Packers: Five players to watch vs. Cowboys in Week 5
By Jesse Fry
After their first loss of the season, the Green Bay Packers will look to return to winning ways in a place that’s been good to Aaron Rodgers. The team might be short-handed, so which players will need to step up to ensure he continues his winning ways in Dallas?
Texas Stadium, Jerry’s World or Aaron’s House, whatever you want to call it, that building has been good to Aaron Rodgers. It’s where he won his first and, for the moment, only Super Bowl. Overall, he is 3-0 in the building and has won his last two games in dramatic fashion.
Those were different teams and he was playing in a different system. This is the first trip for Aaron Rodgers in a Matt LaFleur offense. But for the Packers to win, they might need a vintage Rodgers performance.
The Packers are coming into the game banged up at some key positions. Davante Adams could miss the game. Jamaal Williams‘ status is also up in the air following a scary hit against the Eagles. In addition, Bryan Bulaga returned to practice but his status is still up in the air. The Packers’ secondary might also be a little thin as Kevin King and Tony Brown missed practice on Wednesday.
Even if fully healthy, this was going to be a very tough game. The Cowboys have the best team they have fielded in some time. Dak Prescott is playing at a high level with Amari Cooper and new old best friend Jason Witten back in the fold.
Ezekiel Elliott is an All-Pro running back who will give the Packers all kinds of fits and has over 100 yards rushing in all three games he’s played against the Packers. Rod Marinelli and Kris Richard have the defense game and ready with one of the best linebacking corps in the NFL.
This is an early-season battle for supremacy in the NFC. It’s too far to think ahead to the playoffs, but if these two teams stay on their current trajectory, this game could decide first-round byes, home-field advantage and seeding.
All of that and this is a team that Packers fans simply don’t like. Outside of the division opponents, the team from Dallas is one that will always seem to draw the ire of Packers fans across the nation.
In order to win, these five players will need to bring their “A” game in this early-season showdown.