Masterpiece!

I heard a lot of apprehension from Packer fans going into today's match-up with the Cowboys. The anxiety was understandable, of course, given Green Bay's inconsistency in general, added to their amazing breakdown against Tampa Bay last week. Still, as you can see in my preview post, I had some hope for Green Bay this week.

While I thought the Packers would win, however, I had no idea at all that they would -- could! -- dominate Dallas the way that they did. It wasn't a romp, of course, like the Lion game or Browns game, but in a sense it was an even better win. Running it up against an inferior team is a dubious achievement. But keeping a lid on an explosive offense all game long, gutting it out in a closely-fought contest, avoiding the costly mistake, forcing the big error, and effectively sealing the deal in the end -- that was a thing of beauty.

Our offensive line hardly indulged Rodgers with oodles of time, but they did keep him cleaner than in several weeks this season -- and, frankly, cleaner than I expected. More to the point, our defense made more sacks than our offense gave up. We forced more turnovers than we committed. We converted more 3rd downs. We gained more yards. And we held the ball for 11 minutes longer.

There are still things to be fixed, of course. It wasn't a perfect game. But we welcomed in a Division-leading team that was playing its best football, and we outplayed them. In every phase of the game.

If we had lost this week, I believe it would have been time to pull up the sheets over our collective face. But, no. Signs of life!

And so our playoff hopes remain alive.