Cowboys vs Packers: position-group matchup

The biggest mismatch: the Cowboys run defense (11th) against the Packers run game (31st).

On paper

4 games in. Samples are still small, so a rank can move a lot in a week. Ranks are out of 32 teams and 1st is always best, on offense and defense alike.

Cowboys

pairings with the edge

Packers

pairings with the edge

of 8

On paper, the Packers hold the edge across the position groups.

Cowboys big edge
Cowboys run defense (11th) against the Packers run game (31st)
Packers big edge
Packers quarterback play (23rd) against the Cowboys pass coverage (32nd)
Packers big edge
Packers receiving corps (25th) against the Cowboys pass coverage (32nd)

Position group by position group

Each offense against the other team's defense, one position group at a time. Circle: the offense. Diamond: the defense. Whoever sits further right wins that pairing.

Cowboys offense vs Packers defense

Pass protection vs pass rush
Even
WeakestBest
The Cowboys pass protection ranks 15th. The Packers pass rush ranks 10th.
Cowboys report: Tyler Smith (G, questionable, full practice, thumb)
The numbers and the players
Cowboys pass protection
- Sacks allowed per dropback3.7% (6th)
- Pressure allowed per dropback25% (25th)
- T.J. Bass (G) 100% of snaps
- Cooper Beebe (C) 100% of snaps
- Tyler Booker (G) 100% of snaps
- Tyler Guyton (T) 100% of snaps
- Terence Steele (T) 100% of snaps
Packers pass rush
- Sacks per dropback7.4% (9th)
- Pressure per dropback30% (8th)
- Quarterback hits per dropback14.1% (21st)
- Lukas Van Ness (DE) 8 pressures, 2.5 sacks
- Evan Williams (S) 5 pressures, 1 sacks
- Barryn Sorrell (DE) 4 pressures, 0.5 sacks
Run game vs run defense
Packers edge
WeakestBest
The Cowboys run game ranks 18th. The Packers run defense ranks 13th.
Cowboys report: Tyler Smith (G, questionable, full practice, thumb)
Packers report: Lukas Van Ness (LB, limited in practice, shoulder)
The numbers and the players
Cowboys run game
- Points added per run−0.05 (14th)
- Runs that keep the drive on track43% (12th)
- Rushing yards after contact1.3 (29th)
- Runs of 10+ yards7.4% (21st)
- Rushing yards before contact2.6 (14th)
- Runs stopped at or behind the line22% (26th)
- Javonte Williams (RB) −0.04 per run on 60
- Tyler Goodson (RB) −0.07 per run on 9
- T.J. Bass (G) 100% of snaps
- Cooper Beebe (C) 100% of snaps
- Tyler Booker (G) 100% of snaps
- Tyler Guyton (T) 100% of snaps
- Terence Steele (T) 100% of snaps
Packers run defense
- Points allowed per run−0.02 (23rd)
- Runs stopped at or behind the line21% (11th)
- Runs of 10+ yards allowed7.8% (11th)
- Missed tackles7.4% (11th)
- Edgerrin Cooper (LB) 30 tackles, 2 missed
- Zaire Franklin (LB) 29 tackles, 4 missed
Quarterback vs coverage
Even
WeakestBest
The Cowboys quarterback play ranks 12th. The Packers pass coverage ranks 15th.
The numbers and the players
Cowboys quarterback play
- Points added per dropback+0.21 (8th)
- Completions above expected+4.6 (8th)
- Interceptions per throw0.7% (4th)
- Passes of 20+ yards per dropback5.6% (30th)
- Dak Prescott (QB) +0.23 per dropback on 151
Packers pass coverage
- Points allowed per throw+0.04 (19th)
- Completions allowed above expected+2.3 (23rd)
- Interceptions per throw3.3% (6th)
- Keisean Nixon (CB) 67.5 passer rating allowed on 29 targets
- Javon Bullard (S) 69.6 passer rating allowed on 15 targets
Receivers vs coverage
Even
WeakestBest
The Cowboys receiving corps ranks 11th. The Packers pass coverage ranks 13th.
The numbers and the players
Cowboys receiving corps
- Points added per target+0.34 (8th)
- Yards after the catch3.9 (28th)
- Drops per target2.1% (5th)
- Tackles broken per catch5.0% (13th)
- CeeDee Lamb (WR) +0.89 per target on 47
- George Pickens (WR) +0.20 per target on 26
- Ryan Flournoy (WR) +0.01 per target on 22
Packers pass coverage
- Passes of 20+ yards allowed4.4% (4th)
- Passer rating allowed90.4 (14th)
- Points allowed per throw+0.04 (19th)
- Keisean Nixon (CB) 67.5 passer rating allowed on 29 targets
- Javon Bullard (S) 69.6 passer rating allowed on 15 targets

