Green Bay Packers: 4 Players in the Spotlight against Dallas

In week five the Green Bay Packers take on the Dallas Cowboys and if they hope to steal a win on the road, these four players need to perform.

Certainly not everything was clicking for the Green Bay Packers through the first three weeks of the season but they still found themselves undefeated at 3-0. However, this past Thursday against Philadelphia the defense was exposed and some key injuries contributed to their first loss.

Now they turn their sights to week five as they head to Dallas to take on the Cowboys who are also coming off of a tough loss to the hands of the New Orleans Saints. This will only be the Packers’ second road game of the season and it is against a very good Cowboys team.

Coming away with the win isn’t going to be easy by any means but if they are going to, all eyes will be on these players for Green Bay as they are all going to play key roles in determining the outcome of the game.

Aaron Rodgers

Aaron Rodgers could be on this list for just about every game but this week he will have to carry this offense like he has done so many times in the past. The running game has been M.I.A for the Green Bay Packers with Aaron Jones averaging under two yards per carry in each of the previous two games and we still do not know if Jamaal Williams will even play.

In the passing game, it looks like the Packers will be without Davante Adams and the tight end unit has been wildly inconsistent. In order for Green Bay to win, the defense needs to play as they did the first three weeks of the season and we need to see vintage Aaron Rodgers.

Although it is a road game, the positive is that Rodgers loves playing at Jerry World. It is where he won his Super Bowl and he has led two game-winning drives in each of Green Bay’s last two trips to Dallas.

The Smiths

Against Philadelphia, Za’Darius Smith and Preston Smith didn’t have the same impact as they did during the first three games, but they are still putting together a fantastic season with 42 total pressures and seven combined sacks according to Pro Football Focus.

While Dallas does have one of the best offensive lines in football, this game should give the Smiths the opportunity to get back on track with the Cowboys’ star left tackle Tyron Smith listed as out for Sunday’s game.

In T. Smith’s place, it will likely be Cameron Fleming who in his 136 pass-blocking attempts last season allowed nine pressures, two which were sacks. This will hopefully be a big day for Za’Darius and Preston getting into the backfield to help slow down Ezekiel Elliot and put pressure on Dak Prescott.

Jaire Alexander

Jaire Alexander is putting together an All-Pro season through the first four games of the season. In fact, according to Pro Football Focus, Alexander has been the number one coverage cornerback in the NFL up to this point in the season and that is exactly what the Packers need from him on Sunday.

A big reason behind New Orleans’ success against Dallas was that their star corner, Marshon Lattimore, was able to take Amari Cooper out of the game. Cooper was held to just five receptions for 48 yards and if Alexander can do the same, it will allow Mike Petting to give help to other members of the secondary with receivers Michael Gallup and Randall Cobb as well as in the running game.

Marquez Valdes-Scantling and Geronimo Allison

According to Adam Schefter, it does not look like Davante Adams will play this Sunday because of his turf toe injury. That means that the Green Bay Packers really need Marquez Valdes-Scantling and Geronimo Allison to step up in the passing game.

Outside of MVS’ game against Denver he still hasn’t looked like a true number two receiver. In the other three games combined, he’s totaled 10 receptions for 118 yards. Meanwhile, Allison does have two touchdown receptions which have certainly helped, but his overall production has been very inconsistent.

Now more than ever with the Green Bay running game struggling and Adams likely out, the Packers need MVS and Allison to step up against Dallas.