Clarence Hill: Five things the Dallas Cowboys must do to beat the Green Bay Packers
One thing that is on full display in the lead up to Mike McCarthy’s much-anticipated return to Green Bay as head coach of the Dallas Cowboys for the first time since he was fired as Packers head coach in 2018 is the love the Cowboys players have for their coach.
While there has been of lot talk about focusing on the game and wanting to win because it’s the next game on the schedule and the need to win to keep pace with the Philadelphia Eagles in the NFC East, it’s not lost on the Cowboys how much this game means to McCarthy.
“I’ve had time to reflect and I just want to win the game,” McCarthy said. “Like any coach, anybody that’s not part of those 48 players out there. I don’t want to get in the way.”
McCarthy doesn’t want to make it about him. But it is deeply personal for him and his family.
Being fired after 13 seasons, after leading the franchise to a Super Bowl title, after getting a street named after you and being huge part of the community is not an easy thing to let go.
The Cowboys are not shy about wanting to win the game for him.
“I honestly can’t wait for his Saturday night speech,” quarterback Dak Prescott joked. “But not a lot has to be said about this week. We know what our coach means to us. We know how long he was up there. We know how special going back is going to be for him but more importantly it’s about this team, what we’ve got building, where we’re going and getting this win.”
McCarthy turned 59 on Thursday and Prescott said a win Sunday would be a birthday present from the team.
It all speaks to the bond that McCarthy has developed with Prescott and the team since he took over 2020 after taking a year off from football following his firing in Green Bay.
Prescott said McCarthy has meant a lot his personal growth and development.
“Just being able to have that sounding board and whether it’s on the field, off the field, a guy that’s seen a lot of football, been through a lot of football, been in another place, yeah, he’s been great,” Prescott said. “Not only just for me but for this team and for so many others and I’ve continued to say we’re blessed to have him.”
McCarthy said the game is not about him. But Prescott’s attitude is part of the culture the Cowboys have in the locker room and it starts with the quarterback.
“He’s probably clearly one of the easiest players I’ve ever been able to connect with and coach,” McCarthy said. “He has that. He has it with everybody. He’s such a unique personality. I don’t know if I’ve ever worked with someone whose light shines as bright as his and so that’s been very easy, natural.“
Five things the Cowboys must do to beat the Packers:
Respect Aaron Rodgers and erase bad memories
Say what you will about the Green Bay Packers and their five-game losing streak.
This is not a game the Cowboys will take lightly, especially with quarterback Aaron Rodgers on the other side of the field. Rodgers has been a personal boogeyman for the Cowboys over the years.
And there are a few players on the team who still have nightmares over the miracle he pulled off in the 2016 wildcard playoffs, converting a 3rd-and-20 with a 36-yard pass to tight end Jared Cook on right sideline set up the game-winning field goal.
Cornerback Anthony Brown said he still thinks about that whole game.
And despite Green Bay’s struggles, he said “Aaron Rodgers is still Aaron Rodgers” based on the film he is watching.
He said he goes to sleep thinking about Rodgers.
“I just know what he brings to the game,” Brown said. “When he’s on point, he’s just crisp with everything so we just got to be on our game and be ready.”
Said linebacker Micah Parsons: “When you got someone great like Aaron, it’s easier to get over that hump. Those (stretches) don’t last forever. Everybody goes through them. It’s just adversity. You have to fight through adversity. We just have to be prepared for it. You never count out a competitor like Aaron.”
“When you look at his tape he can make any throw. He can scramble, move the pocket. When you talk about the best of the best, he’s right up there with them.”
Run the ball with Elliott and Pollard
Look for running back Ezekiel Elliott to return to the lineup against the Packers after missing the Bears game before the bye with a sprained knee.
But also look for the Cowboys to continue to give Tony Pollard equal billing in the run game. Pollard rushed 14 times for 131 yards and three touchdowns in the 49-29 victory against the Bears.
He leads the Cowboys in rushing and will be huge part of the attack against the Packers defense that ranks 26th in the league against the run.
Pollard said he can handle more than the 14 carries if necessary.
“Whatever they ask me to do, whatever they need me to do, I got it,” Pollard said.
Mike McCarthy agrees and says the team has two starting running backs in Elliott and Pollard.
“Tony Pollard is a man,” McCarthy said. “His is in great shape. He has the ability to be a No. 1 featured back.”
Fix run defense and slow down Aaron Jones
Even though Aaron Rodgers is on the other side of the field, look for the Packers to copy the blue print of other teams and try to force the run against the Cowboys defense.
No wants to pass against the Cowboys because of their devastating pass rush led by linebacker Micah Parsons. The Cowboys lead the league in sacks and quarterback hits.
Teams have also not been able to make any plays in the passing game.
The Cowboys have allowed only one of their eight opponents to pass for 200 yards this season. If they hold Green Bay under 200 net passing yards, it will mark the third time in franchise history that Dallas held eight of its first nine opponents under 200 net passing yards, joining the 1977 (nine) and 1970 teams.
Both of those previous teams reached the Super Bowl.
So look for the Packers to give the Cowboys a heavy dosage of running back Aaron Jones, especially with the run defense considered an area weakness for Dallas.
“It’s a big emphasis,” Parsons said. “It’s something that we’ve got to clean up and got to be prepared for. We’ve got to understand that teams don’t want pass rush as much against us, so we’ve got to prepare for anything: teams running on fourth down, third-and-long. We’ve got to be prepared. They’re trying to take away parts of our game.
“Teams are playing more conservative and it’s tough because you look at the film from the week before and you come watch our film, and it’s two different games. Two different game plans. You see way more screens, way more — just a whole different game. So it’s tough to prepare for some things you’re not seeing. That’s what people don’t understand.”
Help Mike McCarthy make history
With a win against his former team, Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy would be eighth coach in NFL history to beat all 32 teams.
The others are Tony Dungy, Andy Reid, Bill Belichick, Bill Parcells, John Fox, Mike Holmgren, Mike Shanahan.
“Wow, that’s interesting,” McCarthy said “I haven’t thought about it, but, yeah, I’m all for it.”
Start Thanksgiving stretch off with a win
The Cowboy, coming off a bye, begin their most grueling stretch of the season when they play three games in 12 days.
They play at the Minnesota Vikings on Nov. 20 before hosting the New York Giants on Thanksgiving Day.
It’s the beginning of what Mike McCarthy calls the team’s third quarter of the season, which is a five-game run that also includes games against the Indianapolis Colts on Dec. 4 and Houston Texans on Dec. 11.
“What’s the quickest quarter in a football game? It’s the third quarter.,” McCarthy said. “I think you know, the first part of this five-game run, you know, we got three games at 12 days. So it’s it’s that kind of thought process. Because it affects your scheduling, affects your training. You got to be really focused on your play time. You have that Thursday Thanksgiving game. You know, you can’t just wait till after the game going into that short week to get ready. Stress is additive. We’re talking about physical mental emotional stress, it adds up.”
This story was originally published November 12, 2022 at 11:38 AM.
