Editor's Note: SB Nation's partner FanDuel is running a $1.25M fantasy football league on Sunday. First place wins $100,000. Join now!
Gone is DeMarco Murray. Gone is Tony Romo for the remainder of the 2015 season. But here come the Dallas Cowboys at 4-8, still in the playoff hunt in the lowly NFC East. This is a team that has been mocked and overlooked for much of the season, but can still be dangerous when having something to play for. Their wild win over the rival Washington Redskins on Monday Night Football last week has kept them in contention to win their division, but one more loss should put their chances on ice.
If you recall, Green Bay had a crazy win of their own against a division rival last week. The Packers will look to use that confidence boost while trying to win at home for the first time since October 18. A big difference when looking at how these two teams are preparing for this game is how much time they have been given. Green Bay last played on Thursday Night Football, ten full days between games. Dallas, on the other hand, has just six days to get ready.
It goes without saying that the Packers, considering their long list of injuries, needed this extra time to get healthy. After missing three starting linemen for most of the Detroit game, they are likely to only be without center Corey Linsley on Sunday. Rookie wide receiver Ty Montgomery, who has not played in nearly two months, also has a chance of suiting up.
Much like the last game played at Lambeau, a Thanksgiving loss, the forecast again calls for rain. As Rob Demovsky from ESPN.com reported, head coach Mike McCarthy has taken the weather into account and his team has been preparing for wet conditions.
The gameplans for both teams will likely revolve heavily on the run game, although for different reasons. The Cowboys will have Matt Cassel under center, who commands the league's 28th-ranked passing attack. On top of that, the offensive line is one of the best run blocking units in the league, so protecting the ball on a wet, soggy day seems like the smartest strategy.
On the flip side, Dallas also boats a top-ten pass defense, something that could be problematic for a Green Bay passing attack that continues to struggle to find a rhythm. The biggest question going into this game is which running back the Packers will give the primary looks to. Eddie Lacy was in the dog house last week, but McCarthy has gone on to say he looks rejuvenated in practice leading up to this game.
All signs point to the same type of game the Packers played against Chicago on Thanksgiving. Hopefully this one will have a different result.