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National Football League – Bettor’s Need to Know
NFL
Thursday, November 29
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What bettors need to know: Packers at Cowboys
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Green Bay Packers at Dallas Cowboys (-6 ½, 51 ½)
Mutual respect society
As a football-mad kid growing up in Packers country, Tony Romo idolized Brett Favre. This week he leads the Dallas Cowboys against Favre and the Packers in what is easily the most important NFC game of the season.
No surprise then that Romo spent most of this week dodging questions about Favre. "I can understand the angle and it's nice and it's fun, but I have to beat the guy this week," he told the Dallas Star-Telegram.
Based on history, Romo has a great chance at doing just that. Favre is 0-8 in Dallas over his long career, and 0-5 in the regular season. The Cowboys eliminated Favre and the Packers in the playoffs in three straight years in 1993-95.
Remarkably, at the age of 38, Favre appears to be in the best shape to achieve that elusive first win. He has clocked 3,356 yards and 22 touchdowns this season, and has thrown for more than 300 yards in seven of his 11 games.
Romo, meanwhile, is matching that pace. He has produced 3,043 yards and 29 TDs, and earned the ultimate praise from Favre this week.
“I think in a nutshell his creativity with his legs is what, when I see him play, reminds me of myself,” the Packers QB said of Romo in the Star Telegram. “It's making something out of nothing. It's probably the same mentality I had.”
This is the first meeting of two teams with a 10-1 (or better) record since 1993. The winner will clinch a playoff berth and is likely to gain home-field advantage throughout the conference playoffs.
Worried about Witten
From Terrell Owens at wide receiver to Marion Barber and Julius Jones at running back, the Cowboys’ offense boasts a variety of dangerous weapons. But Green Bay’s defense isn’t forgetting about the threat from tight end Jason Witten.
The fifth-year pro has 750 receiving yards and six touchdowns for the season. At 6-foot-5 and 256 pounds, he has the ability to hold off defenders.
The Packers plan to use his lack of speed against him.
“I think we have a pretty good game plan for that tight end," Nick Barnett, the Packers' middle linebacker, told the Green Bay Press-Gazette.
“Witten's not the fastest guy, you can run with him. He's just smart and knows how to work away from your leverage and where to sit to catch balls. If we execute our fundamentals we should be able to shut him down."
Witten is at his most dangerous when Romo leaves the pocket. Because of his size and extremely safe hands, Witten is his quarterback’s primary target when Romo scrambles or gets into trouble. Barnett has a plan to deal with that too.
"Guys don't know that once the quarterback starts to move around (outside the pocket), you can knock your guy to the ground," he added. “That's what I plan on doing. The quarterback is out of the pocket and your back's to me, I'm going to have to put you on your face. It saves me a lot of energy."
In the last meeting between Dallas and Green Bay – in October 2004 – Witten had 112 yards and a touchdown in a 41-20 Cowboys loss.
Crayton returns
Cowboys receiver Patrick Crayton was back at practice this week and says he expects to play in Thursday night’s showdown with the Packers. He missed last week’s win over the Jets with an ankle injury.
“I’m good to go,” he told reporters ahead of Monday’s practice.
After the two-hour workout, Dallas coach Wade Phillips sounded positive when asked if the receiver would feature this week. "Patrick Crayton practiced today, started out a little slow but looked good as the practice went on," the coach told ESPN.com. "It looks real positive for him as far as playing."
Crayton has 466 yards and five touchdowns on 31 receptions this season. He was the third-string receiver last season, but an injury to Terry Glenn handed him a starting role. The 25-year-old has flourished a starter, taking advantage of defenses that are more worried about Terrell Owens and Jason Witten.
Depending on his fitness, Crayton could also return punts against Green Bay.
"We'll wait to see how healthy he is. But I was encouraged today," Phillips added. "He did catch on punts and stuff."
Packers’ injury concerns
While the Cowboys get a key offensive player back in Crayton, the Packers could be without two defensive stalwarts. Cornerback Charles Woodson and defensive end Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila were both limited in practice this week and are questionable for the game.
"They have 50-plus hours until kickoff," Packers coach Mike McCarthy told the Wisconsin State Journal on Tuesday, implying that they will both be game-time decisions. "We're going to give them the full amount to get ready."
Woodson hurt the big toe in his right foot in last week’s win against Detroit, and managed some jogging in Tuesday’s practice. Gbaja-Biamila suffered knee and ankle injuries in the same game and could only do what McCarthy called “a rehab workout” on Tuesday.
Gbaja-Biamila, who has 9.5 sacks this season, said it was “truly a miracle” that he didn’t suffer serious knee damage when Lions right tackle Blaine Saipaia fell awkwardly on his leg.
He added about the knee: “It feels good. It's the coaches' call, but I'm ready to play. I'm looking forward to the game – it's a big game, and I want to be in it.”
If Gbaja-Biamila can’t go, he will be replaced by second-year pro Jason Hunter. And if Woodson were unable to play, cornerback Jarrett Bush would move into the starting lineup, while either Frank Walker or Tramon Williams would play in the nickel defense.
Head to head
The home team has won 10 straight meetings between Dallas and Green Bay. The Cowboys are 6-2 ATS in their last eight meetings with the Packers, covering in five-straight home games against them.
Green Bay is a league-best 9-1-1 ATS this season, while Dallas is 8-3-0. The over is 5-1 in the last six meetings.
