Morning Buzz: What more can be said about Rodgers?
Welcome to your Morning Buzz, rounding up news and views regarding the Green Bay Packers from around the web and here at PackersNews.com after their playoff victory over the Dallas Cowboys. Grab a Texas-sized cup of strong coffee and get caught up on everything you need to know about the Packers.
If it’s the day after a Packers game, the best place to start is always Bob McGinn’s game story.
Machine-like precision by the Green Bay Packers staked them to an early 18-point lead. Machine-like precision by Mason Crosby provided the margin of victory.
Crosby’s finest moments in a 10-year career – a 56-yard field goal with 1 ½ minutes left followed by a 51-yard boot as time expired – enabled the Packers to topple the Dallas Cowboys, 34-31, Sunday at AT&T Stadium.
It’s hard to keep coming up with things to say and write about when it comes to the play of Aaron Rodgers, but Pete Dougherty does just that.
If Aaron Rodgers plays great, like he did again Sunday in his team's 34-31 divisional-round upset of the top-seeded Dallas Cowboys, the Packers can beat anyone. If he doesn’t, their season will be over. That’s how it is.
Rodgers almost didn’t play quite well enough in this one. After getting the Packers a 15-point lead, his third-quarter interception on an errant throw in Cowboys territory opened the door for Dallas to get back in the game.
And then with the season on the line in the final four minutes, he won it. Twice, actually, because the Cowboys answered the first one.
But one image will stand out more than all others from this epic finish. Because if these Packers go on to win the Super Bowl — and even if they don’t — Rodgers’ 36-yard pinpoint pass to Jared Cook while rolling to his left that set up the game-winning kick as time ran out will go down as one of the most spectacular clutch plays in this franchise’s rich history.
That pass to Jared Cook is apparently something that was practiced during the week. The only difference this time is that Cook kept his feet in bounds. Tom Silverstein has the story.
Mason Crosby was the hero at the end of the game. Ryan Wood does a great job setting the scene and telling the story.
Michael Cohen writes on Micah Hyde’s big interception and the film study that led to the momentum-shifting play.
Michael also has a look at a Packers defense that may not have been pretty or even close to perfect, but that got the job done.
After the game, I chatted with readers via Facebook Live. You can see a replay below:
Elsewhere, The Big Lead spoke with AJ Hawk right after yesterday’s game. Pretty great insight from Hawk here on a bunch of different points throughout the game.
Bleacher Report’s Mike Freeman writes on Aaron Rodgers:
ESPN’s Kevin Seifert takes a very early look at the matchup with the Falcons:
ESPN also has a great video on Aaron Rodgers and his incredible play during the Packers’ current winning streak:
The Packers got a big welcome when they got into the Green Bay airport earlier this morning:
Rodgers had nothing but good things to say about the Cowboys’ two star rookies:
Yesterday saw Mike McCarthy become the winningest coach in Packers playoff history:
This is just an incredible tidbit about the big play to Cook that set up the game winner:
Speaking of that play, the throw and catch were both completely absurd:
Lost in the drama of everything was the fact that we probably just saw Tony Romo’s last game as a Dallas Cowboy: