Packers look to take down “Big D” in their return to the playoffs
After a one-year hiatus, the Packers are back in the playoffs and have a matchup with the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium during the late afternoon on Sunday.
The Packers are the #7 seed and finished the season 9-8 after their 17-9 home victory over the Chicago Bears last Sunday afternoon to clinch their spot in the postseason. The Cowboys are the #2 seed and the NFC East Division Champions, finishing the regular season 12-5, including a perfect 8-0 home record. Their final game was a 38-10 road victory over the Washington Commanders during the same time period the Packers were getting past the Bears.
Dak Prescott has had an amazing season, but one thing that has eluded him is a lengthy playoff run. He can take that first step on Sunday vs Green Bay. He is elusive and can hurt you with his arm and legs. The Packers need to stay disciplined and spy him. He has many weapons around him, including CeeDee Lamb and former Wisconsin Badger TE Jake Ferguson. The Packers need to take advantage of their opportunities on defense. Get some turnovers and wrap up Prescott before he can break free. Had Detroit been able to wrap him up in his own endzone, they likely would have been the #2 seed.
Jordan Love is in the playoffs during his first season as the Packers’ top QB, something Bart Starr, Brett Favre and Aaron Rodgers failed to accomplish. Aaron Jones has had some big games vs the Cowboys, home and away, and another big performance would go a long way in getting the upset win. The status for Christian Watson is up in the air. They will need as much help as they can get. Let’s finish drives with touchdowns and capitalize on every opportunity. They cannot afford to have the clock run out like they did in the first half vs the Bears.
Another big story is the fact that the Packers are facing their former head coach in Mike McCarthy. He is downplaying the matchup, but this is a big game for him, not only because it’s his former team, but it’s highly possible that another early playoff exit might spell the end of his coaching tenure in Dallas.
Speaking of job security, this is a huge game for Defensive Coordinator Joe Barry. The defense has been playing well these last 2 weeks after being awful the previous 3 games. If they regress and get blown out of the stadium, he might be returning to Green Bay to pack up his belongings.
This will be the 9th playoff meeting between the Packers and Cowboys. The playoff series is tied 4-4. The Packers defeated the Cowboys in consecutive seasons to advance to Super Bowls I and II. The Cowboys won once in the 1980s and 3 consecutive years in the 1990s, all 4 matchups at Texas Stadium. The Packers won twice in the 2010s, once at Lambeau Field and once at AT&T Stadium. In fact, the Packers have yet to lose at that stadium, regular season or playoffs. Remember, they won Super Bowl XLV at that stadium.
It’s “Win or go home” time. If the Packers win this game, it is guaranteed that they will be playing the San Francisco 49ers in Santa Clara in the Divisional Round. This will not be an easy game to win by any means, but the Cowboys are very beatable. The Packers need to avoid any playoff jitters and play disciplined football and take advantage of any opportunities they are given. Let’s set the tempo and bring the fight to them. I’m not ready for their season to end. Let’s go out there and deliver a huge victory and continue this playoff run!
Go Pack Go!
@DieHardPackersFan #DHPF #GregGoshaw @gg901
