The early read: Packers vs. Cowboys matchups

Here are three of the defining matchups, one in each phase, as we begin our lookahead to Sunday’s game between the Green Bay Packers and Dallas Cowboys.

Packers offense vs. Cowboys defense

Assuming Davante Adams is out with turf toe, can Aaron Rodgers manufacture a winning passing game with Geronimo Allison, Marquez Valdes-Scantling and some combination of Allen Lazard, Darrius Shepherd and Jake Kumerow as his receivers?

In Sunday night’s 12-10 loss at New Orleans, the Cowboys gave up nine catches in nine targets to Saints star Michael Thomas. However, the rest of the Saints’ receivers were nonfactors. Ted Ginn played 50 snaps and caught three passes for 19 yards, while Austin Carr (44 snaps), Lil’Jodan Humphrey (11 snaps) and Deonte Harris (seven snaps) weren’t targeted at all. Obviously, Rodgers is better than Teddy Bridgewater but it shows how the Cowboys dominated the perimeter matchups against the Saints’ “other” receivers.

Chidobe Awuzie, Anthony Brown and Byron Jones are the corners, with Jeff Heath and Xavier Woods as the safeties. According to Pro Football Reference, Brown has allowed a 63.2 percent catch rate, followed by Awuzie at 59.1 percent and Jones at 52.4 percent. Awuzie and Brown each allowed five touchdowns last season but none this season. Brown is a solid player but he’s the one to attack, not only in terms of completion percentage but he’s missed a team-worst six tackles. Awuzie has the team’s only interception and is tied with Heath for the team lead with four passes defensed.

Cowboys offense vs. Packers defense

The obvious matchup to watch is Dallas’ powerhouse running game against Green Bay’s powerless run defense. With 176 rushing yards allowed last week against Philadelphia, 198 against Minnesota and 149 against Denver, the Packers have yielded at least 149 rushing yards in three consecutive games. That’s a dubious first since 2008.

The challenge will only get bigger against Dallas. Ezekiel Elliott is arguably the best running back in the NFL and he runs behind arguably the best offensive line in the NFL.

In each of his first three seasons, Elliott led the NFL in rushing yards per game. Last season was the best of the bunch, with a league-leading 1,434 rushing yards and career-high 77 receptions. Added together, he piled up 2,001 yards. This year, he’s rushed for 324 yards (4.4 average) and three touchdowns. The line has led the way, though. Of 38 backs with at least 30 carries, he is tied for 27th with just 2.0 yards after contact, according to Sports Info Solutions. Last year, he averaged 3.0 yards per carry. Dallas is No. 1 in the league with a 6.67-yard average behind center Travis Frederick and No. 7 with a 6.58-yard average behind right guard Zack Martin.

Green Bay’s defense ranks 26th with 142.3 rushing yards per game and 29th with 5.04 yards allowed per carry.

“We saw some guys getting out of their gaps, and that is the first thing that’ll get you beat in terms of trying to stop the run,” Packers coach Matt LaFleur said on Monday. “If you’re not playing your gap or the right assignment, then it’s a lot easier on the offense. We have to do a better job of being disciplined and staying in our gaps. We always talk about it on both sides of the ball, it takes all 11, it really does.”

The kicking game

Neither team’s special teams have been a positive factor. With big runbacks given up the past two games, Green Bay’s kickoff coverage ranks 31st with 45.7 yards allowed per return. Dallas’ kickoff return is averaging an unfathomable 5.5 yards per return. However, rookie running back Tony Pollard had seven kickoff-return touchdowns at Memphis.