Nonstopdrivel
15 years ago

Same game, different views for Packers, Cowboys  

By Tom Silverstein of the Journal Sentinel

Posted: Nov. 13, 2009

If you were tracking the fortunes of the Green Bay Packers and Dallas Cowboys, their lines on a graph chart would pass each other going 100 mph.

Down like a high-speed elevator go the Packers, up like a rocket flare go the Cowboys.

At the halfway point of the season, the motives for victory Sunday at Lambeau Field couldn't be more dissimilar even when you consider the ultimate goal for both teams is to win the Super Bowl.

For the Cowboys, Sunday represents a chance to elongate the springboard lift they got from a critical road victory over NFC East rival Philadelphia last week, and for the Packers it is the ultimate survival challenge after a devastating loss to previously winless Tampa Bay.

There's a lot on the line for both teams.

"It's a big game," Packers cornerback Charles Woodson said. "It's not just going to be this game. We've put ourselves into that situation where every week is going to be a big game. Last week was a tough one. We let one get away, so every week is going to be big, starting with the Dallas Cowboys, who are really on fire right now."

The 6-2 Cowboys come into the game on a four-game winning streak that began with an overtime victory on the road against the lowly Kansas City Chiefs. They beat Atlanta, Seattle and the Eagles in the weeks following and sit alone atop the NFC East, one game ahead of Philadelphia and 1 games ahead of the New York Giants.

If the Cowboys win Sunday, the only obstacles between them and a 9-2 record are Oakland and Washington, a pair of 2-6 teams going nowhere. They absolutely want to ride the momentum they gained by beating the Eagles in Philadelphia.

"They've played at a high, high level the whole year and they're a tough team at their home place, even when they haven't had great seasons," quarterback Tony Romo said of the Eagles. "They're just hard to beat there. I think for us to go up there and do that, maybe gave us a little bit of confidence in the sense of knowing that we could go somewhere and win in an environment like that.

"But there's no midseason awards; we're not getting any Super Bowl trophies now or anything right now. So we don't pretend that it's any bigger than what that was. We needed to do that; that was big for us. But now all of a sudden this becomes the most important game of the season."

Oddly, the Packers don't have to win this game to remain in the hunt for a playoff berth; it just would help their cause all the way around to beat a team like the Cowboys. Of the Packers' 10 victories over the last two seasons, only two (Indianapolis and Chicago) came against teams that had a winning record at the time, and neither had a record as good as the Cowboys' is now.

The Packers aren't likely to make the playoffs with an 8-8 mark as San Diego did last year because potential wild-card teams like Atlanta (5-3), Philadelphia (5-3) and the Giants (5-4) are strong enough to finish with 10 or 11 victories. But just as some teams have bounced back at midseason, some have gone into the tank, and it's hard to know where others will be at the end of the season.

With Minnesota comfortably ahead in the NFC North at 7-1, the wild card is the only carrot dangling in front of the Packers.

Eight games in, their problems seem so deep that nothing short of a miracle can turn them around. However, their issues aren't widespread; they basically come down to a quarterback and offensive line that have taken a league-leading 37 sacks and special teams that have had three bad weeks in a row.

Fix those two things, and they have a chance.

"I think the guys feel good about their capabilities, their potential, their ability," offensive coordinator Joe Philbin said. "There's obviously a difference between potential and performance, but by some measures we're not a half bad offense. On paper, it's hard to say this is a bad offense besides the number of sacks we've taken. I think they believe in themselves."

The bigger question - as posed by team president Mark Murphy this week - is whether the coaching staff can make the changes that can foster a rebound. Coach Mike McCarthy lightened the players' load this week on the field, and there appeared to be more jocularity and looseness during practice.

Still, the pressure on general manager Ted Thompson and McCarthy to succeed can be felt all the way into the locker room, given the pair have failed to get the Packers to the playoffs two out of their three years together. If they continue on the course they've set this season, there are no guarantees either will be back next season.

The players seem to understand what's at stake, as evidenced by an open offensive players meeting earlier this week.

"We're professionals," quarterback Aaron Rodgers said. "We've got to be held to a standard of expectation from each other. The coaches expect the guys to play well when they get the opportunity. We expect each other to play well. We've got to win those battles. We've got to do better."

