Green Bay Packers keys to victory: Divisional round playoffs
Dec 21, 2014; Tampa, FL, USA; Green Bay Packers tight end Andrew Quarless (81), tight end Richard Rodgers (89), fullback John Kuhn (30) and teammates work out prior to the game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
2. Win the battle of secondary offense.
All eyes will be on the two great trifectas of Romo, Bryant and Murray for Dallas and Rodgers, Nelson and Lacy for Green Bay. These trios will go back-and-forth all game long on Sunday, but it is the secondary sources of offense that could help to tip this game in the direction of either team.
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Jason Witten is a constant threat for the Cowboys and a player the Packers should fear in a playoff environment. Beyond Witten, though, I look to Terrance Williams and Cole Beasley as two Cowboys’ weapons that the Packers will need to keep a lid on.
Williams blew Dallas’ Wild Card game wide open with a 76-yard TD score, en route to a 92-yard, 2 TD performance. Beasley added some clutch grabs of his own with four receptions for 63 yards, zipping and ducking through crowds of much larger defenders. Casey Hayward and Davon House must play well on Sunday, along with any Packers’ LB asked to drop into coverage.
For the Packers, Randall Cobb is the obvious 2nd threat in the offense, but it is imperative that Green Bay establishes a 3rd and 4th option for Aaron Rodgers. I’ve banged this drum an exhausting amount all year long, and wrote on Wednesday that Richard Rodgers could be ready to break out in the playoffs. Rodgers has earned the trust of his Quarterback late in the season, and will be facing a Cowboys defense that allowed a whopping 106 receptions, 1,052 yards and 10 TD to opposing Tight Ends in 2014.
Davante Adams could factor in as well, but the rookie hasn’t been getting regular looks from Aaron Rodgers recently. Jarrett Boykin, the only other Packers’ WR to see the field consistently in 2014, has been a huge disappointment with just three receptions on the season. From Rodgers, Adams and TE Andrew Quarless, the Packers need a surprise performance on Sunday.