Packers offense vs Cowboys defense

Pass protection vs pass rush
Packers edge
WeakestBest
The Packers pass protection ranks 19th. The Cowboys pass rush ranks 26th.
Packers report: Jacob Monk (C, did not practice, quadricep); Anthony Belton (T, limited in practice, knee); Jager Burton (C, limited in practice, back)
The numbers and the players
Packers pass protection
- Sacks allowed per dropback5.0% (13th)
- Pressure allowed per dropback24% (22nd)
- Jordan Morgan (T) 100% of snaps
- Sean Rhyan (C) 100% of snaps
- Anthony Belton (T) 75% of snaps
- Jacob Monk (C) 96% of snaps
- Jager Burton (C) 70% of snaps
Cowboys pass rush
- Sacks per dropback3.1% (29th)
- Pressure per dropback24% (16th)
- Quarterback hits per dropback13.2% (23rd)
- Donovan Ezeiruaku (LB) 7 pressures, 0.5 sacks
- Quinnen Williams (DT) 5 pressures, 1 sacks
- Rashan Gary (LB) 5 pressures, 1 sacks
Run game vs run defense
Cowboys big edge
WeakestBest
The Packers run game ranks 31st. The Cowboys run defense ranks 11th.
Packers report: Jacob Monk (C, did not practice, quadricep); Anthony Belton (T, limited in practice, knee); Jager Burton (C, limited in practice, back)
Cowboys report: DeMarvion Overshown (LB, out, did not practice, hamstring)
The numbers and the players
Packers run game
- Points added per run−0.36 (32nd)
- Runs that keep the drive on track36% (23rd)
- Rushing yards after contact1.4 (24th)
- Runs of 10+ yards8.7% (17th)
- Rushing yards before contact1.8 (30th)
- Runs stopped at or behind the line23% (30th)
- MarShawn Lloyd (RB) −0.42 per run on 30
- Kaleb Johnson (RB) −0.44 per run on 19
- Jordan Morgan (T) 100% of snaps
- Sean Rhyan (C) 100% of snaps
- Anthony Belton (T) 75% of snaps
- Jacob Monk (C) 96% of snaps
- Jager Burton (C) 70% of snaps
Cowboys run defense
- Points allowed per run−0.13 (9th)
- Runs stopped at or behind the line15% (23rd)
- Runs of 10+ yards allowed8.4% (12th)
- Missed tackles6.4% (7th)
- Dee Winters (LB) 25 tackles, 1 missed
- Jaishawn Barham (LB) 21 tackles, 2 missed
Quarterback vs coverage
Packers big edge
WeakestBest
The Packers quarterback play ranks 23rd. The Cowboys pass coverage ranks 32nd.
Cowboys report: Cobie Durant (CB, out, did not practice, hamstring)
The numbers and the players
Packers quarterback play
- Points added per dropback+0.00 (21st)
- Completions above expected−7.3 (31st)
- Interceptions per throw1.9% (20th)
- Passes of 20+ yards per dropback8.1% (15th)
- Jordan Love (QB) +0.00 per dropback on 160
Cowboys pass coverage
- Points allowed per throw+0.41 (32nd)
- Completions allowed above expected+9.8 (31st)
- Interceptions per throw0.0% (32nd)
- DaRon Bland (CB) 129.5 passer rating allowed on 21 targets
- Shavon Revel (CB) 62.9 passer rating allowed on 15 targets
Receivers vs coverage
Packers big edge
WeakestBest
The Packers receiving corps ranks 25th. The Cowboys pass coverage ranks 32nd.
Cowboys report: Cobie Durant (CB, out, did not practice, hamstring)
The numbers and the players
Packers receiving corps
- Points added per target+0.10 (21st)
- Yards after the catch5.8 (10th)
- Drops per target8.8% (32nd)
- Tackles broken per catch3.5% (24th)
- Matthew Golden (WR) +0.14 per target on 37
- Christian Watson (WR) +0.31 per target on 32
- Tucker Kraft (TE) +0.15 per target on 24
Cowboys pass coverage
- Passes of 20+ yards allowed10.8% (31st)
- Passer rating allowed127.5 (32nd)
- Points allowed per throw+0.41 (32nd)
- DaRon Bland (CB) 129.5 passer rating allowed on 21 targets
- Shavon Revel (CB) 62.9 passer rating allowed on 15 targets

