The Green Bay Packers will not know who they will be playing on January 11 until late Sunday night so here’s a quick take on each possibility. The potential foes are the Dallas Cowboys, Arizona Cardinals or Carolina Panthers.
Dallas Cowboys – The Cowboys are the most likely scenario as they have a home game against the Detroit Lions Sunday. However, it would not shock me one bit if the Lions were able to keep the Cowboys in check and pull off the upset. I can’t see the Lion’s run defense getting shredded two weeks in a row. If the Cowboys DeMarco Murray is shut down the pressure would really be on Tony Romo and that is not a good thing for Cowboys’ fan.
If the Cowboys do win they will come to Lambeau for a playoff game for the first time since the 1967 Ice Bowl. The Cowboys have the multitude of weapons that can give the Packers big trouble, starting with the beast that is Murray. The Cowboys are playing as well as any team in the league right now and Packers-Cowboys would be must-see TV for sure.
Arizona Cardinals – The Cardinals did all of their damage early in the season in building a 9-1 start. But injuries have killed them down the stretch, especially at quarterback. The one thing the Cardinals do have though, is a stout defense. It’s a defense that could give the Packers problems, but even still the Cardinals’ offense would be no match for the Packers.
Carolina Panthers – The Panthers are red hot after going two months of the season without a win. Of course, they haven’t beaten anybody good in their four-game winning streak, beating the Browns, Bucs, Saints and Falcons. But as a result they have a very winnable home playoff game. The Panthers are a different team than the one that the Packers destroyed on October 19 in Lambeau. Cam Newton has come alive and the Panthers’ defense is looking more like the Panthers’ defense of old. The Panthers would be a tough opponent playing with a lot of confidence if they come to Lambeau. Probably not enough to overcome the Packers at home, though.
While I think I would like to see either the Cardinals or Panthers, which would take a Lions win over Dallas, again it’s a be careful what you wish for. What if the Lions beat Dallas and Seattle and have to come back to Lambeau for the NFC title? To me, that is almost as scary as the Packers going to Seattle.