Few people thought the Green Bay Packers would be playing in the Wild Card round against the Dallas Cowboys. It’s almost like the football gods destined this matchup. Not only is this a long-standing rivalry, but it also smells of retribution in the air at Jerry’s World.
Mike McCarthy will get a chance to prove that the Packers made a mistake firing him all those years ago. McCarthy isn’t the only Cowboy with something to prove, however. Dak also faces some pressure. He has been in six playoff games and holds a record of 2-4.
Cowboys nation will expect victory against the young and inexperienced Green Bay Packers. However, with expectations comes pressure. Some people overcome it, and others cascade down an abyss of apprehension. The Packers will hope for the latter. Here are the three keys to taking down the Cowboys.
Green Bay Packers Must Play With Confidence
The first key, in my opinion, is relatively simple. The Packers need to be confident that they can compete in this game. A lot of stories emerging in the media are writing the Packers off. Many people are saying that they don’t belong here. That they are just happy to be here. I’m here to disagree respectfully. Even though the Packers are the youngest team to make the playoffs in 50 years, that doesn’t mean they will roll over and let the Cowboys take this game without a fight. I won’t believe a Matt Lafluer-coached team will do anything less than give everything they have.
The Cowboys are the two-seed for a reason. They are dangerous on offense and well-coached on defense. However, some people have them pegged as a generational juggernaut, and I would disagree. I read a statistic that the Cowboys have the second most wins by 20 or more points in NFL history. Let’s take a look at those 20-point victories.
Games
- Week 1
- Cowboys beat the Giants 40-0. (I don’t think I’m alone when I say Daniel Jones isn’t a 160-million-dollar quarterback.)
- Week 2
- Cowboys beat the Jets 30-10. (Zach Wilson was the most criticized quarterback of 2023. If this game had been against Aaron Rodgers, it may have had a different outcome.)
- Week 4
- Cowboys beat the Patriots 38-3. (If Zach Wilson was public enemy number one. Mac Jones was a close second. Both players will be backups or third-string next season.)
- Week 7
- Cowboys beat the Rams 43-20. (Stafford injured his thumb late in the third quarter. Brett Rypien replaced him.)
- Week 9
- Cowboys beat the Giants 49-17. (Daniel Jones was out for this game. Tommy DeVito made his first career start that game and, like any first-time starter, was shut out in the first half.)
- Week 10
- Cowboys beat the Panthers 33-10. (The Panthers were the worst teams in the NFL all season.)
- Week 11
- Cowboys beat the Commanders 45-10. (Washington traded Chase Young and Montez Sweat punting on this season weeks before this game.)
- Week 13
- Cowboys beat the Eagles 33-13. (I’ll give the Cowboys credit for this game. This game might have been the straw that broke the camel’s back.)
- Week 18
- Cowboys beat the Commanders 38-10. (Different game, same story.)
Conclusion
None of these 20-point victories were against good quarterbacks. If you look at the games in which they played a good quarterback, they were close games and losses. The Packers can compete in this game.
Start Fast
If the Packers can get off to a fast start, it will change the complexion of this game. The Cowboys have two clear strengths. They are rushing the passer and throwing the football. PFF grades them as the 2nd best pass rush in the NFL, and Dak leads the NFL in touchdown throws and is top five in every other important statistic. In my opinion, Dak has struggled with forcing throws when he feels pressure. This year hasn’t faced a lot of pressure. Nine wins by 20 or more points is impressive, but sometimes it is good to face adversity, so when adversity strikes, you are ready.
If the Packers can make Dak and the Cowboys feel some heat, it might also lead to mistakes. I don’t just mean mistakes from Dak. I mean from everyone. It could become an interception if the Packers can take advantage of an impatient Dak. If the defense gets impatient, it could mean an explosive play. The Packers have been in the fire all season, and the more they can drag Dallas down into that fire with them, the more this game will flip in the Packers favor.
Win the Line of Scrimmage and Feed Aaron Jones
This is generally the deciding factor in every game. If they want a chance in this football game, the Green Bay Packers need to play tough up front on both sides of the ball. That might be a tall order, but I think the way the offense and defensive lines have been playing lately is trending upward. Football has always been a game of inches.
The Cowboys are in trouble if the Packers can get some push on offense and run the ball with Aaron Jones. Aaron Jones has had some good games at AT&T over the years, and I’m sure he is ready to add one more. He has the freshest legs on the teams, and they should put them to use. Help Jordan Love, and the offense stays ahead of the sticks, giving this offense easy conversion opportunities.
On defense, it’s simple. If you sack Dak, he can’t throw. The Packers need to disrupt the offensive timing and limit the deep throws. This season, Dak has been lights out, throwing deep. On throws of 20 or more yards, he has thrown for ten touchdowns, one interception, and a 128.0 passer rating. He isn’t quite as good if the Packers can force him to get the ball out quickly. On throws nine yards and shorter, Dak has thrown nine touchdowns, six interceptions, and a 95.6 passer rating.
Go, Pack, Go!
Like most Packers fans, I’m excited for the game. Making the playoffs was a massive win in year one of this “rebuild.” Billie Jean King wrote, “Pressure is a privilege- it only comes to those who earn it.” Hopefully, the Packers can use that privilege against the Cowboys this weekend and earn it for themselves in the coming seasons.
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