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NFL
Thursday, November 29
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
What bettors need to know: Packers at Cowboys
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Green Bay Packers at Dallas Cowboys (-6 ½, 51 ½)
Mutual respect society
As a football-mad kid growing up in Packers country, Tony Romo idolized Brett Favre. This week he leads the Dallas Cowboys against Favre and the Packers in what is easily the most important NFC game of the season.
No surprise then that Romo spent most of this week dodging questions about Favre. "I can understand the angle and it's nice and it's fun, but I have to beat the guy this week," he told the Dallas Star-Telegram.
Based on history, Romo has a great chance at doing just that. Favre is 0-8 in Dallas over his long career, and 0-5 in the regular season. The Cowboys eliminated Favre and the Packers in the playoffs in three straight years in 1993-95.
Remarkably, at the age of 38, Favre appears to be in the best shape to achieve that elusive first win. He has clocked 3,356 yards and 22 touchdowns this season, and has thrown for more than 300 yards in seven of his 11 games.
Romo, meanwhile, is matching that pace. He has produced 3,043 yards and 29 TDs, and earned the ultimate praise from Favre this week.
“I think in a nutshell his creativity with his legs is what, when I see him play, reminds me of myself,” the Packers QB said of Romo in the Star Telegram. “It's making something out of nothing. It's probably the same mentality I had.”
This is the first meeting of two teams with a 10-1 (or better) record since 1993. The winner will clinch a playoff berth and is likely to gain home-field advantage throughout the conference playoffs.
Worried about Witten
From Terrell Owens at wide receiver to Marion Barber and Julius Jones at running back, the Cowboys’ offense boasts a variety of dangerous weapons. But Green Bay’s defense isn’t forgetting about the threat from tight end Jason Witten.
The fifth-year pro has 750 receiving yards and six touchdowns for the season. At 6-foot-5 and 256 pounds, he has the ability to hold off defenders.
The Packers plan to use his lack of speed against him.
“I think we have a pretty good game plan for that tight end," Nick Barnett, the Packers' middle linebacker, told the Green Bay Press-Gazette.
“Witten's not the fastest guy, you can run with him. He's just smart and knows how to work away from your leverage and where to sit to catch balls. If we execute our fundamentals we should be able to shut him down."
Witten is at his most dangerous when Romo leaves the pocket. Because of his size and extremely safe hands, Witten is his quarterback’s primary target when Romo scrambles or gets into trouble. Barnett has a plan to deal with that too.
"Guys don't know that once the quarterback starts to move around (outside the pocket), you can knock your guy to the ground," he added. “That's what I plan on doing. The quarterback is out of the pocket and your back's to me, I'm going to have to put you on your face. It saves me a lot of energy."
In the last meeting between Dallas and Green Bay – in October 2004 – Witten had 112 yards and a touchdown in a 41-20 Cowboys loss.
Crayton returns
Cowboys receiver Patrick Crayton was back at practice this week and says he expects to play in Thursday night’s showdown with the Packers. He missed last week’s win over the Jets with an ankle injury.
“I’m good to go,” he told reporters ahead of Monday’s practice.
After the two-hour workout, Dallas coach Wade Phillips sounded positive when asked if the receiver would feature this week. "Patrick Crayton practiced today, started out a little slow but looked good as the practice went on," the coach told ESPN.com. "It looks real positive for him as far as playing."
Crayton has 466 yards and five touchdowns on 31 receptions this season. He was the third-string receiver last season, but an injury to Terry Glenn handed him a starting role. The 25-year-old has flourished a starter, taking advantage of defenses that are more worried about Terrell Owens and Jason Witten.
Depending on his fitness, Crayton could also return punts against Green Bay.
"We'll wait to see how healthy he is. But I was encouraged today," Phillips added. "He did catch on punts and stuff."
Packers’ injury concerns
While the Cowboys get a key offensive player back in Crayton, the Packers could be without two defensive stalwarts. Cornerback Charles Woodson and defensive end Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila were both limited in practice this week and are questionable for the game.
"They have 50-plus hours until kickoff," Packers coach Mike McCarthy told the Wisconsin State Journal on Tuesday, implying that they will both be game-time decisions. "We're going to give them the full amount to get ready."
Woodson hurt the big toe in his right foot in last week’s win against Detroit, and managed some jogging in Tuesday’s practice. Gbaja-Biamila suffered knee and ankle injuries in the same game and could only do what McCarthy called “a rehab workout” on Tuesday.
Gbaja-Biamila, who has 9.5 sacks this season, said it was “truly a miracle” that he didn’t suffer serious knee damage when Lions right tackle Blaine Saipaia fell awkwardly on his leg.
He added about the knee: “It feels good. It's the coaches' call, but I'm ready to play. I'm looking forward to the game – it's a big game, and I want to be in it.”
If Gbaja-Biamila can’t go, he will be replaced by second-year pro Jason Hunter. And if Woodson were unable to play, cornerback Jarrett Bush would move into the starting lineup, while either Frank Walker or Tramon Williams would play in the nickel defense.
Head to head
The home team has won 10 straight meetings between Dallas and Green Bay. The Cowboys are 6-2 ATS in their last eight meetings with the Packers, covering in five-straight home games against them.
Green Bay is a league-best 9-1-1 ATS this season, while Dallas is 8-3-0. The over is 5-1 in the last six meetings.
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