Green Bay Packers vs. Dallas Cowboys: Who wins?

Sporting News

Speaking of time travel (again), it’s hard to beat a rematch of game and location from five decades ago, of possibly the most famous game in the history of pro football, the Ice Bowl. For what it’s worth, they’re expecting a relative heat wave at Lambeau Field Sunday, with a high of 23 degrees for the noon local time start.

The forecast for Aaron Rodgers’ calf isn’t as clear, but he’s going to play. He played extremely well in the second half of their season-finale, division-and-bye-clinching win over Detroit after he got hurt, but it may have been adrenaline that would be hard to replicate two weeks later. But if he can, beware Cowboys’ defense, which has continued to defy all expectations but won’t face a tougher test than in this game.

If the Packers’ defense was as reliable as their offense, they could be marked in ink for a slot in the NFC championship game. Instead, you have to put it in pencil, because if DeMarco Murray shreds them, they’re in trouble. The Packers make big plays on defense, but they’ll have to put Tony Romo in those spots by slowing Murray. They should be able to do it well enough to support Rodgers and Co. in a thriller.

Prediction: Packers 34, Cowboys 24

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