After the Cowboys game, the Packers host the 4-5 San Francisco 49ers and play the 1-7 Detroit Lions at Ford Field on Thanksgiving Day. Then they get 11 days to prepare for a home meeting against the 4-4 Baltimore Ravens.

If they're going to start a run, there's no better time to do it than Sunday.

"This definitely is a very important game," Packers receiver Greg Jennings said. "To go from 4-4 to a losing record, you just can't have that."

To assume they'll be playing a Cowboys team that isn't motivated would be a mistake. Though Dallas has had its midseason blips before under Romo, this is its chance to show it can steam-roll anyone who gets in its way. The Packers just happen to be next in line, standing there with a desperate look on their faces.

"We're 4-4, we know what's in front of us," Rodgers said. "We need a win."


UserPostedImage
Since69
15 years ago

Same game, different views for Packers, Cowboys  

By Tom Silverstein of the Journal Sentinel

...
The Packers just happen to be next in line, standing there with a desperate look on their faces.

"Nonstopdrivel" wrote:



Hahahahahahaha! I don't think that look was 'desperation'...
UserPostedImage
Fan Shout
dfosterf (18-Aug) : We do have good depth at running back imo. Still so frustrating. Bitching about it is a futile excercise, which I plan to do anyway.
Mucky Tundra (17-Aug) : Whoops, I thought Zero was saying it was a surprise the Brewers lost and not Lloyd being hurt
Mucky Tundra (17-Aug) : Not a surprise; inevitable
Zero2Cool (17-Aug) : Brewers streak ends at 14
Zero2Cool (17-Aug) : SURPRISE
Mucky Tundra (17-Aug) : @mattschneidman Matt LaFleur on MarShawn Lloyd: “He’s gonna miss some time.”
Mucky Tundra (16-Aug) : CLIFFORD WITH THE TD WITH UNDER 2 TO GO!!!!!
Zero2Cool (16-Aug) : 90 MINUTES UNTIL FAKE KICKOFF!!
Martha Careful (16-Aug) : I think Ruven is a bot, but regardless should be stricken from the site.
Zero2Cool (14-Aug) : Packers RB Josh Jacobs ranked No. 33 in NFL 'Top 100'
dfosterf (13-Aug) : The LVN Musgrave collision- Andy Herman said Musgrave seemed to be the one most impacted injury-wise
dfosterf (13-Aug) : a lower back injury
dfosterf (13-Aug) : Doubs says he's "fine" after injury scare. Some reported it as z
Mucky Tundra (13-Aug) : With LVN that is; need to see what happens in the next practice
Mucky Tundra (13-Aug) : beast, reading about what happened, it sounded like one of those "two guys collide and are moving slow afterwards" type of deals
beast (12-Aug) : I believe Musgrave has been injured every single season since at least a Sophomore in highschool
packerfanoutwest (12-Aug) : Matt LaFleur: “Highly unlikely” Jordan Love plays more this preseason
dfosterf (12-Aug) : Doubs, Savion Williams, LVN, Musgrave all banged up to one degree or another, missing one here I forget
Zero2Cool (12-Aug) : RB Tyrion Davis-Price is signing with the Green Bay Packers.
Zero2Cool (12-Aug) : zero help, dominated. preseason
beast (12-Aug) : QB Jordan Love has surgery
beast (12-Aug) : Martha said Morgan had a lot of help, I didn't watch the OL so I can't say.
Zero2Cool (10-Aug) : Packers LT Jordan Morgan did not allow a single pressure across 23 pass-blocking snaps vs. Jets last night, per PFF
Mucky Tundra (10-Aug) : With buckeye and the reasonable couple, we're currently sitting at 10
buckeyepackfan (10-Aug) : Just posted to re-up on our FFL.
