As Mills Lane would say, “Lets get it on”. The Packers and Cowboys are about to do just that. Thursday night the battle of NFC powers will determine home field advantage throughout the playoffs which gives the winner the inside track to the Super Bowl. One thing is sure, the Cowboys need this game much more than the Green Bay Packers. The Cowboys do not want to be in Green Bay in mid January, I can promise you that. A trip south in the middle of winter for the Packers is much easier. In fact, for some reason, maybe a hunch, I think the Packers have a better chance of winning the NFC Championship in Dallas than they do winning Thursday’s game.
Which brings me to showdown in Dallas. Both teams are playing it down saying one game will not define their season. For Green Bay that is true, but for Dallas it is not. They have already lost to the best team in the AFC and they certainly do not want to lose to the Packers and not be the best team in the NFC. All the pressure that can possibly be on a team in a regular season game is on the Cowboys. The upstart Packers would shock the world with a win. The Packers need to focus on the big picture and not get too concerned over a win or loss but a win would take them to the next level. I’m still in first things first mode and the Packers just need to secure a playoff spot first and that happens when you play one game at a time. A first round bye should be the next goal and home field throughout would be a nice bonus.
The Packers might be without their best cornerback and second best pass rusher for the game if Charles Woodson and KGB can’t play because of injuries and regardless of what anyone says else-wise, that is a huge factor. I think the world of Jason Hunter and Jarrett Bush, but come on, it’s not the same. Not to mention Justin Harrell has to play this week. Good luck with that. While it’s only Monday I’m leaning toward Dallas because of their defense and better running game. The Cowboys are seventh in the NFL in rushing and the Packers are thirty-second and last. The Cowboys average over 40 yards a game more on the ground than the Packers and in time of possession that’s about five minutes. Five minutes in which Brett Favre is not on the field.
I think the Packers certainly have a chance to win because I think Tony Romo can be rattled and Romo and Owens do not scare me like Aikman, Irvin and Smith used to. Also, the Packers seemed to be even keel this week despite Favre saying yesterday’s practice was less than average. Head coach Mike McCarthy has done an excellent job so far this season of not letting his team get too up or too down, what happens on Thursday will be another step in his coaching career, good or bad.
Memories of the 90s are hard to get out of my head, this is a different team on both sides, however. Prediction coming Wednesday.