How ‘Bout Them Cowboys!
Wild card weekend didn’t disappoint in Dallas. Well, Dallas was a little disappointed. The Packers were full of surprises from the opening coin flip, electing to receive the ball, rather than deferring to defense first. It certainly set a commanding tone for coach LaFleur and the team early. Starting off with a scoring drive was exactly what the Packers needed going into this game, Aaron Jones was just the man for the job. Doubs helped sustain the scoring drive with a clutch 3rd down catch to get in the red zone. Dak threw Green Bay’s defense its first INT gift shortly after that to start spoiling the Cowboys playoff party. But there was so much more to come in “jerry world”.
Love threw for 272 yards and spread the ball between Doubs, Musgrave, and Wicks for 3 touchdowns, no interceptions. Rookie TE Tucker Kraft had some chunk catches, on top of stellar edge blocking. Luke Musgrave’s TD, made production from the tight ends, and offensive line the best all year. Opening up holes Jerry Jones could walk through, it was no wonder Aaron Jones averaged just over 5 yards per carry again. His 4th game in a row over 100 yards rushing, with 3 touchdowns for himself, kept Jones fed for the day and Dan Quinn’s defense stunned.
Speaking of defense, “the Barry Bunch” showed up to pour some nacho cheese down the throat of Dak “choke-scott” and the cowgirls. Keisean Nixon from the secondary, Campbell, Van Ness, and Preston Smith brought their brown bags for 4 sack lunches on the day. The pressure obviously rattled Dak and caused 2 interceptions including the pick six to Savage. Not letting up a touchdown until the end of the 3rd qtr, most of Dallas’s points came in garbage minutes with backups on the field. There’s no telling exactly how many flat screen tv’s were killed in Texas that Sunday, plenty I reckon.
Playing the number 7 seed in the divisional playoff is a dream come true matchup for the San Francisco 49ers. But there is reason to be cautious in the bay area, a hot team like the Packers can always burn you. Every juggernaut type of team will have the pressure put on them in the case against the Packers this year, creating a psychological advantage. On paper, and watching the 49ers as a student of the game, they are the better team going into this matchup. Kyle Shanahan’s teams have been consistently physical, and well disciplined, having the Packers number every year in recent history. Technically speaking, I’d say Green Bay is not yet equipped to handle a team like the Niners. But this also, is not the complacent, predictable Packers of 2020 and 2022.
Green Bay was not even supposed to be in the playoffs this year, let alone this far, and are really playing with nothing to lose. Momentum is everything in this game, and this group is surging with 8 wins and 3 losses since November. Our front 4 are going to make or break this game in San Francisco, especially being down a starting linebacker in Kingsley Enagbare, and ball hawk corner Jaire Alexander questionable. If these young guys can take the energy and their recent sack production to slow down Brock Purdy and company, Jordan Love’s got the crew to shoot it out.
Packers are hot at just the right time, with a healthy and hungry Aaron Jones. Jordan Love is solidifying himself as the next franchise Quarterback, while the receivers are settling into their complimenting roles. And I’m very curious to see how this year’s game plan against the Niners goes, now that we have head coach Matt LeFleurs’ team on the field and not volunteer coach Rodgers in the mix. There is no one better suited to prepare against coach Shanahan, than Matt LeFleur; who worked with him in the Redskins, Texans and Falcons organizations before he was an offensive mastermind. Get loud, put some extra cheese on whatever it is, and GO PACK GO!
