Funny how some journalists have completely bought into the Cowboys' claim that the only reason Aaron Rodgers played well against them last year was that they didn't game-plan for him:
September 19, 2008 4:20 PM
Posted by ESPN.com's Matt Mosley
Dallas Cowboys (2-0) at Green Bay Packers (2-0), 8:15 p.m. ET
Make no mistake. The Cowboys are going to come after Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers early and often. For the past two games, defensive end Greg Ellis has been asked to drop back in coverage a lot more than usual. That's not going to happen against Rogers. It also helps the Cowboys that Terence Newman appears to be close to full strength. The Packers' receivers are the best in the league at running after the catch.
The Cowboys will try to put pressure on the Packers' secondary from the opening snap. This might sound like NFC East bias, but I smell a blowout. On paper, this is an unbelievable matchup.
But there's no way the Packers can hang with the Cowboys in a shootout, and that's what's going to happen. The Cowboys have some tape on Rodgers now. They played against him last season, and Rodgers played well in relief of an injured Brett Favre. Cowboys roll in this one.
Here's another take from a different writer on the same page. He doesn't make a prediction, but I'm intrigued by this idea of a "surprise defensive game plan":
Dallas Cowboys (2-0) at Green Bay Packers (2-0), 8:15 p.m. ET
Everyone's expecting a track meet in a game that features two of the NFL's top 6 offenses, and we can't disagree. Several Packers players have hinted a surprise defensive game plan is in place; if true, it's an admission they probably wouldn't slow down the Cowboys out of their base set.
What type of alignment could Green Bay employ? A base nickel? More aggressive blitzing? Anything they do will be with at least one backup safety already in the game. Atari Bigby is expected to sit out because of a hamstring injury; Aaron Rouse is his likely replacement.
If you were the Packers, would you try to match the Cowboys score-for-score? Or would you slow down your own offense and try to keep them off the field? That issue no doubt surfaced in the Packers' offices this week. There is also the possibility they'll face a fatigued opponent after the Cowboys' wild Monday Night Football game against Philadelphia.
In the end, however, the Packers will to need all the points they can get. Start your engines.
If you want to read the whole page, here's the link:
http://myespn.go.com/blogs/nflnation?tag=audibles%20nfc%203