PACKERS’ OFFENSE COOKING
Tight end’s impact one of the key takeaways fromthrilling playoff game
The Packers outlasted the Cowboys in a playoff classic Sunday. Though Aaron Rodgers’ ongoing heroics will likely garner most of the headlines, there are some other important takeaways from the game which are likely to be overshadowed:
1. Jordy effect? Though many wondered if the Packers could overcome the top- seeded Cowboys without injured receiver Jordy Nelson, it’s worth noting that Rodgers has actually hit his playoff stride without his favorite receiver. Rodgers completed 4 of 10 passes for 32 yards and didn’t generate any points on the first four drives before Nelson suffered injured ribs in the wild- card round. But since Nelson went down, Rodgers has completed 49 of 73 throws ( 67.1 percent) for 686 yards, six touchdowns and one interception for a passer rating of 118.9. In six- plus quarters sans Nelson, Green Bay has produced 72 points. Bottom line? Even if Nelson can’t suit up for the NFC title game, Rodgers and Co. are perfectly capable of incinerating the Falcons’ 28thranked pass defense.
2. Dak attack: tack: Cowboys Cowrback quarterback Dak Prescott’s stellar ellar postseason postdebut debut will probablybly be relegated ed to a historical cal
bedgs. footnote because of Rodgers’ exploits. Ne ve r t h e - less, Prescotttt became thee first rookie of the Super Bowl era to throw three touchdown hs passes in a playoff game. ame. Veteran Tony Romo never had three touchdown down strikes in a postseason postgame, , nor has he matched tched Prescott’s 302 passing yards ards in six career er playoff starts. Prescott’s backfield cohort, RB Ezekiel Elliott had a great showing himself with 125 rushing yards. Hall of Famer Emmitt Smith only surpassed that figure twice in 17 playoff appearances. Bottom line, the future looks bright for America’s Team even if Sunday ultimately proved a disappointing end to an encouraging campaign. 3. Secondary concerns: The Packers began Sunday with defensive back issues as CB Quinten Rollins remained sidelined with a concussion while fellow starter Damarious Randall labored with a foot injury. Then starting strong safety Morgan Burnett was knocked from the lineup early with a thigh injury. Prescott took advantage with a clutch second half, making several big throws while digging Dallas out of a 15- point hole. Green Bay hung on, but can the Packers hope to hang with MVP front- runner Matt Ryan, the league’s most efficient passer, and Atlanta’s No. 1 scoring defense if they’re forced to resort to backups on the back end? 4. Flag day: Killer penalties undermined the Cowboys. Rodgers capitalized on one of hishi favorite tricks, calling for the sn snap while trapping 12 Dallas playerspl on the field to salvage a failedfa third down on Green Bay’sB first drive. Three playsplay later, he threw a 34- ya yard touchdown down on a free play after drawing Dallas offsides. On thet ensuing ing possession, sion receiver BriceBr Butler l entered the Cowboys huddle prior to a play but then left the field, resultingre in a 15- yard infraction a and negating ing a 22- yard comple completion from Prescott to Terrance Williams at the Packers’ 15- y yard line. Backed into their own end, Dallas was forced to punt three plays later. A defensive pass interference also cost the Cowboys an int interception inside the final two minutes, though Rodgers seemedseem to be chancing a deep throw while realizing he had a free play.
5. Cooking offense: Green Bay’s second- half resurgence, which has now carried into the postseason, coincided with tight end Jared Cook’s November return from a high ankle sprain that cost him nearly two months. His 35- yard tightrope catch on the Pack’s final offensive snap, setting up the gamewinning field goal Sunday, was the play of the day. But Rodgers has consistently cited Cook’s impact as the team ran the table down the stretch. Cook has 35 catches for 476 yards since his return, an impact this offense hasn’t enjoyed from the tight end position since Jermichael Finley’s career- ending neck injury. Look for Cook continuing to be the kind of mismatch nightmare that could keep Green Bay rolling toward a championship.
6. Spiked opportunity? Will the Cowboys rue clock management as they ride into the offseason? Driving for the game- tying field goal against a Packers defense that could muster little resistance, Prescott spiked the ball on first down from the Green Bay 40- yard line with 48 seconds to go. Maybe he was preserving his final timeout — ultimately, it wasn’t used on the drive — to ensure Dan Bailey
wouldn’t be rushed to attempt the game- tying field goal. But 48 seconds ( while already on the fringe of Bailey’s range) would have allowed for several options — including a run or pass to the middle of the field, perhaps followed by a shot into the end zone that could have won the game or at least stopped the clock if incomplete. But wasting a play, stunting momentum and ultimately preserving time for Rodgers on the other side of Bailey’s kick? Whether it was a miscalculation by Prescott or the coaching staff, it proved costly.