ESPN Clayton: Packers have a lot working against them

[03EBZ06]

Packers have a lot working against them

By John Clayton
ESPN.com

The road to the Super Bowl in the NFC was supposed to go through Chicago this season. Cowboys owner Jerry Jones officially hopes to hang up the "Dallas"' detour sign Thursday night.

In the best NFL game the fewest will see, the Cowboys host the Packers on Thursday night in what could be a preview of the NFC title game. Both teams are 10-1 and both have hot quarterbacks -- Tony Romo (Cowboys) and Brett Favre (Packers). With worries about winning their divisions behind them, the Cowboys and Packers can concentrate on how they are seeded in the playoffs.

The Packers are at a considerable disadvantage; their injury report is scary. Defensive tackle Johnny Jolly, tight end Bubba Franks and safety Aaron Rouse aren't expected to play. Defensive tackle Colin Cole is out for the season.

Cornerback Charles Woodson and defensive end Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila will be game-day decisions based on how they do in pregame warm-ups. The only good news is that safety Nick Collins will be back after missing two games.

The other problem for the Packers is their inexperience. Favre has been to Super Bowls. Most of his teammates have been to college bowl games only. Seven of the Packers' starting offensive players are 27 or younger, and five came into the league after the Packers finished their last playoff run in 2004.

Favre has joked about not knowing what to expect from this team because it is so young. The 38-year-old has more than a 10-year age gap on most of his teammates. The loose, fearless attitude of his young teammates excites and scares him.

The winner of this game will hold a tie-breaking edge for homefield advantage throughout the NFC playoffs, so a lot is at stake. Both teams are destined for a bye in the playoffs because they have a three-game lead over the Bucs and Seahawks with only five games left. With bye weeks meaning so much in terms of getting teams healthy, the odds are that the Cowboys and Packers will meet again in the NFC title game.

Another factor that tilts this game is the Cowboys' ability to run the ball. Dallas has Julius Jones and Marion Barber in the backfield. The Packers have some downhill running ability with Ryan Grant, but they have relied almost exclusively on a pass-oriented offense.

That puts a lot of pressure on Favre. While Favre is having one of his best seasons, it's not easy to successfully work play-action passes when defenses don't have to worry about the run. Opponents of the Packers haven't had to worry much about putting an eighth defender near the line of scrimmage to stop the run.

A good running attack could be the difference, and maybe it's something the Packers could develop in this game.

Grant has done a nice job in recent weeks, and the Cowboys' safeties are vulnerable to play-action fakes.

The odds are stacked against the Packers, but they have been stacked against Green Bay all season. Thanks to Favre, coach Mike McCarthy and a great defense, the Packers are back among the NFL's elite teams. Even if they lose this game, they can use the experience for the next meeting.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/columns/story?columnist=clayton_john&page=1stand10/07week13

 

[EndGame]

The Packers do have a lot of injuries, but the one to Bubba Franks won't hurt them at all. He's been out for several games, and really isn't a threat anymore anyhow. Donald Lee has pretty much supplanted him as the starter, and is having a nice season. Hopefully Dallas can keep him in check. They don't seem to be so good with tight ends, mainly because our strong safety isn't much of a cover guy.

Regarding experience -- we don't exactly have grizzled veterans on our team either. In fact, in terms of experience I'd probably give the edge to the Packers since their QB has seen everything in his career.

 

[Next_years_Champs]

You make good points especially about Favre, but he can't do much about a OLman false starting or a DB from holding, so I think that can swing both ways.

Of course that depends on if the Cowboys have learned from their past mistakes.

 

[bobtheflob]

I really don't like all these stories saying the Packers are big underdogs. They've motivated themselves with the whole underdog perception all year and this just gives them more fuel.

 

[Coakleys Dad]

In big games, playmakers make plays, and I believe even if all the packers were healthy we have more playmakers, and I wish that all of the packers were healthy so we dont have to hear whining later tonight.

 

[Chocolate Lab]

Meh, the injuries mean nothing. Like Nate Newton said on Talking Cowboys yesterday, this "so-and-so missed practice" talk is just fluff for the fans. For a game like this one, KGB and Woodson will take shots or do whatever else they need to do to play. Collins coming back negates Rouse being out.

The only place it *might* hurt them a little is being thin at DT, where they won't have the same rotation and some guys might have to play more than usual. But that's pretty minor.

If we win, it'll be because we played better, not because they're crippled with injuries.

 

[slick325]

All this talk about the "great defense" the Pack fields reminds me of the hype the Giants defense was getting before the 'Boys shredded them a few weeks back. For all the hype surrounding GB's defense lets remember that they are ranked a whopping 12th, that's right 12th in the league! 12th! Not top 5 not even top 10. 12th! Gimme a break. The Cowboys weapons should overwhelm them as long as they don't aid the Pack by turning the ball over.