-first player this season. Whether it’s coach Wade Phillips laid-back approach or his silent competition with Randy Moss in New England, Owens has been all business this year. He’s big, strong and fast. He is not an outstanding pattern runner and will drop the ball occasionally. Witten is one of the game’s better tight ends. He understands how to get open and is especially effective on 3rd down plays. He is a glue-fingered receiver who plays best when he gets involved early in the game.
Woodson has played outstanding football this season. His career had been a bit disappointing considering all the hype he had when he came into the league 10 years ago, but now he is a serious and consistent performer. He has the confidence and skills to do a solid job on Owens but is nursing a toe injury and will need help from safeties Aaron Rouse and Atari Bigby. Al Harris is a savvy veteran who knows how to pick his sports. He has average physical skills, but rarely gets overwhelmed.
Key stats
Owens: 64 receptions for 1,093 yards, 13 TDs
Witten: 59 receptions for 760 yards, 6 TDs
Woodson: 48 tackles, 4 interceptions, 2 TDs
Harris: 28 tackles, 0 interceptions
Edge: Owens and Witten."; spt_NFL_matchup[i++] = new Array("","Davis vs. Pickett","Leonard Davis","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/apmegasports/200711151721624697393-pf.vmedium.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "left", "Eric Gay", "AP", "259", "198", "#000000", "", "", "", ""); spt_NFL_matchup[i-1].body = "Cowboys right guard Leonard Davis vs. Packers defensive tackle Ryan Pickett
The Matchup: This should be a brutal war between two huge men who excel at their jobs. Davis has been a solid and underrated free-agent pickup by the Cowboys. He is a nasty mauler who loves the ground game. At 6-6 and 366 pounds, Davis outweighs Pickett by 44 pounds and he will attempt to exert his will with his considerable bulk and mass. However, Pickett is very strong in the upper body and simply will not allow Davis to lean on him. Pickett has a chance to use his quickness and counter moves to get Davis off balance.
If Pickett can win this battle cleanly, Cowboys center Andre Gurode will have to focus more of his attention on Picket and less on Green Bay’s stellar linebackers. Giving the Packers’ LB crew just that little bit of freedom could have a negative impact on the Dallas running game.
Key stats
Davis: 11 games played; 11 games started
Pickett: 21 tackles, 1 sack
Edge: Even."; spt_NFL_matchup[i++] = new Array("","Favre vs. Ware, Ellis","Brett Favre","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/msnbc/Components/Photos/070923/070923_favre_vmed_1p.vmedium.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "left", "Matthew Stockman", "Getty Images", "291", "198", "#000000", "", "", "", ""); spt_NFL_matchup[i-1].body = "Packers quarterback Brett Favre vs. outside linebackers DeMarcus Ware and Greg Ellis
The Matchup: After two-sub-par seasons, Favre has been brilliant this year, enjoying the greatest statistical season of his career. That’s a remarkable achievement for a 38-year-old passer who has not had much of a running game to help him throughout the majority of the season.
Favre does not have the arm strength he did 6 or 7 years ago, but he can make any throw and has been shockingly accurate this season. Favre takes an 0-5 career record in Texas Stadium with him into this matchup.
Ware and Ellis are both outstanding playmakers who rely on speed as their primary weapon. Ware is also a strong and punishing hitter who can cause damage with his power. Ellis is more of a finesse player who has great technique. He is not a classic NFL linebacker who instills fear in his opponents.
Key stats
Favre: 291-of-425 passes for 3,356 yards, with 22 TDs and 8 interceptions
Ware: 63 tackles; 9 sacks
Ellis: 19 tackles; 8.5 sacks
Edge: Favre"; spt_NFL_matchup[i++] = new Array("","Grant vs. Spears, James","Ryan Grant","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/getty/gyi0051021208.hmedium.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "left", "Gregory Shamus", "Getty Images", "273", "376", "#000000", "", "", "", ""); spt_NFL_matchup[i-1].body = "Packers running back Ryan Grant vs. defensive end Marcus Spears and inside linebacker Bradie James
The Matchup: Grant has given the Packers’ running game a lift in recent weeks, but this is a matchup that the Cowboys should handle convincingly. Dallas’ defense is very physical and hard-hitting and Grant is a relatively unproven back. Grant runs hard and is 4.6 averaging yards per carry. He has a bit of a burst, but don’t expect him to break any long runs against the athletic Cowboys.
Spears has a nose for the ball carrier and is a jarring tackler. James has sensational technique and does not let a running back out of his grasp. James has the bulk to take on bigger blockers, shed them and make the tackle. The Cowboys have excelled against the run this season and should be able to turn Green Bay into a one-dimensional offense in this game.
Key stats
Grant: 107 carries for 494 yards; 2 TDs
Spears: 19 tackles, 1.0 sack
James: 69 tackles, 2.0 sacks; 2 fumble recoveries
Edge: Spears and James (significant)."; spt_NFL_matchup[i++] = new Array("","Driver, Jennings vs. Newman, Henry","Donald Driver","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/getty/gyi0050972006.hmedium.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "left", "Jonathan Daniel", "Getty Images", "273", "336", "#000000", "", "", "", ""); spt_NFL_matchup[i-1].body = "Packers receivers Donald Driver and Greg Jennings vs. Cowboy cornerbacks Anthony Newman and Anthony Henry
The Matchup: Driver is Favre’s favorite and most dependable weapon. While he has not been the team’s primary scoring threat -- just 2 touchdowns this season -- he knows how to get open. Driver has good speed and excellent body control. His route-running ability makes him a special player and his shares a great chemistry with Favre. Jennings has become the team’s touchdown maker. He has caught 9 TD passes and has great after the catch speed.
Newman is a first-rate cover corner, although probably a notch below Denver’s Champ Bailey. Newman is agile, athletic and instinctive. He has the ability to make plays in the running game and can also take on a homerun hitter like Jennings. Henry will not be 100 percent in this game because of an ankle injury but he will play. He has the kind of size and strength that scouts want in a defensive back and his 5 interceptions indicate how dangerous he has become as a cover man.
Key stats
Driver: 63 receptions for 832 yards; 2 TDs
Jennings: 39 receptions for 625 yards; 9 TDs
Newman: 31 tackles; 3 interceptions; 1 TD
Henry: 17 tackles, 5 interceptions; 1 TD
Edge: Driver and Jennings (slight)."; spt_NFL_matchup[i++] = new Array("","McCarthy vs. Phillips","","","","", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "273", "362", "", "", "", "", ""); spt_NFL_matchup[i-1].body = "Packers coach Mike McCarthy vs. Cowboys coach Wade Phillips
The Matchup: McCarthy got the Packers going in the right direction when he directed his team to 4 straight wins at the end of the 2006 season. He was able to maintain that elusive momentum and turn the Packers into one of the league’s elite teams. McCarthy was able to convince Favre to tone down his gunslinger mentality and the results have been sensational. He has also built a defense that has become one of the league’s best. He has earned respect in the locker room in returning the Packers to contender status.
Phillips inherited a talented team after taking over from Bill Parcells, but few expected his calm demeanor and friendly attitude to work with over the long haul. Many expected the volatile Owens to break Phillips and turn the team into a mess. That has not happened and Phillips is enjoying a much longer honeymoon than anyone thought possible. Phillips is an excellent defensive game-planner and he will try to goad Favre into interceptions by disguising the Cowboys’ coverage schemes.
Edge: McCarthy."; // END editorial data