Tale of the tape

Every unit on its own, side by side.

CowboysPackers

12th
QuarterbackOffense
23rd
17th
Offensive lineOffense
28th
11th
ReceiversOffense
25th
16th
Run gameOffense
29th
26th
Pass rushDefense
10th
11th
Run defenseDefense
13th
32nd
Pass coverageDefense
10th

Longer bar is better. Each unit is graded on the stats shown in the pairings above, ranked among all 32 teams.

How these grades are calculated

Each position group is judged on three to five plain stats, listed below. All of them are per play or per throw, never season totals.
Every stat is ranked across all 32 teams, 1st to 32th, the right way round (fewer drops is better, more pressure is better for a pass rush).
A rank becomes a score from 0 to 100, with 1st at 100 and last at 0. The group's grade is the average of its stats' scores.
Teams are ranked by that grade, and that rank is the number on the cards.

For example, the Packers run game is 29th. Its stats rank 32nd (points added per run), 23rd (runs that keep the drive on track), 24th (rushing yards after contact), and 17th (runs of 10+ yards). Averaged, that is a grade of 26 out of 100, which is 29th among the 32 teams.

This is why a grade can disagree with a total or with another site's rating. A team can rank high in rushing yards because it carries the ball a lot or trails late, and still rank low here because each run adds little. Film grades, like PFF's, come from watching every player on every snap, and these do not. Early in the season a few plays can move a rank a lot.

Quarterback: points added per dropback, completions above expected, interceptions per throw, passes of 20+ yards per dropback
Offensive line: sacks allowed per dropback, pressure allowed per dropback, rushing yards before contact, runs stopped at or behind the line
Receivers: points added per target, yards after the catch, drops per target, tackles broken per catch
Run game: points added per run, runs that keep the drive on track, rushing yards after contact, runs of 10+ yards
Pass rush: sacks per dropback, pressure per dropback, quarterback hits per dropback
Run defense: points allowed per run, runs stopped at or behind the line, runs of 10+ yards allowed, missed tackles
Pass coverage: points allowed per throw, completions allowed above expected, passes of 20+ yards allowed, interceptions per throw, passer rating allowed

The coaches

Records are regular-season games since 1999, against the spread as listed by the games file. A new coach has no history here yet.

Measure	Cowboys	Packers
Head coach	Brian Schottenheimer	Matt LaFleur
Record as a head coach	9-11-1 in 21 games	78-42-1 in 121 games
With this team	9-11-1 since 2025	78-42-1 since 2019
Against the spread, this season	2-1-1	0-3-1
Against the spread, career	9-11-1	63-56-2
Against the spread as an underdog	6-2-1	23-14-1
Against the spread as a favorite	3-9	40-42-1
Coming off a bye	1-0	4-3
Head coach against head coach	0-0-1 against Matt LaFleur	0-0-1 against Brian Schottenheimer
Team against team since 1999	4-8-1	8-4-1

Last meetings, newest first: Cowboys 40-40 (2025 Wk 4) · Cowboys 28-31 (2022 Wk 10) · Cowboys 24-34 (2019 Wk 5) · Cowboys 31-35 (2017 Wk 5) · Cowboys 30-16 (2016 Wk 6)

How each team plays

Not good or bad, just the style. Ranks go from the highest rate down, so a 1st means the most of it in the league.

