Packers vs. Cowboys: Which team has the winning advantage in Week 4?

Which team will have the winning advantage when the Green Bay Packers (2-1) go to Dallas to play the Cowboys (1-2) on "Sunday Night Football" in Week 4?

Football is a complicated game, but finding the reasons for winning individual matchups between teams each week is often a straightforward exercise. What wins games? Excellent quarterback play, winning the line of scrimmage, taking care of the football and taking it away, controlling the important situations and overcoming or taking advantage of the injury situation.

Our weekly game preview went deep into the Packers-Cowboys matchup to determine who has the advantage at the key factors for winning football games in the NFL:

Quarterback play

Jordan Love and Dak Prescott have both enjoyed encouraging starts to the 2025 season. Love has a passer rating of 110.1, ranking fourth among quarterbacks, while Prescott has completed 71.4 percent of passes and ranks second in PFF grade among quarterbacks. Both Love and Prescott are experienced passers who can win from the pocket or extend plays, and both are highly confident attacking down the field. It's difficult to find a differentiating factor here; both Love and Prescott are capable of playing winning, high-level football. But it is crystal clear which quarterback has the easier challenge in terms of quality of defense to be faced, and it's Love by a mile.

Advantage: Push

Line of scrimmage

The Packers have really struggled along the offensive line, in part due to injuries and a lack of continuity. Through three weeks, the Packers rank 28th in pass-blocking grade and 29th in run-blocking grade at PFF, so the offensive line -- which won't have Zach Tom -- needs to rebound in a big way. The Cowboys, meanwhile, rank 31st in pass-blocking grade and fifth in run-blocking grade, but the line won't have guard Tyler Booker or center Cooper Beebe. This game could come down to which struggling offensive line plays better on Sunday night. Or the defensive front will decide it, and the Packers have a big advantage. Green Bay's defensive line has been dominant, both rushing the quarterback and stopping the run, and Micah Parsons, the former Cowboy, has provided a game-wrecking force who is making everyone else around him better. The Cowboys, however, have struggled up front defensively, creating only 4.0 sacks and 12 quarterback hits. Kenny Clark has likely helped the run defense, but the Cowboys' inability to affect the quarterback has led to a historically bad start defending the pass. If the Packers can't block this defensive front, there will be trouble.

Advantage: Packers

Turnovers

The Cowboys rank last in the NFL in turnover differential at -5 through three weeks. Six turnovers (including three interceptions thrown by Dak Prescott) and just one takeaway (on a poor Russell Wilson decision in overtime in Week 2) create the differential. The Cowboys are 0-2 when losing the turnover battle this season, and key turnovers -- a Miles Sanders fumble in the second half of a 24-20 game in Week 1, and two Prescott interceptions in the fourth quarter last week -- have really hurt Brian Schottenheimer's team. The Packers, meanwhile, are +1 in turnover differential, but Jeff Hafley's defense has just two takeaways in three games, and Jordan Love's interception last Sunday was a killer. But given Green Bay's ability to protect the football (just one turnover in three games), and when factoring in last season (Packers had 31 takeaways. Cowboys had 28 giveaways), the advantage here is clear. In the playoff meeting between these two teams, the Packers won the turnover battle 2-0 and scored 14 points off two Prescott interceptions.

Advantage: Packers

Situational

The Cowboys offense has been terrific on third down (44.4 percent, sixth) and average in the red zone (60.0 percent, 16th), while the Cowboys defense has been abysmal on third down (53.7 percent, last) and average in the red zone (54.5 percent, 14th). Not having CeeDee Lamb will likely hurt the Cowboys in big spots on offense. What about the Packers? Matt LaFleur's offense is second on third down (47.5 percent) and 12th in the red zone (63.6 percent), while Jeff Hafley's defense is sixth on third down (31.8 percent) and fifth in the red zone (42.9 percent). One of the touchdowns allowed by the Packers in the red zone came on fourth down via an incredible one-handed catch by Lions rookie Isaac TeSlaa. Another came after an interception set up the Browns at the 4-yard line. The Packers have been excellent in terms of converting on third down and stopping third downs. The unrelenting pass-rush has been a big part of getting stops on defense.

Advantage: Packers

Injury situation

Injuries will play a big factor on Sunday night. The Packers don't have receiver Jayden Reed, who is on IR, and right tackle Zach Tom isn't expected to play. Left guard Aaron Banks might also be out, creating a big question mark for the struggling offensive line. The Cowboys, meanwhile, won't have their best offensive weapon (CeeDee Lamb) and two starting offensive linemen (guard Tyler Booker, center Cooper Beebe), and two cornerbacks (Trevon Diggs, DaRon Bland) are dealing with injuries. Also, linebacker DaMarvion Overshown is on the PUP list, while Payton Turner, Jonathan Mingo and Perrion Winfrey are on IR. Both teams are missing two important starters along the offensive line and a top target in the passing game, but the Cowboys have more injury issues on defense.

Advantage: Packers

Verdict: Advantage Packers

Three games isn't a big sample size, but the Packers appear to have real advantages over the Cowboys nearly across the board. That isn't to say Sunday night will be a cakewalk. The Packers need to block a lot better than last Sunday, even against a less talented defensive line lacking a true game-wrecker, and veteran quarterback Dak Prescott can be a evening factor if he plays well. Still, the Packers defensive front against a struggling Cowboys offensive line missing two starters could be a game-deciding matchup, and the coverage issues being suffered by the Cowboys' zone-heavy defense -- especially deep down the field -- align with what Jordan Love and the Packers like to do and do well in the passing game. If the Packers rebound in pass protection, scoring at least 30 points becomes very possible. If not, this game tightens considerably. Also, the Cowboys won't have CeeDee Lamb, their Pro Bowl pass-catcher, complicating things if this game becomes more of a shootout. Can the Packers cut down on the penalties and self-induced mistakes? More than likely, the Cowboys need the Packers to implode in a few big spots to steal a win as a home underdog.

This article originally appeared on Packers Wire: Packers vs. Cowboys: Which team has the winning advantage in Week 4?