Dallas Cowboys at Green Bay Packers
Sunday, 11/7/2010, 8:20 PM EST, TV: NBC
Opening Point Spread: Green Bay -7.5
Current Betting Line: Green Bay -7
Opening Total: 44.5
Current Total: 46.5
Current Moneyline: Green Bay -350 / Dallas +290
Dallas dropped to 1-6 on the season after a 35-17 blowout loss at home to the Jacksonville Jaguars in a game that has officially eliminated them from playoff discussions. Head coach Wade Phillips is still in charge and put a great emphasis on fundamentals than preparation for this contest. “Running, blocking, tackling, catching covering – we’re not as good as we were,” he stated. “Every detail has to be covered. We have to be more precise in some of these things.” Owner Jerry Jones has already stated that he plans to keep the under-fire coach through the end of the season. The team is off to its worst start since going 1-15 in 1989. Many believe it will be the defense’s performance that will lead to his firing in the offseason, as he weas hired in 2007 due to his expertise as a defensive coordinator. Dallas is 1-6 ATS this season and is a touchdown underdog on the NFL lines page.
The Cowboys defense finished last season with the No. 4 rushing defense and No. 2 scoring defense, but have dropped off to No. 24 and 27 respectively in those categories. Dallas linebacker DeMarcus Ware needs to step up his performance, as he leads the NFL with 64.5 sacks since 2006. The unit returned 10 starters from last year and has allowed an average of 33.5 points during a four-game losing streak. “Same guys, same defense and we’re not getting it done,” said defensive end Marcus Spears. Backup Jon Kitna played well in his first start in replacement of starter Tony Romo, completing 34 of 49 for 379 yards versus the Jaguars.
Green Bay was picked by many to be a Super Bowl contender and has seemed to bounce back after losing three games in a four-week span. “It’s important to stack success,” said Packers head coach Mike McCarthy. “The hardest thing to handle in my opinion in the NFL is handling success.” The Packers have won back-to-back games and open the eyes of many with 9-0 shutout win versus the Jets last week. There’s no doubt that this squad wants to enter the bye week carrying this momentum and is prepared to do it. “We need to get this one here at home on Sunday night and get to the bye,” McCarthy stated. “That’s our focus.” Green Bay is 4-4 ATS this season and 10-9 ATS at home over the past three years.
The Packers have had trouble finishing games on offense and have scored just 30 points in the fourth quarter. “We’re making enough plays to win games, but there’s a standard that’s been set here with the kind of points we scored last season, the kind of production we put up,” said quarterback Aaron Rodgers. “If you compare this year to last year, obviously we’re below those.” Green Bay is currently on pace for 352 points this season, which would be the lowest output in four years.
Bettors will be interested in playing the Cowboys from a value standpoint and also the fact they are 4-1 ATS in their last five games following a double-digit loss at home. Green Bay may benefit from the home team being 8-1 ATS in the last nine meetings.
