🏈 Can Cowboys' Inconsistency Be A Weapon?

Being predictable equals misery vs. the 49ers. Luckily, Dallas has been anything but. [View in browser]( [FOX SPORTS INSIDER WITH MARTIN ROGERS] In today’s FOX Sports Insider with Martin Rogers: The Cowboys need to play their game if they are going to beat the 49ers … Aaron Rodgers wants the Packers to make some changes if he comes back next season, but should they listen? … and more! Being "good" doesn't beat the San Francisco 49ers right now. Being consistent doesn't improve your chances much, either. Steady and precise? Nope, not enough. Methodical and determined? Uh-uh. What then, can Dak Prescott, Mike McCarthy, Micah Parsons, CeeDee Lamb, Tony Pollard, Jerry Jones, Rowdy the mascot and the rest of Cowboy Nation hope for on Sunday, as Dallas treks to the Bay Area for a mouthwatering NFC Divisional Round tussle (6:30 p.m. ET on FOX and the FOX Sports app)? Maybe, just maybe, the clue lies in being exactly who they are. The Cowboys are one collective oddball of a team. You never quite know what's coming. It could be spectacular. It could be awful. It's virtually never gray, vanilla and down the middle. And it normally finds a way to be the opposite of what you'd expect. That fateful word, "inconsistency," tossed around like a cursed hot potato during the regular season, might actually be the thing that works in the Cowboys' favor this weekend, when the No. 5 seed comes up against the juggernaut that San Francisco has turned into. "I don't want to go out there and out-compete the 49ers," defensive star Parsons told reporters. "They're going to beat my a-- if I play their game. I'm going to play my game. I'm going to bring my strengths and what I bring to the table. They'll bring their strengths. So let's just battle it out." The most generous interpretation of inconsistent is that it also means unpredictable and being predictable is a path to abject misery against the 49ers. Kyle Shanahan's team are masters of preparation and have been ready for every weapon aimed at hurting them and every potential pitfall seeking to trip them up. For the rest of the story, [click here.]( [STORY IMAGE 1] [IN OTHER WORDS] - Aaron Rodgers has set conditions on returning to Green Bay next season. [Should the Packers acquiesce]( Carmen Vitali breaks down the situation. - With his head coach back in the fold, Rams GM Les Snead said Thursday the team plans to ["remodel" rather than rebuild]( this offseason. Eric Williams examines what that means. - With Dansby Swanson gone from Atlanta, who will fill the void at shortstop for the Braves going forward? Jake Mintz [breaks down the options](. - Lincoln Riley vs. Coach Prime? Ducks vs. Huskies in Seattle? RJ Young looks at the [best games in Pac-12 play]( for next season. - With the news Mike Brey is stepping down as Notre Dame head coach at the end of the season, John Fanta looks at how Brey [changed the program]( and his legacy as the Fighting Irish men’s basketball coach. For the latest news and updates, [click here.]( [VIEWER'S GUIDE] Miami Heat at Dallas Mavericks (ESPN, 7:30 p.m. ET) Jimmy Butler and the Heat head to Dallas to battle Luka Dončić and the Mavericks. Memphis Grizzlies at Los Angeles Lakers (ESPN, 10 p.m. ET) The Grizzlies look to continue their winning ways as they take on the Lakers. Boise State Broncos at New Mexico Lobos (FS1, 11 p.m. ET) Two of the top mid-majors clash when the Lobos and Broncos tangle in New Mexico. For all of today's games and scores, [click here](. [BET OF THE DAY] Odds provided by [FOX Bet]( Dallas Cowboys at San Francisco 49ers: Under 45.5 points scored by both teams combined From FOX Sports NFL Analyst: Geoff Schwartz This will be a brawl in the trenches and I cannot wait. While much of the attention when it comes to the Niners' offense has focused on their rookie quarterback and all the fantastic explosive offensive weapons, the heartbeat of the offense is their line. Outside of Trent Williams, their line isn’t especially talented, but the guys play well together and understand their assignments. They stay ahead of the chains, which keeps them out of stressful pass protection situations. This Cowboys defensive front is outstanding, and other than against Williams, they have the advantage. It doesn’t mean the 49ers can’t scheme up success or score points, but it will be more difficult than usual. On the other side of the ball, the 49ers defensive line is going to eat. You will find no bigger fan of the Cowboys offensive line over the last seven years than me, but they are at a disadvantage in this game. Nick Bosa vs. either Smith (Tyron, Tyler) is a mismatch. The young Smith at left tackle (Tyler) is not quite ready for the speed and intensity that Bosa brings, and the elder Smith (Tyron) is playing out of a position at right tackle. Arik Armstead and Charles Omenihu inside have the advantage over everyone but Zack Martin. For these reasons I believe this game will go under. For the latest betting odds, [click here](. [FOLLOW FOX SPORTS] [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [YouTube]( [Instagram]( Download FOX Sports App: [Fire TV]( [Roku]( [Google Play]( [App Store]( [Fire TV]( [Roku]( [App Store]( [Google Play]( Also available on these devices: [fireTV | AppleTV | ROKU | Google Chromecast | XBOX ONE | SAMSUNG Smart TV] [fireTV | AppleTV | ROKU | Google Chromecast | XBOX ONE | SAMSUNG Smart TV] Trademark & Copyright Notice: ™ and © 2023 Fox Media LLC and FOX Sports Interactive Media, LLC. All rights reserved. Please do not reply to this message. If you do not wish to receive emails like this in the future, please [unsubscribe](. FOX Sports respects your privacy. Click [here]( to view our Privacy Policy. Fox.com Business & Legal Affairs - Manager Digital Media P.O. Box 900 Beverly Hills, California 90213-0900