The Green Bay Packers and Dallas Cowboys. Thanks to one game in 1967 this will always be a historical matchup. History was once again made Sunday night when the Cowboys earned their first ever win at Lambeau Field, making a statement along the way. The Packers had their opportunities and have no one to blame but themselves. The Cowboys are clearly the class of the league and with the Patriots losing Tom Brady, probably the Super Bowl favorites. I have to admit, I didn’t think they were that good, but the Cowboys’ dominance on the offensive and defensive lines was the difference in the game.
Three times in the red zone and three field goals will not get the job done, especially at home and even more so against a team like the Cowboys. Quarterback Aaron Rodgers was running for his life and sacked five times. Amazingly, he did not throw an interception and did manage 290 yards, but much of that was in garbage time. The inability of Rodgers to get the team in the endzone early will be highly criticized, but after reviewing the tape, there were not many options available for him and at least he didn’t throw a pick, which allowed the Packers to stay within striking distance most of the game.
This will be a learning experience for Rodgers and even though he did not play bad, how he is able to get his team to bounce back next week on the road in Tampa will be a nice judge of his leadership abilities. In fact, Rodgers should be the least or our concerns, he is a player that will get better each week, each experience will make him better. The Packers really need to be concerned about their decreasing ability to stop the opponents running game.
Three games into the season the Packers’ defense has been hemorrhaging yards both via the ground and air, a disturbing trend. Giving up 19, 25, and 27 points is not bad considering the opponents, but how long can they bend and not break? And can the offense bail them out like they did in two of the first three games? This is not in any stretch of the imagination the 1996 Packers’ defense. Do the Packers need that defense to make the playoffs and advance further, probably not, but they need a better performance beginning next week at the 2-1 Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
It will be a different defense next week against the Bucs, cornerback Al Harris is out for the year with a spleen injury and his replacement, Tramon Williams was primarily responsible, along with safety Aaron Rouse, for the Cowboys game-clinching touchdown pass yesterday. In that respect, confidence can’t be too high considering Bucs’ QB Brian Griese threw for 407 yards against the Bears Sunday. However, I think after facing the Cowboys, whatever team the Packers play next week it will be easier to execute. And like Ryan Pickett just said on “Larry McCarren’s Locker Room,” they don’t crown the Super Bowl Champions in September.
To sum up, it was a disappointing loss, to say the least, given so many chances to take control. But it was a team loss to a pretty good football team. You can’t say great team because the Cowboys haven’t won a playoff game in a decade, but right now, they are the flavor of the month. I like the Packers’ chances in a rematch in January.
As the now lost for the season Al Harris would say, “It is what it is,” and it isn’t all bad.