Packers-Cowboys Recap

Well, I was a few off in my prediction. That usually doesn't happen. Usually I'm much further off.

At any rate, now we get to hear the "it was just against Aaron Rodgers" line until the playoffs, which is a bit of a stretch. The fact is Rodgers played significantly better than Favre, who finished 5-14 (just 35%) for 56 yards, o TDs, and 2 INTs. If Favre continued in the game, about the best he could expect would be to finish with Rodgers stat line of 18-26 (69%) for 201 yards, 1 TD, and 0 INTs.

And while Favre is quite capable of playing a good enough game to beat the Cowboys and stat lines don't tell the whole story, the fact is last night Favre didn't play well enough and the stats are indicative of the fact that Rodgers played better.

To be honest, while this may not have won them the game, Cris Collinsworth was right that the Packers' coaching staff made a mistake by kicking a field goal on 4th and 1 from the Dallas 35 with just over 5 minutes left in the game. If you're facing just about any offense in the NFC North that move probably would be just fine, but not the high-powered Cowboy offense, which also just so happens to have a RB who specializes in grinding out the clock.

Packers-Cowboys Prediction

I can understand why many of the folks in Burlington want the Packers to win and Tony Romo to have a good game, but the only hope the Packers have for victory tonight is to knock Romo off his game.

Coming off his roller-coaster year in 2006, the Burlington native has been remarkably consistent this year, which is something I've greatly appreciated having him on my fantasy team (I also had him last year, and I wasn't as appreciative).

The only game that Romo bombed this year was at Buffalo when he threw five picks and lost a fumble. The Cowboys managed to pull out a victory at the end, but the same wouldn't happen against the Packers, even playing in Dallas.

If they can stifle Romo, the Packers shouldn't have too much trouble handling the Dallas running game. While Marion Barber -- also on my fantasy team -- is one of my favorite backs to watch with his bruising running style, he's not exactly a game-changing back in the same way as Adrian Peterson or Brian Westbrook. As more of a pound-you-into-submission back, Barber's value really comes in the red zone and when the Cowboys have a lead heading into the 4th quarter; if the Packers can control Romo, they'll control both of those things.

All that said, my prediction is for a 34-24 Cowboy victory as long as Romo accounts for two or fewer more turnovers than Favre. If he has at least three more than Favre, I'll give the edge to the Packers, 31-27, but that margin would increase with the turnover margin over Favre.

Either way, it should be a good one. My condolences to those living outside of the Green Bay or Milwaukee area markets who don't have a dish on the side of their house. Time to find a friend who does or saddle up to the bar.

Patriots Protect BCS Ranking

Coming into this season, I was a fan of the New England Patriots. I found it fun to watch the cerebral-style of football played by Bill Belichick and his crew. Every week the game plan was new, completely tailored to the weaknesses of the opponent.

While I still enjoy watching those aspects of the Patriots game, the way they've run up the score as if they were playing for a BCS bowl game has been disheartening.

Throwing deep from the shotgun formation while up 38-0 with 13 minutes left to play. Going for it on fourth down while up 45-0 with 7 minutes remaining.

As Yahoo! Sports commentator Andy Behrens noted about Tom Brady accounting for his fifth touchdown of the game mid-way through the 4th quarter, shortly after converting it on fourth down: "They elected not to go for the two-point conversion, which was classy."

The most interesting commentary on this trend, however, comes from EPSN's Gregg Easterbrook, who wonders why so many teams have largely taken the late-game pounding from the Patriots without a fight.

According to Easterbrook:

If it were 38-0 in the fourth quarter and the other side still had its starting quarterback on the field throwing deep, I would have called a double safety blitz and slammed Brady to the ground; Belichick immediately would have taken the starters out, and the mockery of sportsmanship would have ended. After the game, Colvin and other Patriots players said that in the pros, you should play full-tilt no matter how lopsided the score. If that's true, no one from New England could have complained if [Redskins defensive coordinator Gregg] Williams had called an all-out blitz to hammer Brady.

I wouldn't be surprised if defenses start heeding Easterbrook's advice if the Patriots continue their ways down the stretch.

And, heck, let's be honest, Randy Moss is going to catch the ball regardless of whether the safeties are in coverage.

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SIDE-NOTE: Also check out Easterbrook's extensive commentary, which is at the beginning of the column cited above, on the NFL Network and the Sunday Ticket option that allows viewers to pick between every game on Sunday. He provides some interesting background info on the tension between the NFL and the cable networks.