This Just In...

If nothing else, this big game will give these clubs a measure of each other head to head and reveal at least some of the matchups to consider if they meet again in January. So, with both this week and a potential playoff game in mind, here's a report on the Cowboys based on an in-depth interview with a scout who knows them well. The early betting line on the game had the Cowboys a six-point favorite, though the scout predicted that would drop to 3 to 3½ points by game time — teams get three points for playing at home.

Quarterback

Tony Romo (105.6 passer rating) runs an explosive offense ranked second in yards and points, behind only the New England juggernaut.

He grew up in Burlington, idolizing Brett Favre, and he's adopted many of Favre's mannerisms. He also has a similar mental make-up in that he's exceptionally competitive, charismatic, has a great love for the game and will sacrifice his body to win. That makes him a natural leader who teammates rally around.

He doesn't have Favre's physical talent at a similar age — Favre had and has a stronger arm — but Romo is mobile, extremely accurate and has a better grasp of the offense than Favre did as a 27-year-old. The biggest problem Romo could run into is trying too hard to defeat or impress his boyhood hero.

"Is he too jacked up?" the scout said. "Will he do too many things to try to outplay Brett Favre?"

When asked which quarterback was better now, the scout said, "I'd never bet against Brett Favre. I've seen Romo make the (big) mistake this year. I haven't seen Favre do that."

Receivers

Terrell Owens (64 receptions, 17.1-yard average, an NFC-leading 13 touchdowns) is having a big season and has to be accounted for. Packers defensive coordinator Bob Sanders almost surely will put cornerback Al Harris on the best receiver all day and play him with physical, bump-and-run coverage.

Though Owens is big (6-foot-3, 224 pounds), Harris' tactics might neutralize him.

"These will be the most physical cornerbacks he's faced," the scout said of Owens. "Someone asked me if I'd rather have Owens or (Randy) Moss, I'd take Moss, he's more competitive. This guy, for a big receiver, if it's a contested football, he doesn't go get it like you think he would. When you bang him around you can take him out of his routes."

With Terry Glenn out with an injury, Patrick Crayton is the No. 2 receiver. He has a lanky build (6-0, 200), runs precise routes, has a slippery knack for getting open and catches well but doesn't have deep speed. Sam Hurd (6-2, 195), the No. 3 receiver, would be a No. 5 on many teams but is serviceable and improving as a second-year pro.

The Cowboys don't have anything like the quality of depth the Packers have at receiver with Donald Driver, Greg Jennings, James Jones, Koren Robinson and Ruvell Martin.

"I'd take (No. 4 receiver) Koren Robinson over Sam Hurd any day of the week," the scout said.

Tight end

A position that makes the Cowboys dangerous. Jason Witten is second on the team in receptions (59), offers a huge target (6-5, 265) with excellent athletic ability and great hands. He's Romo's favorite target when plays break down, and he's scrambling.

The Packers have had problems matching up with the elite tight ends they've faced this year. Linebacker A.J. Hawk has been playing good coverage in recent weeks, and maybe Sanders will look to get him on Witten as much as possible. Safeties Atari Bigby and Aaron Rouse (or Nick Collins if he returns from his knee injury) also will share the responsibility.

"(The Packers) will lose this matchup," the scout said. "The problem with this guy is he's 263 pounds, he's very athletic and physical and crafty, but he also has speed. He' a legitimate 4.7 guy (in the 40-yard dash). If Green Bay doesn't have somebody that can play physical with him, he can create a lot of problems.

"He's too good for linebackers and too physical for safeties. If they don't have a plan for Jason Witten, this is something Dallas could take advantage of. The (Packers) could lose this battle and lose it badly."

Running back

New coach Wade Phillips has kept Bill Parcells' two-back system and used it to sometimes devastating effect.

Julius Jones (3.9 yards per carry) gets most of the work in the first half and is tough for a smaller (5-10, 211), quicker back, plus he's become a good pass blocker. After Jones has softened a defense that also has to account for Owens and Witten, Barber (6-0, 220) comes in fresh and ready to punish. He's rushed for 715 yards and 4.9 yards a carry, and is especially good at finishing games in the fourth quarter.

