By Greg Dempson
Pinnacle Odds: Green Bay Packers +5 at Dallas Cowboys -5 Total 52
Last season’s Super Bowl winners, the Denver Broncos, were successful thanks to the suffocating defense on Wade Phillips. Because of the effectiveness of Green Bay’s offense their defensive guru, Dom Capers, doesn’t get the press or accolades that Phillips does.
What’s impressive is how successful Capers has been of late with a patchwork defense due to several injuries to key players. Dallas possesses the ball for an impressive 32:40 at home this season. The Cowboys also average 29.1 PPG at home including 16.1 in the first half. On defense they allow 19.7 PPG including only 9 in the first half.
As for the Packers, they average 26.2 PPG as well as 14 points on average in the first half. Their defense allowed a season long average of 28.2 PPG as well as 16 PPG in the first half. Green Bay has certainly stepped it up a notch in their last three games on offense as well as defense scoring 35.7 PPG as well as 17.3 in the first half while limiting opponents to 20.7 for the entire game, (on average,) including 11 in the first half.
Dallas is averaging 27 in their last three contests including 16 in the first half but their defense is allowing 22.7 for the entire game while their points allowed in the first half in their last three games is also up to 12.3 PPG and that has been vs. offenses the likes of Tampa Bay, Detroit and Philadelphia. I also note the Eagles did score only 10 in the first half.
Ridding the Hotter Hand
- Aaron Rodgers has thrown 19 touchdowns in his last 7 games with zero interceptions.
- Green Bay is the hottest of the two teams right now and most certainly have the experience at quarterback.
- Dallas is 9–1 to the over in their last 10 when hosting the Packers.
- The Packers have scored 30 or more points in five consecutive games.
- In the second half of the season head coach Jason Garret is Garrett is 12 – 04 to the over in home games versus poor defensive teams that allow 5.65 or more yards per play.
- Green Bay
Every Edge Record in Review
- Yesterday’s selection on the Atlanta Falcons at –3 in the first half was a winner and I’m 3–0 in the preseason as well as 10–07–01 in the regular/post season for an overall record of 13–07–01.
Two Playoff Opinion Plays
My Every Edge opinions are for Green Bay and Dallas to sail over the first half total of 26 points at –105 as well as backing the Packers +4 at –125 in the first half.