Backed into a corner, the Packers kept the Cowboys from winning for only the second time ever at Lambeau Field.
The outcome, while sufficiently satisfying in the short term to get the locals to forget about lay-an-egg-gate, hardly solves all of the problems that the Packers are facing. “Baby Swiss” still gave up four sacks (41 for the year). Charley Casserly of CBS did a great job during The NFL Today of demonstrating that quarterback Aaron Rodgers is responsible for a lot of those due to his failure to get rid of the ball quickly or to throw it away; either way, these constant negative plays (and opportunities for turnovers and injuries) could ultimately kill the team’s season.
But it was the defense that came up huge against the Cowboys. Cornerback Charles Woodson had eight tackles, a sack, an interception, and two forced fumbles -- with rookie Clay Matthews recovering both of them. (One created a stir due to the application of an obscure, but sensible, exception to the replay rules.)
Dallas quarterback Tony Romo looked ordinary again, with a couple of turnovers and the only points coming from a garbage-time touchdown that avoided a shutout.
The loss, which hurts even more given the broken leg suffered by tackle Marc Colombo, drops the Cowboys to 6-3 and forces them to fatten up against the Redskins and Raiders before embarking on a three-game stretch that will go a long way toward determining whether the ‘Boys will get a shot to win their first playoff game since 1996: at Giants, vs. Chargers, at Saints.
And the Cowboys had better hope they find a way to win a division that they now lead by only one game over the Eagles and the Giants; if Dallas ends up in the scrum for wild-card positioning, that loss to the Packers gives Green Bay the edge in the event the two teams are tied in the final standings.