"All of a sudden in the third and fourth quarters, you're not as a fresh as you were (on defense) at the start of the game," the scout said. "They bring in Marion Barber, and he brings a real attitude where he's ready to tote the mail."

Offensive line

The Cowboys have one of the biggest offensive lines in the league with left tackle Flozell Adams (6-7, 343), right guard Leonard Davis (6-6, 366), right tackle Marc Colombo (6-8, 320) and center Andre Gurode (6-4, 312).

Adams can be a shutout pass blocker when he's fully engaged in the game but is prone to lapses that render him ordinary. Davis was a good free-agent signing who's much better suited as a road-grading guard than a tackle. Colombo has some athletic limitations that leave him vulnerable, and the Packers' best matchup on the line probably will be him against defensive end Aaron Kampman. Gurode no longer makes the big mistakes he did early in his career, though he occasionally sprays his shotgun snaps. Right guard Kyle Kosier is listed at 305 pounds but probably is down around 285 to 290 and also could be vulnerable to physical play from defensive tackle Ryan Pickett, Corey Williams and Justin Harrell, who will be playing for injured Johnny Jolly and Colin Cole.

"(The Packers) could lose the matchup with Adams, and they could lose the matchup with Davis," the scout said. "Kampman's their best chance."

Defensive line

Phillips plays a 3-4 defense that went into this week ranked ninth in yards allowed and 18th in points.

The Cowboys have the fourth-ranked defense in the NFL in rushing yards and yards per carry, anchored by a sound starting line with ends Chris Canty and Marcus Spears and nose tackle Jay Ratliff. Their job mainly is to occupy blockers so the linebackers can make plays.

Spears is the best of the group, though Canty (three sacks) noticeably is playing better under Phillips after being beaten down by Parcells for two years.

"(Packers halfback) Ryan Grant is a big, physical type player," the scout said. "Some people think they should totally give up the run at Dallas, and you have to be careful with going outside on them, because they can get to you. But some teams have hit them off tackle. Green Bay has to try to get Ryan Grant going, let him be physical and chew up some clock."

Linebackers

Outside linebacker DeMarcus Ware (nine sacks) has been getting the most attention from offenses, but converted defensive end Greg Ellis (8½ sacks) also is a threat. Ware is a speed rusher who has 28½ sacks in 37 NFL games. Ellis (6-6, 270) successfully has made the move to outside linebacker and is a crafty 10-year pro who's adept at shedding blockers with his hands.

"(Teams) will say the guy they have to account for is Ware, but they need to talk about Ellis," the scout said. "He's a very solid, productive football player, and if you don't account for him, he'll sack you."

Bradie James (6-2, 250) and Akin Ayodele (6-2, 250) are big, solid inside linebackers who hold the point of attack well. Ayodele is the better athlete.

Secondary

Here's where the Packers should have a big edge.

Terrence Newman is one of the best cornerbacks in the NFL and is capable of taking Driver out of the game. However, after him, the quality drops.

Jacques Reeves and Anthony Henry have switched off as starter and nickel back all year, and Nathan Jones is the dime back. Safeties Ken Hamlin and Roy Williams are big, physical players who are strong against the run but have problems in coverage. Look for coach Mike McCarthy to liberally deploy his four- and five-receiver sets to create optimal matchups.

"Newman is a Pro Bowl-type corner; he's what Al Harris is to the Packers," the scout said. "If Green Bay is going to win, Favre has to take advantage of Anthony Henry, Jacques Reeves and Nate Jones. I see a matchup problem with Henry (against Greg Jennings). He can be physical, but if you get up the field, he has trouble keeping up. You have to make Hamlin cover and you have to make Roy Williams cover. Where Dallas is vulnerable is to big plays. They have one great corner and three good to OK corners."

Special teams

The Cowboys' return game isn't particularly dangerous with Crayton (12.3-yard average) and Newman (6.5 yard average) on punts and Tyson Thompson (23.6-yard average) on kickoffs. Rookie kicker Nick Folk is 17-for-20 on field goals. Punter Mat McBriar is a weapon (47.6-yard gross, 37.5-yard net). 

Pete Dougherty covers the Packers for the Press-Gazette. E-mail him at pdougher@greenbaypressgazette.com