Embarrassment in Jerry World

By: Matteo Ametrano

(Michael) Jordan Love and the high-flying Packers take down Dak and the Cowboys in embarrassing fashion to eliminate Dallas at home.

Packers (7) @ Cowboys (2): 48-32; Packers

Playoff collapse once again for Jerry Jones and Americas team. This was one of the biggest disasters and meltdowns that we have seen in recent years, and it was over early.  The Cowboys had things set up perfectly for them. With a win against the youngest playoff team since the Bills in the 1970s, the Cowboys would host the divisional round in Jerry World where the Cowboys were winners of 16 straight. However, Matt LaFleur and the Green Bay Packers came into town with one of the hottest QBs in the NFL over the last stretch of the regular season, and Jordan Love shattered the hearts of Cowboys Nation, early and often. In his very first playoff game, Jordan Love threw for 272 yards, completing 16/21 passes, for 3 touchdowns. This went along with another Aaron Jones hometown classic performance as he continued his dominance over the Cowboys with another 118 rushing yards and 3 touchdowns of his own. 

As much as this game was about the young, explosive, high-flying Packers offence dominating and exposing the experienced Dan Quinn, and DPOY co-favourite Micah Parsons, it was also about the way that this Packer defence understood almost everything and all the tendencies that are a part of the Dak Prescott and Mike McCarthy offence. A lot of credit has to be given to Packers DC Joe Brady for understanding the assignment of the Dallas Cowboys offence and being able to shut down one of the best regular season offences. Dak threw two interceptions in the first half. The second of the half came with the opportunity to head into the half down 20-7. Instead, Dak's pick was taken back for 6 just after the two-minute warning. The Packers took a 27-7 lead into halftime and never looked back from there, dominating the majority of the second half.  So much so, that they had their backups in, (yes, backups in a playoff game). Putting the exclamation point on the embarrassing 48-32 beat down the Cowboys received in their first home loss since losing to Tom Brady at the beginning of the 2022 season.  

Jerry Jones will have a difficult off-season and will have a lot of hard decisions to make as his Cowboys again failed to reach a championship game for now straight 29 years. However, the Packers have shown the football world that they have done the impossible, as they have now gone from Brett Favre to Aaron Rodgers, and now seem to have found another stud at QB in Jordan Love. The young Packers almost remind me of the Texans in the AFC. They don't know that they aren't supposed to be in the spot that they are in this early into their rebuilds, and this is what makes these teams so dangerous. Along with All-Pro Level Quarter Back play.  

The Packers will head on the road again to take on the number one seed San Fransisco 49ers in the divisional round. An intriguing matchup between two of the greatest offensive minds in the NFL, who just happen to be very familiar with one another in Kyle Shanahan and Matt LaFleur.

Stay posted as we continue the discussion with the other matchups from the NFC Wild Card games.