Cowboys are seven-point favourite over Packers in Favre-Romo matchup
GAME: Green Bay Packers (10-1) at Dallas Cowboys (10-1)
DATE/TIME: Thursday, November 29 - 8:15 PM EST
SPREAD: Dallas -7 TOTAL: 51.5
From 1993-95, the Cowboys and Packers met twice each season, once in a regular-season game, the other time in the playoffs. The Cowboys were home for all six games and won them all, throwing in another home win in 1996, a season after which Green Bay won the Super Bowl.
Both teams are 10-1, back at the top of the NFC as they meet Thursday night, with a potential home-field edge in the playoffs on the line. Of course it's at Texas Stadium.
Brett Favre, 0-8 there, remembers the past well against Cowboys teams that won three titles in four seasons.
"Each year I thought we progressively got a little bit better and we kept saying, 'OK, next year this is not going to happen.' But it did until we won the Super Bowl," he says. "We held in there and a couple of those games were pretty darn close and I thought the Dallas Cowboys were unbeatable those years, and they really were."
The Cowboys are not quite unbeatable this season, but their only loss is to the NFL's unbeaten team, New England. Green Bay's only loss is more mundane - to 5-6 Chicago.
So Dallas is a seven-point favourite, a fitting spread although it doesn't have its usual post-Thanksgiving rest advantage. The NFL also scheduled the Packers for a holiday game, so both teams will have their usual seven days to prepare.
The spread is legitimate. Not only is Dallas at home, but it also is better balanced than Green Bay, which is last in the NFL in rushing.
This is the first meeting between Favre and Tony Romo, who grew up in Wisconsin, in the heart of Packers country, when Favre was in his prime.
"I am sure he is probably tired of answering this question or talking about it himself," Favre says. "I think he's his own player. I think the fact that he's from Wisconsin and is younger than me and watched me play and was a Packer fan enhances this whole scenario."
With help from a balanced cast, Romo enhances the Cowboys against Favre ...
COWBOYS, 24-20
Jacksonville (plus 7) at Indianapolis
The Jaguars can tie the Colts for the AFC South lead. Marvin Harrison's availability is still a question.
COLTS, 20-17
New England (minus 20) at Baltimore (Monday night)
Don't expect another close game for New England.
PATRIOTS, 35-10
Buffalo (plus 5½) at Washington
It's hard to tell how Sean Taylor's death affects Washington.
REDSKINS, 24-10
Cincinnati (plus 7½) at Pittsburgh (Sunday night)
It might take six days to get Heinz Field in shape.
STEELERS, 21-13
New York Giants (minus 1½) at Chicago
The Giants have to kick away from Devin Hester, and Eli Manning and Rex Grossman have to throw it to their own guys.
None of the above.
BEARS, 30-29.
Tampa Bay (plus 3) at New Orleans
A must for the Saints if they want a chance to win the NFC South.
SAINTS, 20-16
Seattle (plus 3) at Philadelphia
If Philadelphia plays close to the way it played in New England ...
EAGLES, 28-24
Detroit (plus 3) at Minnesota
The Lions have lost two straight at home and are awful on the road.
Free fall.
VIKINGS, 19-12
New York Jets (plus 1) at Miami
Yes, winless Miami is favoured.
DOLPHINS, 5-3
San Diego (minus 4½) at Kansas City
If the Chargers are back on track, they win easily. If not ...
CHARGERS, 24-20
Cleveland (pick 'em) at Arizona
A lot of points are very likely.
BROWNS, 35-34
Houston (plus 3½) at Tennessee
Never mind Vince Young's struggles, the Titans are 0-3 without Albert Haynesworth. Maybe he plays. Or not.
TEXANS, 20-17
Denver (minus 3½) at Oakland
Devin Hester doesn't play for the Raiders.
BRONCOS, 20-10
San Francisco (plus 3) at Carolina
First home win for the Panthers.
PANTHERS, 16-10
Atlanta (off) at St. Louis
"Off" is Marc Bulger's health.
RAMS, 31-20
-LAST WEEK: 6-10 (spread); 11-5 (straight up)
-SEASON: 85-83-8 (spread); 113-63 (straight up)
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