The Dallas Cowboys (13-4) will head up to Wisconsin and face the Green Bay Packers (12-4) at Lambeau Field in chilly conditions on Jan. 11. Viewers can watch online the Cowboys vs. Packers via live stream - free for subscribers - below.
Given that the game will be held in ice-cold Wisconsin, it is natural to assume that the Packers would have a natural advantage against the Cowboys, who come from an area that generally gets warmer weather. According to the Associated Press, both receivers and defensive backs have to be prepared for the sting that comes with trying to catch a "cold ball."
"'I think whoever handles the ball best in the cold is going to come up on top. I think we definitely have the advantage," Packers cornerback and special teams ace Jarrett Bush said. "At the same time, it is football, and you've got to line up and prove it between the white lines."
According to an article from Sports Network, the Packers and Cowboys will meet in the playoffs for the first time since the 1967 NFL championship, which is more commonly known as the "Ice Bowl."
"Green Bay won that contest on the frozen tundra and is back in the playoffs for a sixth straight season," Sports Network wrote. "The Packers captured an NFC North title for a fourth straight season with a 12-4 record and went 8-0 at home."
The game will inevitably draw comparisons between quarterbacks Aaron Rodgers and Tony Romo, who are both competing this weekend.
"Rodgers led the Packers to seven wins in the last eight weeks of the regular season and will go toe-to-toe with Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo," Sports Network wrote. "Romo led Dallas to an 8-0 road ledger, throwing for 20 touchdowns to just two interceptions away from home."
Even though Green Bay has the home field advantage, Packers head coach Mike McCarthy has taken notice of the Cowboys' success outside of Dallas. The Cowboys were 8-0 on the road during the regular season, according to Sports Network.
"This will be a big challenge," McCarthy said. "It's definitely something that jumps off the stat sheet when you see eight wins on the road."
Sports Network noted that McCarthy has led the Packers to the playoffs in seven of his nine seasons in charge of the team. However, Packers defensive back Micah Hyde is unfazed by the Cowboys' winning road record.
"We don't pay attention to them being 8-0 on the road because they haven't come here and beaten us here at Lambeau, but it's going to be a tough matchup and we understand that," Hyde said.
As for the Cowboys, the key to victory may rely on how well the players cope with the cold weather. The Associated Press reported that the Cowboys have won in chilly weather before, citing the Dec. 4 game in Soldier Field where Dallas beat the Chicago Bears 41-28.
"It comes down to what is your resistance to the cold, how much you can tolerate it," Cowboys cornerback Brandon Carr said. "This game, this time of season, get comfortable."
It also helps the Cowboys that Romo, who grew up in southeastern Wisconsin, has familiarity with Midwest winters. According to the Associated Press, Romo is 3-5 as a starter in games played when the temperature dipped below 40 degrees Fahrenheit.
"It can affect you if you haven't played in it before and if you're not prepared," Romo said. "For us, we'll just put our head down and go to work, like we always do."
Sunday's game will begin at 1:05 p.m. ET on Fox. Online viewers can stream the game though Fox Sports Go and watch it on demand via NFL Game Rewind.
