The Fan's Mike Fisher Previews Dallas Cowboys Vs Green Bay Packers
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GREEN BAY (105.3 THE FAN) - It's one of our favorite parlor games at 105.3 The Fan: I spend the week inside The Star in Frisco looking for answers ... that become "FISHTIPS" ... and then the Cowboys play the game and we see how they - and how we - performed. So here goes, a dozen FISHTIPS live from Lambeau to prep you for the 3:25 p.m. kickoff of Cowboys at Packers here on 105.3 The Fan:
FISHTIPS 1) Dak Prescott tells me he still competes with Jason Garrett in that pass-accuracy contest after Cowboys practice, a tradition that started in Oxnard.
"Just like at camp, every day," Dak says.
Good habits have paid off on the way to 4-1.
FISHTIPS 2) The Cowboys privately think Tank Lawrence can have big day. Tank has the same vision - though when I talk to him about it, he's not as "private.''
"I want to be a beast every Sunday,' he tells me. ... starting today, and maybe by moving around along the D-line as Dallas tries to both harass and contain Aaron Rodgers.
Cool number: Rodgers is 29-31 when he gets sacked three or more times compared to 60-15 when he is not.
FISHTIPS 3) No Lance Dunbar (knee) for the Cowboys today, and I think that can lead to expanded Ezekiel Elliott duties.
How many third-down running backs are there in the NFL who are better at it than Zeke, who needs to be careful with both Green Bay's terrific run D and Lambeau Field's traditionally slick turf?
FISHTIPS 4) Cowboys left tackle Tyron Smith will play. But if his back becomes a problem? Contrary to many reports, I believe newcomer Emmett Cleary replaces him, as opposed to all the stories about a Doug Free/Zack Martin position shuffle.
FISHTIPS 5) Cowboys kicker Dan Bailey tells me his "back is still angry." (Sounds like a "Seinfeld" bit.) But he's a go for today ... and then it's R-&-R during the bye week.
FISHTIPS 6) The Cowboys D is elite in points allowed. The Packers D allows just two yards per rush. Reputations say "shootout" today but those numbers sure don't.
FISHTIPS 7) Believe what you want. But trust me: Tony Romo is THRILLED by Dak's work in his stead - while also, obviously, wanting the keys to the car back in his hands, say, by Week 9.
He'll be even more THRILLED by that, admittedly, and yes, that remains the Dallas plan.
FISHTIPS 8) Dez Bryant (knee) put in the work and put on a show during open-media practice this week. But he didn't actually, ya know, "practice.''
I'll monitor in the hours before kickoff and will report live on The Official Cowboys Pregame Show at 2 p.m. on 105.3 The Fan. But my view? Let's give him the bye week to get right.
FISHTIPS 9) The Cowboys D talked a lot this week about "gang-tacking" and "11 helmets" and "sprint to ball." Why? They've experienced what it's like when you don't get to burly Eddie Lacy before he gets too downhill. Lacy, by the way, is the only healthy runner on the entire Packers roster. A heavy load for a guy who is himself a load.
FISHTIPS 10) The Cowboys record when they're on the Sports Illustrated cover? 26—12. No jinx!
(Except they've lost on the last four occasions.)
FISHTIPS 11) The Cowboys record when Brad Allen refs? 0-2. Meanwhile, the Packers are 3-0 with today's zebra.
Dallas knows the feeling of losing at Lambeau thanks to a dopey ruling. Let's hope they don't have to overcome the refs today.
FISHTIPS 12) The Cowboys' all-time road record vs. the Packers is 4-11. … and 1-9 at Lambeau Field. (With a 3-2 record at Milwaukee County Stadium.)
I asked Sean Lee about this and he swears he loves playing here, loves the history of Lambeau ... But unquestionably there's not a darn thing to love about 1-9.
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