PD Packer Review: Week 10/Cowboys

A little desperation can go a long way, it seems. 

6 days after the Green Bay Packers offensive unit had a clear the air meeting, the Packers came out and defeated the Dallas Cowboys 17-7.  It was a much needed victory against a quality opponent, arguably the first that the Packers have had this season.  While I was surprised that the Packers were able to generate a solid win when all the signs pointed to a blowout loss, I can’t say that I was shocked.  In the NFL, winning often comes down to the team that needs it most.  And there is no question that there was much more at stake for the Packers in this game than there was for the Cowboys.

Dallas had risen to first place in the NFC East Division on the strength of four consecutive victories and appeared to be hitting on all cylinders.  Green Bay, on the other hand, followed an embarrassing home loss to the Minnesota Vikings with an even more embarrassing loss to the formerly winless Buccaneers in Tampa; a game that looks even worse now in retrospect.  In light of his players feeling the need to take matters into their own hands, there were also fears that head coach Mike McCarthy might be losing his team. 

For all the talk about the offense’s conciousness (and hell?) raising session, it was the defense that carried this day for the Packers.  Green Bay was able to keep Dallas’ ground game under control until they abandoned it completely with them calling only 11 running plays all game.  When he dropped back to pass, the Packers were regularly able to pressure Cowboy quarterback Tony Romo.  Daefensive coordinator Dom Capers dialed up a variety of blitzes from all angles and, for once, his players got home.  Linebackers Nick Barnett and Clay Matthews and defensive backs Charles Woodson and Nick Collins all registered quarterback sacks.  Woodson was a one man wrecking crew forcing two fumbles and denying a Dallas score by making a diving interception of a Romo pass at the goal line.

As for the offense, there seemed to be a concerted effort to play a little more conservatively; a plan that was facilitated by the effectiveness of the defense.  Quarterback Aaron Rodgers barely went downfield as he has for most of the season, instead calling more slants and screens that left him less vulnerable to the Dallas defenders.  Rodgers still was sacked 4 times and had his lowest yards per attempt in any game this season, but he helped the Packers to an almost 12 minute advantage in time of possession.  And, unlike the last two games, the special teams didn’t hemorrhage any momentum changing kick returns once the Packers did score.

Solid as this performance was for the Packers, it was far from perfect.  Aside from the 4 sacks on Rodgers, the Packers also were whistled 12 times for penalties totaling 100 yards.  McCarthy himself messed up on a couple of replay challenges; first throwing the challenge flag before he even had a chance to see the initial replay and later attempting to call for a replay after he had exhausted his challenges.  The officials charitably ignored the second that should have resulted in another penalty.  The Packers also benefitted when they recovered a fumble on a play that replays showed should have been ruled ‘down by contact’ but was deemed ‘non-reviewable’ by the rules.   That sequence set the Packers up at the Dallas 3 yard line and led to their game clinching score; a two yard touchdown pass to tight end Spencer Havner.

In addition, Dallas failed to capitalize on a couple of plays that could have set up game changing scores; notably two long passes to wide receiver Roy Williams, one of which he dropped and the other in which he was stripped of the ball by Woodson.

In the end, this was a game that may have raised as many or more questions than it provided answers.  First and foremost, is this the start of a playoff run or simply a one game aberration?  Is the intensity that the defense displayed sustainable for the rest of the season?  With rookie Brad Jones proving capable (for one game at least) playing in place of an injured Aaron Kampman, can Capers find a way of utilizing them both effectively?  Has rookie offensive tackle T.J. Lang found a home on the right side of the line or do the Packers return to veteran Mark Tauscher?  And finally, can the Packers formulate a consistent offensive game plan that keeps Aaron Rodgers from getting killed?

For the answers to these and other questions, tune in starting next Sunday when the Packers host the San Francisco 49ers at Lambeau Field.

Tags: Aaron Rodgers, Charles Woodson, Green Bay Packers, Mike McCarthy, NFL, Pro Football