Cowboys vs Packers SNF Preview: Odds, Prediction, Best Bet

Sunday Night Football lands at Lambeau Field this week with a matchup that looks a lot like a coin flip. The Dallas Cowboys (2-3) travel to face the Green Bay Packers (3-2) in a primetime game that kicks off at 8:20 PM ET on NBC, with streaming on Peacock and NFL+. Both teams are chasing some early-season momentum, and both are coming off very different results last week.

If you are newer to football or betting, think of this one as a good place to learn how the market reads a close game. Neither team is a clear favorite, the point total is high, and the history between these two teams has been wild. Here is everything you need to know before kickoff.

Packers Are Slim Favorites in a Near Pick’em

The Packers are favored by 1.5 points at most sportsbooks, with Cowboys +1.5 on the other side. In plain terms, the oddsmakers think Green Bay is slightly better at home, but only by about a field goal’s worth of a nudge. On the moneyline, which is simply a bet on who wins the game, the Packers sit around -118 to -120 and the Cowboys are priced near even money.

The line has actually moved since it opened. Early on, Dallas was a 1.5-point favorite. As bettors piled onto the high-scoring side, the total climbed from about 50.5 to between 52.5 and 53.5, and the spread flipped to Green Bay as well. A total of 53.5 means the books expect a lot of points, which makes sense given that these teams scored 40 apiece the last time they met. If you want to track how the numbers change before kickoff, our live NFL odds page keeps the current lines in one place.

One interesting wrinkle: ESPN’s Football Power Index actually gives Dallas a slight edge, with the Cowboys projected to win by 0.6 points and a 52 percent chance of victory. The Cowboys are also 2-0 against the spread as an underdog this season, so this price is not one they are scared of.

Two Teams Coming Off Very Different Weeks

Green Bay arrives feeling good. The Packers handled the Chicago Bears 31-7 last Sunday, and quarterback Jordan Love had his best game of the season, completing 25 of 31 passes for 367 yards and two touchdowns with a 137.5 passer rating. For the year, Love has thrown for 1,408 yards and 10 touchdowns with three interceptions. He has also been vocal in praising receiver Christian Watson, and rookie Matthew Golden has been carving out a bigger role in the passing game. Over their last five games, the Packers are 3-2, with wins over Chicago, Tampa Bay and the New York Jets (in overtime) and losses to Atlanta and Minnesota.

Dallas, meanwhile, is licking its wounds. The Cowboys fell 24-16 at home to a Tampa Bay team that had not won a game yet. Dak Prescott threw for 316 yards but only one touchdown, and he tossed two interceptions that both came off tipped passes. The bigger concern was the defense, which gave up 241 rushing yards and 189 passing yards to rookie quarterback Jalon Daniels. Dallas ranks last in the league against the run, which is a problem against any offense. Prescott’s season line is 129 of 192 for 1,381 yards, nine touchdowns and three interceptions. The Cowboys’ last five games read L, W, L, W, L, so consistency has been hard to find.

Injuries That Could Swing the Game

Health may matter as much as anything else on Sunday night. The Packers are very thin along the defensive line. Javon Hargrave tore his Achilles last Sunday and is out, Jonathan Ford is also out, and Jordon Riley is doubtful. Cornerback Benjamin St-Juste and returner Skyy Moore are out too. Green Bay also lists guard Aaron Banks, lineman Jacob Monk, defensive tackle Anthony Campbell, cornerback Brandon Cisse and receiver Savion Williams as questionable.

Dallas will be without offensive tackle Drew Shelton and cornerback Cobie Durant. Defensive tackle LT Overton, linebacker DeMarvion Overshown and cornerbacks Joey Porter Jr. and Ameer Speed are all questionable. If the Cowboys’ secondary is short-handed against a hot Jordan Love, that could be a problem. On the flip side, a depleted Packers front could give Dallas a chance to move the ball on the ground and keep Prescott out of long-yardage situations. Check the inactive lists about 90 minutes before kickoff, because they could shift the line.

A 40-40 Tie and a Lopsided History

These two teams played one of the strangest games in recent memory last season. Their Week 4 meeting in 2025 ended in a 40-40 tie, the highest-scoring tie of the Super Bowl era. This week, the history is lopsided, though. Green Bay is 10-1-1 in the last 12 meetings, and Dallas has not beaten the Packers since 2016. Prescott has not beaten Green Bay since his rookie season. That kind of streak does not guarantee anything, but it adds some extra juice to a primetime game at Lambeau.

Prediction and Best Bet

This game has all the makings of a shootout. Love is playing his best football, Prescott has plenty of firepower around him, and both teams have real holes on defense, especially Dallas against the run and Green Bay along the interior defensive line. The Packers get the slight edge because they are at home, they have the recent history, and they are coming off a convincing win while Dallas is coming off a head-scratching loss. Expect a close finish, which is why a field goal either way is the right way to think about the spread.

• Prediction: Packers 31, Cowboys 28
• Best Bet: Over 53.5 on the total

With the Cowboys unable to stop the run, the Packers missing key defensive linemen, and last year’s meeting ending 40-40, points look more likely than not. If you are new to betting, the total is often an easier way to take a stand on a game this close than picking a side. As always, bet only what you can afford to lose, and read our responsible gambling guide if you want tips on keeping it fun.