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NFL PicksSun 8:20 PM ET
Dallas Cowboys logo
Dallas
Cowboys
2-3
versus
Green Bay Packers logo
Green Bay
Packers
3-2
NFL · DAL at GB

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Dallas Cowboys vs Green Bay Packers Predictions October 18, 2026

Game time: October 18, 2026 at 8:20 PM ET

Venue: Lambeau Field — Green Bay, WI

Article updated Oct 11, 9:37 AM EDT

By SportsJaw Editorial Team

The Green Bay Packers will beat the Dallas Cowboys 23-20 in our October 18 forecast. Jordan Love’s efficient October 4 performance offers a slight matchup edge against a Dallas defense that surrendered 419 yards on October 8. Confidence is low: those separate games offer a limited comparison, and neither Packers +1.5 (-111) nor the 50.5 total merits an official wager.

Dallas Cowboys vs Green Bay Packers prediction and best bet

Green Bay is the pick in this 2026 NFL matchup, but the official betting recommendation is Pass. Love’s accurate passing against Tampa Bay supplies the strongest reason to favor the Packers. Dallas subsequently struggled to contain that opponent, leaving a defensive concern that matters more to this forecast than the Cowboys’ status as a narrow favorite.

That is a slight edge, with substantial uncertainty. Green Bay scored only 17 points in its October 4 victory, and its defensive injury questions complicate the outlook. Picking the Packers to win a close game is reasonable; paying for either side of this spread requires a stronger advantage.

Odds, game time and how to watch

Date: October 18, 2026.

Venue: Lambeau Field, Green Bay, Wisconsin.

Broadcast: NBC.

Dated records: Dallas stood at 2-3 after its October 8 loss. Green Bay reached 2-2 with its October 4 win.

SportsJaw spread: Dallas -1.5 (-113); Green Bay +1.5 (-111).

SportsJaw moneyline: Dallas -133; Green Bay +111. Total: Over 50.5 (-113); Under 50.5 (-108).

Dallas Cowboys outlook

Dallas lost 24-16 at home to Tampa Bay on October 8 before entering its mini-bye. Two interceptions on tipped passes and a KaVontae Turpin kickoff-return fumble contributed to a 3-0 turnover deficit. Those details matter: the giveaways came through different situations, so projecting another three-turnover game would be too aggressive.

The defensive result remains troubling. Tampa Bay generated 419 total yards with backup quarterback Jalon Daniels. Dallas needs a better performance against Love, although one game offers no reliable measure of how much improvement to expect. Dak Prescott’s fourth-quarter touchdown pass to George Pickens cut into the deficit, but the subsequent two-point attempt failed.

An encouraging personnel development came October 8, when Dallas activated All-Pro left guard Tyler Smith from injured reserve. He had missed the first four games following thumb surgery. The Cowboys said he was medically cleared and chose to play against Tampa Bay. His return is a reason for optimism about the line, without assuming a measured improvement in protection or run blocking.

Green Bay Packers outlook

Green Bay beat Tampa Bay 17-14 on October 4. Love completed 22 of 30 passes for 197 yards, two touchdowns and one interception, producing a 98.9 passer rating. His accuracy supports the Packers’ forecast, but the modest yardage and final score temper expectations for a breakout offensive performance.

Tucker Kraft caught six passes for 42 yards and a touchdown. Matthew Golden added three receptions for 21 yards and a score. Kaleb Johnson supplied 42 rushing yards on eight carries, but lost a fumble inside Tampa Bay’s 5-yard line. That mistake illustrates how a promising possession can disappear without producing points.

Green Bay placed running back Chris Brooks on injured reserve October 10 after he left the Tampa Bay game with an ankle injury. Edgerrin Cooper left that game with an Achilles injury, while Brandon Cisse was evaluated for a concussion. Those October 4 reports should not be read as confirmed October 18 absences for Cooper or Cisse.

Key matchup factors

The shared opponent gives the forecast a useful reference point, but the games happened on different dates and under different circumstances. Green Bay’s victory and Dallas’s defeat are clues about this matchup, not a direct ranking of the teams.

Ball security is the other central variable. Both offenses surrendered possessions against Tampa Bay. A cleaner Dallas game could erase much of the narrow advantage assigned to Green Bay, while another Packers mistake near the goal line could undermine an otherwise efficient passing performance. That uncertainty argues for restraint at the betting window.

Dallas Cowboys vs Green Bay Packers spread prediction

Spread recommendation: Pass on Green Bay +1.5 (-111) and Dallas -1.5 (-113). The Packers fit the projected winner, but the evidence is too thin to price their chances of covering with confidence. The extra 1.5 points protect against a one-point defeat; they offer no protection against a larger loss.

Dallas’s turnover problems could ease, and Smith’s return supplies a credible counterargument to the Packers lean. Neither side earns an actionable spread recommendation.

Dallas Cowboys vs Green Bay Packers total prediction

Total recommendation: Pass on Over 50.5 (-113) and Under 50.5 (-108). The 23-20 projection leans below the line, and the cited Tampa Bay games finished with 31 and 40 combined points. Those two results alone are a weak foundation for an Under wager.

Dallas’s yards allowed raise the possibility of more scoring, while turnovers can either interrupt drives or create scoring opportunities. The projected total expresses a cautious game forecast, without enough conviction to justify either supplied price.

Dallas Cowboys vs Green Bay Packers projected score

Game forecast: Packers 23, Cowboys 20. Confidence is low. Love’s October 4 accuracy and Dallas’s October 8 defensive struggles give Green Bay the slight edge. The strongest counterargument is a cleaner Cowboys offensive performance with Smith back in the lineup, particularly given Green Bay’s unresolved defensive injury questions.

The official SportsJaw betting lean is Pass. Both the spread and total remain passes despite the decisive selection of Green Bay as the projected winner.

SportsJawGame Predictions
Predicted score

DAL20

GB23

Projected winner Green Bay PackersConfidenceModerate Lean — Green Bay Packers
Pick on the Spread

Moderate Lean — Green Bay Packers +1.5

Editorial pick at publication: Pass on Green Bay Packers +1.5 (-111) and Dallas Cowboys -1.5 (-113)

Pick on the Total

Strong Lean — Under 50.5

Editorial pick at publication: Pass on Over 50.5 (-113) and Under 50.5 (-108)

Sources

  • Green Bay PackersPrevious-game context: Packers hold on to beat Buccaneers, 17-14
  • Green Bay PackersPackers place RB Chris Brooks on injured reserve
  • Dallas CowboysPrevious-game context: Pic 6: Defensive struggles continue, injury roundup and more from Week 5

SportsJaw Cowboys vs Packers game preview analysis and predictions incorporate current odds, injury reports, team statistics and market data. Information is updated regularly, but lines and player availability can change. Please confirm current information before wagering. View history of past Cowboys vs Packers matchups or learn how our predictions work.

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