Green Bay Packers head coach Mike McCarthy took back playing calling duties from assistant head coach Tom Clements and the result was a resounding 28-7 win over the Dallas Cowboys. The Packers offense showed the balance they have been lacking for most of the year in rolling up 435 yards of offense.
Running back Eddie Lacy led a punishing ground game with 124 yards on 24 carries and was at his best when the Packers needed him most in the second half. Touchdown runs by Lacy and James Starks put the game away in the fourth quarter.
McCarthy indicated after the game he would be the play caller going forward, and not just for this one game. The move was totally unexpected because McCarthy is loyal to a fault. But I guess 12 games was a large enough sample size and he could feel the season slipping away, hence the move. Since that was Tom Clements only job after being promoted from offensive coordinator his time in Green Bay may come to end after the season. I can’t see McCarthy giving him a second chance at calling plays, so he would have to accept a demotion to stay.
The Packers’ offense put up its most yardage since week three and pretty much kept the game in hand in combination with another good defensive effort. When you can run the ball like that you are going to win a lot of games. That was exactly how the Packers’ envisioned Lacy and Starks complimenting each other.
The Packers have to be a little concerned with their run defense, but even with being gashed for several long runs they only surrendered one touchdown. Of course, the Cowboy’s Matt Cassel is a horrible quarterback. How they ever won a game with him under center is beyond me.
The Packers’ young secondary played well again even if it was Cassel throwing the ball. Dez Bryant was held to one catch for nine yards while being covered by first round draft pick Demarious Randall for most of the game. Randall, who should be a shoo-in for defensive rookie of the year, replaced Sam Shields as the primary cover man for Bryant after Shields left with a concussion. It says a lot about the young man that Dom Capers would trust him to cover the opponent’s best player without help.
All in all it was by far the Packers’ best game since rolling over Kansas City on September 28. The Packers will now try to keep the momentum going next week in Oakland against the 6-7 Raiders, who are fresh off a victory over the Broncos in Denver.
Even if the Packers lose their next two games, their last game of the season would be for the division championship. I think beating the Raiders will give them at least a wildcard spot but haven’t seen that officially. But I can’t find a combination that will keep the Packers out with a 10-6 record using ESPN’s playoff machine.
The Packers are in a good spot considering all their struggles this year.