Zero2Cool (10-Aug) : If healthy after, then thats all I care. Well, no drops would be nice
wpr (10-Aug) : I made it through the 1st Q.
dfosterf (10-Aug) : Just gotta figure out how.
dfosterf (10-Aug) : Could have been a worse start, so there is that.
beast (10-Aug) : Yeah, someone tell the Packers football season has started, seems like they weren't ready for it
Mucky Tundra (10-Aug) : Sooooooo many penalties
Mucky Tundra (10-Aug) : It may only be preseason, but this game is a trip to the dentist
Zero2Cool (10-Aug) : Packers do bad -- FREAK OUT!!!!!!
Zero2Cool (10-Aug) : Packers do good -- eh only preseason
dfosterf (10-Aug) : Well that half was fun
Zero2Cool (10-Aug) : Great, zayne is down
Zero2Cool (9-Aug) : 13 minutes away from kickkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkoffff
Zero2Cool (9-Aug) : Had Celebration of Life for my uncle up north. wicked rain hope it dont come south
Mucky Tundra (9-Aug) : THE GREEN BAY PACKERS ARE PLAYING FOOTBALL TONIGHT!!!!!! THIS IS NOT A DRILL!!!!
Zero2Cool (9-Aug) : Woo-hoo
TheKanataThrilla (9-Aug) : NFL Network is broadcasting the game tonight, but not in Canada. Not sure why as no local television is showing the game.
beast (8-Aug) : But the Return from IR designations had to be applied by the 53 man cutdown.
beast (8-Aug) : It's a new rule, so it's not clear, but my understanding was that they could be IR'd at any time
Mucky Tundra (8-Aug) : *had to be IRed at 53
Mucky Tundra (8-Aug) : beast, I thought the designate return from IR players had to be IR at cutdowns to 53, not before
beast (8-Aug) : It's a brand new rule, either last season or this season, prior, all pre-season IRs were done for the season
beast (8-Aug) : But the Packers would have to use one for their return from IR spots on him, when they cut down to 53.
beast (8-Aug) : I think the NFL recently changed the IR rules, so maybe the season might not be over for OL Glover.
Zero2Cool (8-Aug) : Packers star Howton, first NFLPA prez, dies at 95 😔
dfosterf (8-Aug) : Apparently it is too complicated for several to follow your simple instructions, but I digress
Please sign in to use Fan Shout
2025 Packers Schedule
Sunday, Sep 7 @ 3:25 PM
LIONS
Thursday, Sep 11 @ 7:15 PM
COMMANDERS
Sunday, Sep 21 @ 12:00 PM
Browns
Sunday, Sep 28 @ 7:20 PM
Cowboys
Sunday, Oct 12 @ 3:25 PM
BENGALS
Sunday, Oct 19 @ 3:25 PM
Cardinals
Sunday, Oct 26 @ 7:20 PM
Steelers
Sunday, Nov 2 @ 12:00 PM
PANTHERS
Monday, Nov 10 @ 7:15 PM
EAGLES
Sunday, Nov 16 @ 12:00 PM
Giants
Sunday, Nov 23 @ 12:00 PM
VIKINGS
Thursday, Nov 27 @ 12:00 PM
Lions
Sunday, Dec 7 @ 12:00 PM
BEARS
Sunday, Dec 14 @ 3:25 PM
Broncos
Friday, Dec 19 @ 11:00 PM
Bears
Friday, Dec 26 @ 11:00 PM
RAVENS
Saturday, Jan 3 @ 11:00 PM
Vikings
Recent Topics
20-Aug / Green Bay Packers Talk / bboystyle

20-Aug / Fantasy Sports Talk / dfosterf

19-Aug / Green Bay Packers Talk / beast

18-Aug / Around The NFL / isaiah

18-Aug / Green Bay Packers Talk / Mucky Tundra

17-Aug / Green Bay Packers Talk / beast

17-Aug / Green Bay Packers Talk / Mucky Tundra

16-Aug / Feedback, Suggestions and Issues / beast

15-Aug / Around The NFL / Mucky Tundra

13-Aug / Green Bay Packers Talk / dfosterf

12-Aug / Green Bay Packers Talk / Zero2Cool

12-Aug / Green Bay Packers Talk / beast

12-Aug / Green Bay Packers Talk / beast

12-Aug / Green Bay Packers Talk / beast

12-Aug / Random Babble / Zero2Cool

Headlines
Copyright © 2006 - 2025 PackersHome.com™. All Rights Reserved.