The Dallas Cowboys (6-2) can hand the Green Bay Packers (3-6) a sixth-straight loss in a game that will focus on Aaron Rodgers facing former coach Mike McCarthy.
But Dak Prescott, instead of Rodgers, is the quarterback here who has the best chance of reaching Super Bowl 57, and he would like some revenge for that 2016 playoff loss to Green Bay by what was the last Dallas team to look this good.
The Cowboys are a 5.5-point road favorite at many of the best sportsbooks. Does Dallas keep rolling with Dak back, or does Rodgers have one magic trick left?
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Dallas Cowboys vs. Green Bay Packers
Sunday, November 13, 2022 – 04:25 PM EST at Lambeau Field
Dak Prescott’s 2022 Season
It has been an interesting ride for Dak Prescott in 2022. He was woefully inaccurate in Week 1 against Tampa Bay, struggling in a 19-3 loss that saw him complete 48.3% of his passes for 134 yards and one interception.
He injured his thumb and had to leave the game, then had surgery that kept him out for the next five games. Prescott’s 39.3% bad throw rate in Tampa was his highest in his 59 games since 2018 according to Pro Football Reference. Just an awful night that had people burying the Cowboys early.
While the Cowboys won a lot of close games behind backup Cooper Rush, the defense took center stage as Rush simply managed the game like a good backup should. The calls for Rush to permanently take the job were shortsighted and disrespectful to how well Prescott has played for this team for much of his career.
Unfortunately, Prescott’s injury kept him out of the crucial matchup with the Eagles in Week 6, which should have ended the debate that Rush was cut out for the long-term starting job as he threw multiple interceptions and the Cowboys lost 26-17.
Getting Back on Track
While Prescott returned against Detroit and the Cowboys won 24-6, it was a 10-6 game in the fourth quarter before Dallas pulled away. Prescott showed some rust as expected, and the connection with Michael Gallup wasn’t quite there yet as Gallup (zero catches vs. Lions) also had his own issues with injury and missed games this year.
Still, the Cowboys have good pieces even without left tackle Tyron Smith available, and the offense was starting to come together in the weeks since Prescott was injured. Against the Bears, this offense put everything together like we saw many times in 2021 by scoring 49 points.
Still Got It
Prescott was sharp with two touchdown passes and he completed over 76% of his passes for the second week in a row. Tony Pollard also scored three touchdowns on the ground while starting for injured Ezekiel Elliott.
This offense still has the potential to be scary. Prescott was pressured more on opening night in Tampa Bay (11 times) than he has been in the last two games combined (nine pressures).
The Buccaneers have a good defense this year, but it is looking safe to say that Week 1 was just an outlier and awful night by Dak than any sign that he is off his game this year.
When you consider how difficult this 2022 season has been for veteran quarterbacks like Aaron Rodgers, Tom Brady, Matthew Stafford, Russell Wilson, and Matt Ryan, then you could argue Prescott is a top 10 quarterback right now.
Prescott vs. Packers
The Packers have been a significant rival in Prescott’s NFL career. His first win over a playoff team in the NFL was against the Packers in 2016, a 30-16 win in Lambeau that saw him throw three touchdown passes for the first time in his career. Unfortunately, Prescott is 0-3 against the Packers and Rodgers since that first game.
The teams would later meet in an epic rematch in the NFC divisional round, a year where the Cowboys were the No. 1 seed. Dallas trailed 28-13 in the fourth quarter before Prescott rallied the team back to a tie, an impressive 300-yard playoff debut for the rookie.
After exchanging late field goals, Rodgers got the ball last and delivered a memorable throw to Jared Cook on a third-and-20 to set up the game-winning field goal on the final snap for a 34-31 win.
Prescott in Dallas' Road
Dallas really has not been that close to reaching the NFC Championship Game since that loss. In the 2017 regular season, the teams met again in a classic with Rodgers again getting the best of Dallas in the final minute with a 35-31 comeback win. Prescott also had three touchdown passes in that loss.
The two quarterbacks haven’t faced off since a 2019 game where the Cowboys were minus-3 in the turnover department. Prescott passed for 463 yards in the 34-24 loss.
Prescott has passed for multiple touchdowns in all four meetings with the Packers. When he faces this year’s Green Bay defense, he is getting a defense that just lost its top pass rusher, Rashan Gary, to a torn ACL.
Look for Prescott to once again throw multiple touchdown passes in this game.
NFL Pick: Dak Prescott Over 1.5 Passing Touchdowns (+105) at Bovada (visit our Bovada Review)
Cowboys vs. Packers: Pick and Prediction
The Cowboys have been the best spread bet in a variety of splits since the 2021 season started.
Dallas is catching Green Bay at an opportune time as the Packers have not solved this losing streak, and the injuries on both sides of the ball continue to mount. Meanwhile, Dallas is fresh off a bye week.
Even if Prescott’s offense does not dominate in this matchup, the Packers are going to have a hard time scoring on this top defense led by Micah Parsons, who has 8.0 sacks and is favorite for Defensive Player of the Year at many top sportsbooks.
Following the NFL odds, look for Prescott to get the best of the quarterback matchup and Dallas to cover for your NFL picks.
NFL Pick: Cowboys -5.5 (-110) at Bovada
*The line and/or odds on picks in this article might have moved since the content was commissioned. For updated line movements, visit BMR’s free betting odds product.
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