***SWAMP DIVISIONAL ROUND - NFC PART 2 - GB @ DAL***
***GREEN BAY PACKERS @ DALLAS COWBOYS***
Another two playoff games are now officially in the books as the home teams continue to dominate the postseason thus far going 6-0. That being said, the favorites have covered in every game by a wide margin as they blow out their competition. With two games left to go in the Divisional round, there is still plenty of hope for some real close and entertaining games when looking at the two matchups left on the card, and I think we will get just that. First up is a classic face-off between two NFL darlings when red hot QB Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers try their luck in Dallas as they take on the number 1 seeded Cowboys whom will be fresh off a first round bye week. This matchup has all the makings of a game for the ages, consisting of tons of fireworks, history, and storylines that one can ask for. Green Bay QB Aaron Rodgers will try to continue his quest of "running the table" which I won't get into once again and put you to sleep with, you know the deal. In a nutshell, the guy made a bold statement when they were in bad shape back in week 12 saying they would run the table, and they haven't lost since. The man hasn't thrown an interception during this 7 game winning streak and is pretty much in a football God-like zone. Last week I was highly mistaken to go against this Zen Master of a QB when I thought that the Giants would lay a Big Blue blanket on him and send the Cheese "packing." The joke was clearly on the Swamp as after a brief offensive struggle early in the game for the Pack, the man completed one of his classic Hail Mary's which now seem to be his signature move, and proceeded to torch the GMen in the second half in what ended up turning into a rout, winning the game 38-13. As good as Rodgers was, in my honest opinion- he didn't start to find success and eventually take over the game until Giants CB Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie went out with an injury in the middle of the first half. Rodgers is no fool and quickly smelt the blood in the water. He went right after that weakness and instantly exploited DRC's backups to the point that it seemed as if their heads were spinning while watching WR Randall Cobb in particular streak freely all over the secondary. This Cowboys defense in my mind is nowhere near as talented as the Giants and could be in trouble up against a peaking Aaron Rodgers on a mission today. I do however recognize the fact that the Dallas defense is stout and has really gotten better throughout the season, playing great team D. They do lack a pass rush however, so inevitably Rodgers will have time to throw and as we know, if you give this guy enough time he will find somebody open as no secondary can cover that many targets for a sufficient amount of time.
That all being said the Dallas gameplan must be to run the ball behind Elliot and create slow, methodical, extremely long drives in an attempt to keep Rodgers off of the field and with limited possessions, hopefully keeping him out of a groove. It will be interesting to see how these youngsters on the Cowboys handle the time off while essentially not playing a meaningful game for quite some time now. On one side you have a Packers team that is on a roll, and on the other we have the inexperienced and rested Cowboys, a clash of two theories if you will. Is it better to come into the playoffs surging as a hot underdog or is it better to get that top seed and rest your guys? Hmmm, we may never know but today I definitely think it benefits Green Bay and gives them an the edge they will most likely need on defense as they try and stop this "Triplet 2000" monster of Prescott, Elliot, and WR Dez Bryant. The Packer defense is average at best, but does have many veterans like LBs Clay Matthews and Julius Peppers who can rise to the occasion. After getting abused in the first matchup earlier this season where Zeke tore up their "good rushing defense" and essentially embarrassed the Packer defense. That game was pretty much the start of all the early Packer woes and negative questioning. That being said, this is a different Packers team that these youngsters will be facing today and I like the Cheese to put forth a much better defensive effort and plug up the holes against Dak & Zeke today. The Cowboys have the best offensive line in the game, no doubt about it. That being said I am sure they will be able to establish the clock-management plan I mentioned above and limit the Packers offensive possessions by executing those long and clock-draining drives. However if the levee does break, and the Packers go up in this one and it becomes a shootout, lookout my man! I am and have always been a big fan of Dak during his college days and I do not think this moment will be too big for him. The kid is all you can ask for in a QB and I can see him stepping up here to go toe to toe with the great Aaron Rodgers and coming out victorious. It is also important to note the possibility of the 'ol veteran QB Tony Romo awaiting on the sidelines, most likely praying and hoping for a chance to take over. I wouldn't put it past Jerry Jones and the Cowboys to use that Romo Wild Card at some point in this playoff run. One thing I do know is that if the Cowboys are going to win today, in my mind it will not be by a landslide because at this rate, Rodgers ain't going out like no punk at the least bit! The man is on a mission to cement his legacy and if he is going down to a Rookie QB today, I believe it will be close at the end. He will have them in this game late, and either win or lose by a small margin in what should be another fantastic matchup between these two teams and I see it ending in close, controversial fashion once again! Hence Swampy taking the points here. Houdini sprinkles his magic in another gem and keeps his squad within the number in what should be a thriller! PACKERS+5
