Unfazed Packers eager for rematch in Dallas
Mike Vandermause
If there's such a thing as an encouraging loss, the Green Bay Packers' 37-27 setback against the Dallas Cowboys on Thursday night was it.
No one was hanging his head or pointing fingers, and there was no sense of despair after the Packers suffered their first road loss in more than a year.
The prospect of returning to Dallas in January for the playoffs was not viewed with dread. If anything, the Packers seemed to relish the possibility of getting another crack at the Cowboys at Texas Stadium.
But first, the Packers have some unfinished business to complete, such as claiming the NFC North Division title with one more victory, locking up a first-round playoff bye and winning a divisional playoff game for the first time in a decade.
If all that happens, the Packers can focus on a rematch with the Cowboys. In the meantime, this team isn't down in the dumps.
"They're going to respond," promised coach Mike McCarthy about his players. "I tell you what, I like our football team. I'll take this football team anywhere. I'm not concerned about what this game means, not at all."
It means, for the moment, that the 10-2 Packers have the second-best record in the NFC. Things could be a lot worse, and indications suggest this team can play much better than it showed on Thursday.
Injuries are part of the game, and the Packers rightfully will not use them as an excuse for what happened. But common sense says with a healthy Charles Woodson and Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila in the lineup, the Packers' defense won't give up 37 points again.
The Packers are thin at cornerback, and Woodson's absence stuck out like a sore toe. In his nearly three years as general manager, Ted Thompson hasn't been able to plug every hole in the dike. Rest assured he will be looking long and hard at the college crop of cornerbacks in April.
But the Packers won't need draft reinforcements to match up against the Cowboys' receivers in January, as long as Al Harris and Woodson are in the lineup.
The absence of KGB, out with a bum ankle, also hurt the cause. For as much time as Dallas quarterback Tony Romo had in the pocket, he could have been sending text messages to Jessica Simpson and lining up his next date.
Romo wasn't sacked once and had the luxury of chilling out until one of his receivers broke free. Put KGB and the injured Johnny Jolly back in uniform, and suddenly Romo doesn't look so suave and hip anymore.
If Brett Favre stays healthy and makes better decisions, if the guards show up and if a couple of shaky penalties don't go against the Packers, things could be different next time.
That's a lot of ifs, which are generally reserved for losers. Still, we learned the Packers were capable of hanging with the Cowboys even when a lot of things went wrong.
The loss was the Packers' ninth straight in Dallas, but McCarthy doesn't fear a return trip.
"We'll play them in the parking lot, Dallas, Texas, it doesn't matter," he said. "I'm not concerned with that. I'm about one thing. We're about winning football games and improving."
An improved Packers team could give the Cowboys all they can handle in the NFC championship game on Jan. 20. Maybe the 10th time in Dallas will be the charm.
Mike Vandermause is sports editor of the Press-Gazette.
If there's such a thing as an encouraging loss, the Green Bay Packers' 37-27 setback against the Dallas Cowboys on Thursday night was it.
No one was hanging his head or pointing fingers, and there was no sense of despair after the Packers suffered their first road loss in more than a year.
The prospect of returning to Dallas in January for the playoffs was not viewed with dread. If anything, the Packers seemed to relish the possibility of getting another crack at the Cowboys at Texas Stadium.
But first, the Packers have some unfinished business to complete, such as claiming the NFC North Division title with one more victory, locking up a first-round playoff bye and winning a divisional playoff game for the first time in a decade.
If all that happens, the Packers can focus on a rematch with the Cowboys. In the meantime, this team isn't down in the dumps.
"They're going to respond," promised coach Mike McCarthy about his players. "I tell you what, I like our football team. I'll take this football team anywhere. I'm not concerned about what this game means, not at all."
It means, for the moment, that the 10-2 Packers have the second-best record in the NFC. Things could be a lot worse, and indications suggest this team can play much better than it showed on Thursday.
Injuries are part of the game, and the Packers rightfully will not use them as an excuse for what happened. But common sense says with a healthy Charles Woodson and Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila in the lineup, the Packers' defense won't give up 37 points again.
The Packers are thin at cornerback, and Woodson's absence stuck out like a sore toe. In his nearly three years as general manager, Ted Thompson hasn't been able to plug every hole in the dike. Rest assured he will be looking long and hard at the college crop of cornerbacks in April.
But the Packers won't need draft reinforcements to match up against the Cowboys' receivers in January, as long as Al Harris and Woodson are in the lineup.
The absence of KGB, out with a bum ankle, also hurt the cause. For as much time as Dallas quarterback Tony Romo had in the pocket, he could have been sending text messages to Jessica Simpson and lining up his next date.
Romo wasn't sacked once and had the luxury of chilling out until one of his receivers broke free. Put KGB and the injured Johnny Jolly back in uniform, and suddenly Romo doesn't look so suave and hip anymore.
If Brett Favre stays healthy and makes better decisions, if the guards show up and if a couple of shaky penalties don't go against the Packers, things could be different next time.
That's a lot of ifs, which are generally reserved for losers. Still, we learned the Packers were capable of hanging with the Cowboys even when a lot of things went wrong.
The loss was the Packers' ninth straight in Dallas, but McCarthy doesn't fear a return trip.
"We'll play them in the parking lot, Dallas, Texas, it doesn't matter," he said. "I'm not concerned with that. I'm about one thing. We're about winning football games and improving."
An improved Packers team could give the Cowboys all they can handle in the NFC championship game on Jan. 20. Maybe the 10th time in Dallas will be the charm.
Mike Vandermause is sports editor of the Press-Gazette.
posted by The Gryphon at 7:41 AM
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