Cowboys run game won last time at Lambeau, now is time to find it again

After 3 video games in 12 days, a set of ruthless losses and a gut-it-out win at the Houston Texans, the next Dallas Cowboys video game on Sunday follows a 10 day rest. Even this break hasn’t felt long enough to forget about the most current video game from last Thursday night.

Al Michaels called the Cowboys home video game versus the winless Tampa Bay Buccaneers a “can’t lose” video game rather of a “needs to win”. Well, the Cowboys did lose in uninspired style, and now are approaching that “need to win” area a lot earlier than we ever might have pictured for this 2026 season.

The next chance to win returns in primetime, at Lambeau Field versus the Green Bay Packers. The Cowboys just handled to toss a cumbersome incorporate the record books in between these historical franchises last season, however prior to that had actually lost 10 of the last 11 (consisting of playoffs) to the Packers.

That win did begin the roadway for Dallas though, all the method back in Dak Prescott’s novice season of 2016. The Cowboys won their 5th straight video game out of eleven in week 6 in Green Bay, 30-16. They would complete with 13 wins, still the high water mark of Prescott’s profession, however go one and carried out in the playoffs in a rematch versus the Packers in your home in the Divisional round.

That playoff loss to the Packers set the Cowboys back to where they ran out the playoffs the list below season. The Cowboys likewise lost to the Packers in the 2023 Wild Card round, have yet to make the playoffs because, and will see their opportunities of doing so for a 3rd season in a row drop if they can’t get their very first win versus the Packers in a years this Sunday night.

Most likely the most unexpected thing occurring to the 2026 Cowboys today is the method going from Matt Eberflus to Christian Parker as protective organizer has actually not enhanced even the principles of defense this group is playing through 5 video games.

The bar is extremely low for Parker’s defense to have a much better getaway versus the Packers compared to in 2015’s Eberflus experience, with the 40 points enabled through overtime being the 2nd most gave up that season (44 two times, to the Broncos and Lions, being the most).

The Packers scored on each of their 2nd half and overtime ownerships in 2015’s primetime conference. The Cowboys began the video game offensively with 3 straight punts also, and despite the fact that they turned a 13-0 deficit into a 16-13 halftime lead, handling just a basket sealed their fate in overtime. Jordan Love’s last-second toss to the end zone for a possibility at the win was knocked away by Jack Sanborn. The one 2nd staying after this protective stand permitted the Packers to kick the connecting 34-yard basket as the overtime clock ended.

Third down differential was a significant issue for the Cowboys in this tie, going 4-11 on offense and permitting the Packers to transform 10-14. Recently, the Packers handled to beat the Bears 31-7 in spite of going 4-12 on 3rd down, requiring the Bears in 14 efforts with the exact same 4 conversions. The Cowboys were 4-10 versus the Buccaneers while giving up 7-13 to an undrafted novice quarterback.

Carson Wentz and Michael Penix Jr. are the 2 quarterbacks to beat the Packers up until now this year, while Matt LaFleur’s group’s wins have actually come versus a Tyson Bagent led Bears group, Jalon Daniels in his very first start for the Bucs, and the Geno Smith Jets.

It stands to factor that Prescott will be the very best quarterback the Jonathan Gannon collaborated Packers defense has actually faced this season. It likewise stands to factor that Cowboys fans are flat-out sick of attempting to talk themselves into Prescott alone sufficing to will this group to triumph, definitely not with the number of things are failing on both defense and unique groups at the minute.

The treatment for all of this might depend on the finer information of how Penix and the Falcons got a surprise Thursday night win at Lambeau, in addition to the Vikings with Wentz in your home in the season opener. Beginning with the only group to win on the roadway at the Packers up until now this year, the Falcons outrushed the Packers 242-17. They had 15 of their 25 overall very first downs begun the ground. Atlanta balanced 5.9 backyards a rush, while the Packers just ran the ball 9 times for 1.9 backyards usually. Bijan Robinson opted for 194 lawns and scored two times while Brian Robinson likewise included a goal.

The Vikings likewise leaned on a set of running backs to manage the video game versus the Packers, Jordan Mason and Aaron Jones. Mason blazed a trail with 59 lawns on 15 brings and a rating, while Jones had 40 backyards on 12 brings likewise with a goal. Both groups balanced 3.1 lawns a bring, however the Vikings outrushed the Packers 107-66 and went 4-4 at a loss zone while holding the Packers to 1-4. The Packers got pushed into another undesirable run/pass split, having Love hang back 42 times compared to 21 runs.

To connect this all back to where we began, that 2016 win for the Cowboys at the Packers, the run video game had a strong impact. Novice Ezekiel Elliott had a brand-new profession high in this video game with 157 backyards on 28 totes. Prescott was comfy the whole video game as an outcome, tossing for an ostentatious 9.1 backyards per effort, acquiring 247 lawns, and 3 goals. Dallas leapt ahead 20-6 and put Green Bay passer Aaron Rodgers in position to toss 42 times compared to 24 hurrying efforts, most of which went to Eddie Lacy.

Amongst the important things that feel the outright most fixable coming off the Buccaneers loss for the Cowboys, not running the ball enough needs to top the list. The Cowboys came out and invited Tyler Smith back to the lineup at left guard by leaning on the run all the method for an opening drive Javonte Williams goal, however went away from this method after the extremely first indication of the Bucs having the ability to manage the ball themselves. To make matters worse, the Cowboys didn’t get the brief death video game going as an action either up until it was far too late.

The offense will require both to beat the Packers, and if absolutely nothing else cool off the hot spot beneath Brian Schottenheimer today. The Jason Garrett contrasts for Schotty have not come positively here in the early going of 2026, however today things feel so desperate that getting the Garrett-esque group that won at Lambeau in 2016 would be a significant win for Schotty’s group in ’26.

The Packers passing offense is going to like their match versus the Cowboys secondary if they can develop momentum and get on the field in as numerous neutral scenarios as possible. The Cowboys just can not ignore the run video game today, and doing so might let adequate other things form to bring hope back to this season at 3-3.

To do so, the Cowboys are seeking to hand the Packers their earliest 2nd home loss given that 2022. Their only losing season under LaFleur, Green Bay lost back to back video games to the New York franchises in weeks 5 and 6 in the house, the last loss beginning October 16th – 2 days before the Cowboys and Packers are set to fight for the 41st-ever time this weekend.

Dallas is likewise wanting to prevent back-to-back primetime losses for the very first time because 2020, to the Arizona Cardinals and Philadelphia Eagles.