Explosive Dallas Cowboys biggest test yet for Green Bay Packers defense
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Green Bay Packers coaches haven’t been shy in recent weeks about pointing to their No. 4 ranking in total defense as evidence Dom Capers’ scheme is working.
Well, if ever there were a week to back up the stats, this is it.On a two-game losing skid and their playoff hopes realistically on the line, Capers’ crew must tackle the unenviable task of stopping Tony Romo and the Dallas Cowboys offense, as effective and explosive a unit as the
NFL has seen over the past month.
“They lead the league in yards per play (6.5), they’re No. 1 in the league — I think that tells you a lot,” Packers coach Mike McCarthy said this week. “Our defensive staff feels it's the best offense we've played to date, as far as the ability to run it and throw the
football.”
And that’s saying something, considering the Packers have faced the Minnesota Vikings of Adrian Peterson and Brett Favre twice already, as well as the Cincinnati Bengals of Cedric Benson and Carson Palmer.
Statistically, the Cowboys blow away both of those offenses, and they’re remarkably balanced, too. They’re No. 3 in total offense (404.5 yards per game), No. 6 in passing (265.9) and No. 8 in rushing (138.6) on the strength of a three-pronged rushing attack, an elite tight end, the emergence of fourth-year receiver Miles Austin and the efficiency of Romo, who has a 111.9 passer rating during the Cowboys’ four-game
winning streak.
“They’ve got a lot of playmakers, good offensive line,” Packers defensive lineman Cullen Jenkins said. “We’re really going to have to make sure every play’s strong at all fronts and maintain a complete game for four quarters.”
For all of the numbers, that’s something the Packers have yet to do this season against the better offenses they’ve faced.
Benson ran wild for 141 yards on 29 carries (4.9 average) as the Packers blew two seven-point leads in a 31-24 loss on Sept. 20. They’ve stopped the run well otherwise, holding seven other opponents to a shade less than 3.3 yards per carry combined. But Favre carved them up in both meetings with Minnesota, posting gaudy passer ratings of 135.3 and 128.6 as the Vikings swept the season series.
The Packers allowed 336 yards per game in those three losses — 53.1 more than their season average — and have yet to face an offense that currently sits in the top 10. That changes on Sunday, when they’ll face their toughest test yet since switching to Capers’ 3-4 in the offseason.
It starts up front for the Cowboys, whose enormous (average size: 6-foot-6, 327 pounds), battle-tested offensive line has 45 seasons’ combined experience and can swallow up smaller opposing fronts.
“They’re big, lot of experience,” Jenkins said. “A lot of the time, if you don’t have good technique, their size can really become a problem.”
The Cowboys work extensively from two-tight end sets and can create mismatches with five-time
Pro Bowl pick Jason Witten (team-high 44 catches for 391 yards) and athletic second-year pro Martellus Bennett (nine catches, 90 yards). The Packers figure to counter with their nickel and dime packages to match up cornerback Charles Woodson in the slot against Witten, especially because their best coverage linebacker, Brandon Chillar, is expected to miss a second straight game with a broken hand.
But that could expose the Packers on the perimeter, where Austin’s combination of size (6-foot-4, 215 pounds) and speed (4.47 at the 2006 scouting combine) has given defenses fits since he entered the lineup Oct. 11 at Kansas City. He had 10 catches for 250 yards and two touchdowns that day and is up to 27 receptions, 612 yards and seven scores for the season, establishing him as the clear No. 1 receiver ahead of Patrick Crayton (22-365-2) and Roy Williams (19-324-2).
If Woodson’s in the slot, the Packers could use veteran Al Harris as a shadow or have him take turns with No. 3 cornerback Tramon Williams and perhaps dime back Jarrett Bush on Austin, who had his first career 100-yard game in last September’s matchup at Lambeau Field.
“He’s running some pretty good routes,” Tramon Williams said. “For the most part, it’s been just him making plays, breaking tackles. He’s catching 10-yard routes and breaking tackles and taking them for long distance.”
The Packers also must find a way to pressure Romo on a day they could be replacing top pass rusher Aaron Kampman (concussion) with rookie outside linebacker Brad Jones, who has yet to play an NFL snap on defense.
“He’s making good decisions with the ball,” Woodson said of Romo, who’s thrown 13 touchdowns this season against only five interceptions, including nine and one during the streak.
“He has a real quick release, and he’s a guy that can make things happen when things break down for him in the pocket.”
All of which is without mentioning the trio of running backs — bruiser Marion Barber, speedy Felix Jones and Wildcat/scatback Tashard Choice — who already have combined for 994
rushing yards and eight touchdowns.
But Capers’ crew knows well the Cowboys’ talent won’t be an excuse after kickoff.
No matter what the numbers say so far, it’s on the Packers defense to turn its finest performance of the season on Sunday.
“We all here on the defense, we’ve got that chemistry,” Tramon Williams said. “We know that, ‘Hey, man, we’ve got to win,’ and whatever that takes, we have to do it. Easier said than done, but I think we can do it. I know we can do it.
“Guys have to come out and play and not worry about mistakes, not play conservative, whatever it may be. Just come out and just play to win. That’s it.”
