Cowboys Visit Packers at Lambeau; Micah Parsons Still on PUP as Green Bay Builds Momentum
The Dallas Cowboys will travel to Lambeau Field on Sunday night to face the Green Bay Packers in a nationally televised matchup that has produced many memorable moments, Nick Eatman of DallasCowboys.com wrote. The teams enter with contrasting momentum: Dallas is 2-3 after a home loss to the previously winless Tampa Bay Buccaneers, while Green Bay improved to 3-2 following a dominant home victory over the Chicago Bears. Playing at historic Lambeau Field at night often sets the stage for another iconic moment in this series’ history.
Former Cowboys first-round pick Micah Parsons remains on the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list, and Green Bay has not opened his 21-day practice window. He will miss Sunday nights game and likely several more as he continues his recovery from last season’s torn ACL. Parsons played four seasons in Dallas, earned four Pro Bowl selections there and is the only player in NFL history to record at least 12 sacks in each of his first five seasons.
Green Bay has absorbed several defensive losses, including season-ending Achilles injuries to defensive tackle Javon Hargrave and linebacker Edgerrin Cooper in recent weeks. Despite those setbacks, the Packers rank eighth in total defense, allowing just over 308 yards per game, and are tied for seventh in the NFL with 14.0 sacks. Wide receiver Christian Watson has been a scoring threat, recording six touchdown receptions this season and catching two TDs against Chicago last week; he has also scored three regular-season touchdowns against the Cowboys in his career.
Time of possession could be a significant factor, with Green Bay averaging 27:05 per game and Dallas averaging 27:19, ranking 30th and 29th in the league, respectively. Dallas has shown offensive promise but inconsistent results, sitting at 2-3 in the standings and trailing the New York Giants in the NFC East. The Cowboys rank seventh in scoring at 27.6 points per game and 11th in total offense at 351.1 yards, yet they were held to 16 points last week as Tampa Bay’s defense pressured Dak Prescott throughout the game.
The Cowboys have made coaching changes on defense, hiring veteran Mike Pettine as a senior defensive advisor. Pettine previously worked with Christian Parker in Green Bay, and Parker will move to the press box to call the defense. Dallas will monitor several injured players this week; linebacker DeMarvion Overshown returned to limited practice after a hamstring injury and remains uncertain to play, while cornerback Cobie Durant has not returned to practice following his hamstring issue.
The Cowboys carry a difficult history at Lambeau Field, where they are 2-10 all time and last won in Green Bay in 2016, with earlier wins coming in 2008 and 2016 and additional victories in Milwaukee in past decades. The game will feature several players with recent ties to the opposing club, including Rashan Gary and Kenny Clark returning to Green Bay. The immediate headlines center on Parsons’ recovery and how each team will manage personnel, tempo and the line of scrimmage in a pivotal primetime divisional clash.
NFL Sports Blog Take
This game will hinge on which team controls the line of scrimmage and sustains offensive drives in a matchup marked by turnover of personnel and injuries. Without Micah Parsons available, Green Bay loses a dynamic pass rusher but still fields a complementary defense that limits yardage and generates pressure. The Cowboys must protect Dak Prescott better and convert sustained drives to overcome Green Bay’s defensive efficiency and the poor time-of-possession numbers faced by both clubs. Special teams and short-field opportunities could decide a close primetime contest at Lambeau Field.