Packers say they cannot shy away from Cowboys’ explosive offense at Lambeau
GREEN BAY — The Green Bay Packers said they will not back down from the Dallas Cowboys’ high-powered offense as the NFC East club visits Lambeau Field on Sunday night. Dallas arrives a bit rested after a loss to Tampa Bay that dropped the Cowboys to 2-3, and Packers safety Xavier McKinney said he expects a motivated opponent and emphasized the defense will not shrink from the challenge. The Packers enter the game with confidence after forcing five takeaways in a recent win over the Chicago Bears.
The Packers repeatedly pointed to the weapons around Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott as the central concern. Receivers CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens have combined for 66 catches, 857 yards and five touchdowns through five games, and tight end Jake Ferguson provides another reliable target, a group that safety Evan Williams said Prescott trusts to make plays at any time. Prescott has been difficult to disrupt this season, having been sacked only six times and thrown just three interceptions, according to the Packers’ report.
Green Bay noted the similarity of Dallas’ production to its own receiving tandem, with Christian Watson and Matthew Golden combining for 871 receiving yards so far, and said containing chunk plays will be vital. The Cowboys had scored 102 points across a three-game stretch earlier in the season and can create explosiveness both after the catch and on long throws, factors that head coach Matt LaFleur said make Dallas capable of putting up large yardage and points. The teams played to a 40-40 overtime tie last season, a reminder of how quickly this matchup can become a shootout.
The Packers also face questions in the secondary after cornerbacks Keisean Nixon and Benjamin St-Juste did not practice Wednesday because of groin issues, leaving availability and depth in question. Green Bay’s defense, buoyed by a five-takeaway performance at home against the Bears, said it plans to rely on disguise and consistency in coverage to try to slow Prescott, with McKinney and Williams stressing that sustained disguises and mixing looks are the best path to occasional deception against a veteran quarterback. McKinney said a consistent disguise can fool any quarterback if the defense works on it, and that is what the Packers hope to do this week.
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This matchup will hinge on Green Bay’s ability to limit explosive plays and force Prescott into uncomfortable down-and-distance situations. The Cowboys’ receiving duo has produced at a pace nearly identical to Green Bay’s own top receiving options, and Prescott’s low sack and interception totals indicate he will capitalize on any one-on-one opportunities. If the Packers are short-handed at cornerback, they may need to emphasize rotation, safety help and well-timed pressure packages to disrupt timing and prevent big gains. Green Bay’s recent turnover surge gives the defense momentum; converting takeaways into scoreboard advantage will be crucial if the Packers hope to keep Dallas from turning individual playmaking into sustained scoring drives.