Green Bay Packers Divisional Round Keys to Victory

Time of Possession

This is an intriguing match because both Dallas and Green Bay rank near the top in time of possession, third and fourth respectively. The key to success will be which offense can stay on the field to protect there below-average defense from being torched by the other team’s offense.

Dallas seems to have the advantage with rookie running back Ezekiel Elliott and the massive offensive line. It also helps them that rookie quarterback Dak Prescott throws mostly short to medium passes, which makes the passing game an extension of the running game. The Cowboys use Elliott and Prescott to sustain long, methodical drives as opposed to the quick, explosive plays that Tony Romo used to make.

But facing them is future hall-of-fame quarterback Aaron Rodgers and his offensive savant head coach, Mike McCarthy. The two Packer legends went through it all this season, but their team is once again a major player in January football. As always in recent memory, Green Bay is led by its potent offense, so Rodgers and company will have to protect the ball and the defense. It is good news for Green Bay since Dallas has only 36 sacks on the season and does not have a superstar pass rusher that could wreak havoc.

The Cowboys rank sixth in the NFL in yards per drive (35.63), fourth in points per drive (2.54), and third in Drive Success Rate (.752 percent) while Green Bay places fourth, third and fourth, respectively, in those categories, according to FootballOutsiders.com. Basically, these teams can move the ball, and they put points on the board when they do. The time of possession per drive for the Cowboys is three minutes and three seconds, which ranks second in the NFL, while Green Bay’s two minutes and fifty-eight seconds ranks fourth, according to FootballOutsiders.com.

Prediction: Green Bay 30-20 Dallas