Green Bay- The Green Bay Packers entered Sunday’s matchup against the Cowboys with the NFL’s best run defense. The Packers had given up 171 rushing yards over a 4 game stretch, the best the NFL has seen in a long, long time. The Dallas Cowboys entered Lambeau Field with the NFL’s best run game, averaging 155.2 rushing yards per game, in addition to the best offensive line.
Something had to give.
The Cowboys racked up 191 rushing yards en route to a 30-16 victory over the Packers. Something the Packers defense hadn’t seen all year long.
“When you’re playing against a good team like that, you can’t give them an inch (or) they’ll take it a mile. As you saw, that’s what happened today,” Packers defensive tackle Mike Daniels told UPI.
It was the rookie Ezekiel Elliott who got it done once again for the Cowboys. A player who was known for his crop-top jersey and his ability to make defenders miss at Ohio State, showed nothing different against the Packers. Elliott, for the third time this season, leaped over a defender to tack on some extra yards, adding to his highlight reel game. Elliott, thanks to the offensive line, was able to make some huge runs through holes that a tractor trailer could drive through, thanks to his offensive line.
“I need to thank my offensive line,” Elliott said. “Those guys worked their tails off. They make it easy for me.”
Elliott finished off the first half with 60 rushing yards, already above the 48.2 yards that the Packers were previously averaging. Elliott finished with 157 yards on the day, making it his 4th straight 130+ yard game in a row, making NFL history.
It was the Cowboys physicality all day that led to their success forcing five Packers fumbles on the day, while recovering three. Rodgers accounted for two turnovers with an interception to go with a fumble on first-and-goal at the Cowboys 1 with 1:10 left in the third quarter. Rodgers did finish with a season high 294 passing yards, but the Packers didn’t get into the end zone until Rodgers connected with Randall Cobb on a 6-yard touchdown pass with 6:53 left in the game to make the score 27-16.
“We are a physical team,” Elliott told UPI. “A lot of teams can’t keep that physical presence for four quarters. We aren’t going to back down, no matter what front they bring. So just the attitude that we have wears those guys down.”
Late in the game, the Lambeau faithful, and perhaps the best and most loyal fans in the NFL started to feel frustrated with the Packers slow moving offense. Boo’s filled the stadium late in the 4th quarter, something that the players didn’t take too well.
“Look, we’re upset, they’re upset, it’s part of it,” Rodgers said of the booing. “It’s not the first time. Probably won’t be the last time.”
The Cowboys are heading into their bye week with one of the biggest decisions looming on their back. Who will be the starting quarterback moving forward. It’s a legitimate argument that can go either way, but one thing that Dak Prescott did last Sunday was make the race that much tighter. Dak broke Tom Brady’s record for the most passing attempts without an interception (162) to start out a career early in the game. That streak was soon snapped at 176 attempts, but for now, Prescott’s name will hold the record.
“We get that out of the way now,” Prescott said with a laugh. “Another one to start up.”
Prescott will get the nod in Week 8 against their divisional rival Philadelphia Eagles, but Romo is looking to be healthy and ready for week 9. While Romo has been the face of this franchise for upwards of 10 years, Dak Prescott has lead the young and injured Cowboys to a 5-1 start, knocking off the strong Packers and Bengals on the way. Say you put in Romo for a game or two and he gets injured, it’s even tougher for Prescott to come back without momentum. Long story short, Prescott has thrown 1 interception against some of the top defenses in football, and has the chemistry. As a great man once said, “If it ain’t broke don’t fix it.”
BREAKING: Dak Prescott WILL start Week 8 vs. Eagles. Tony Romo will not be ready until Week 9 vs. Browns. pic.twitter.com/DqeOpMcgkz
— Cowboys Gameday (@CowboysGameday_) October 19, 2016
While most people would think that a rookie QB would crack at a historic and loud venue such as Lambeau Field, Dak Prescott did the exact opposite. The young gun threw for 227 yards and 3 touchdowns against a talented Green Bay pass rush, containing the ecstatic Clay Matthews.
“I just stayed within the moment,” Prescott told Erin Andrews post game. “I stayed within the game plan. My coaches, my teammates… everybody helped me. It was a great atmosphere. It was definitely that. But I played in the SEC, so I’ve been preparing for that for a little bit.”
Prepared is an understatement for what the Cowboys were, heading into Lambeau Field. The Cowboys had a counter-attack for every Packers threat.
The Packers will have a short week, when they play host to the Bears on Thursday Night Football.
The Cowboys will host the Philadelphia Eagles on Oct. 30 after a bye week, in a game that could have implications on first place.
For Cowboys updates throughout the season, be sure to follow @CowboysGameday_ on twitter.
-Connor Hall (@518SportsChall)