How the offenses like to play

Pass rate over expected
Cowboys +3.7 pts (4th highest) — throws more than the situation calls for
Packers +2.4 pts (6th highest) — throws more than the situation calls for
Play-action share of dropbacks
Cowboys 23% (17th highest)
Packers 16% (31st highest) — rarely uses play-action
Plays with pre-snap motion
Cowboys 55% (21st highest)
Packers 58% (15th highest)
No-huddle plays
Cowboys 6% (15th highest)
Packers 10% (6th highest) — hurries to the line
Plays from the shotgun
Cowboys 66% (13th highest)
Packers 69% (7th highest) — lives in the shotgun

How the defenses like to play

Blitz rate
Cowboys 27% (20th highest)
Packers 41% (4th highest) — sends extra rushers often
Pass rushers sent
Cowboys 4.3 (20th highest)
Packers 4.5 (5th highest) — sends the most rushers
Runs against a loaded box (8+)
Cowboys 7% (20th highest)
Packers 4% (26th highest) — stays light in the box

Who is missing

Each team's latest injury report, with how every player practiced this week. A starter averaged more than half the team's snaps in the games he played.

Cowboys

Week 5 report · last changed Fri, Oct 9, 7:24 PM ET

Cobie Durant CBStarterOut · hamstring · pass coverage
Did not practice this week
Practice week: Fri DNP (out)
DeMarvion Overshown LBStarterOut · hamstring · run defense
Did not practice this week
Practice week: Fri DNP (out)
Drew Shelton TOut · hamstring · offensive line
Did not practice this week
Practice week: Fri DNP (out)
Tyler Smith GStarterQuestionable · thumb · offensive line
Full practice this week
Practice week: Fri Full (questionable)
Jonathan Mingo WRQuestionable · illness · receivers
Did not practice this week
Practice week: Fri DNP (questionable)

Full practice: CeeDee Lamb (WR, thigh); Alijah Clark (S, ankle); James Houston (LB, shoulder); Joey Porter Jr. (CB, ankle); Malik Hooker (S, forearm); Tyler Goodson (RB, ankle)

Packers

Week 5 report · last changed Fri, Oct 9, 7:24 PM ET

Jacob Monk CStarterDid not practice · quadricep · offensive line
Practice week: Fri DNP
Aaron Banks GDid not practice · knee · offensive line
Practice week: Fri DNP
Chris Brooks RBDid not practice · ankle · run game
Practice week: Fri DNP
Anthony Belton TStarterLimited in practice · knee · offensive line
Practice week: Fri Limited
Jager Burton CStarterLimited in practice · back · offensive line
Practice week: Fri Limited
Lukas Van Ness LBStarterLimited in practice · shoulder · run defense
Practice week: Fri Limited
Anthony Campbell DTLimited in practice · ankle · pass rush
Practice week: Fri Limited
Devonte Wyatt DTLimited in practice · ankle · pass rush
Practice week: Fri Limited
Savion Williams WRLimited in practice · ankle · receivers
Practice week: Fri Limited

Full practice: Brandon Cisse (CB, neck)

Teams report practice on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday and issue game designations on Friday. We check the league’s data every few hours from Wednesday to Sunday and keep what we saw, so a player’s practice week starts the first time we saw him; it is not the league’s own day-by-day log. Game-day inactives, announced about 90 minutes before kickoff, are not included.

← All 32 teams

Data: nflverse play-by-play, CC BY 4.0. Ranks use the 2026 regular season through Week 4. Also FTN charting, Pro Football Reference advanced stats, snap counts and injury reports, all through nflverse. Calculations and charts by Raiders Rundown.

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Cowboys vs Packers: position-group matchup

On paper

Cowboys run defense (11th) against the Packers run game (31st)

Packers quarterback play (23rd) against the Cowboys pass coverage (32nd)

Packers receiving corps (25th) against the Cowboys pass coverage (32nd)

Position group by position group

Cowboys offense vs Packers defense

Pass protection vs pass rush

Run game vs run defense

Quarterback vs coverage

Receivers vs coverage

Packers offense vs Cowboys defense

Pass protection vs pass rush

Run game vs run defense

Quarterback vs coverage

Receivers vs coverage

Tale of the tape

The coaches

How each team plays

Who is missing

Cowboys

Packers

More from the Lab