With six games to go in the regular season and a four-game losing skid, many laughed at the notion of the Green Bay Packers running the table to close things out. Aaron Rodgers was not one of them, and said that the Packers could do just that. And so they did. In that time, Rodgers threw 15 touchdowns and no interceptions. And now they are set to face the NFC’s best regular season team of 2016, the Dallas Cowboys.
Packers vs. Cowboys: Start time, TV schedule for 2017 NFL playoffs
Can the red-hot Aaron Rodgers outduel rookie Dak Prescott in the Divisional round?
The Cowboys will host the Packers in the divisional round of the playoffs on Sunday, with kickoff set for 4:40 p.m. ET. The game will be broadcast by FOX, which means a live stream will be available online via FOX Sports GO.
Rodgers has thrown 19 touchdowns over his last seven games, including the 38-13 thrashing of the New York Giants in the wild card round. Rodgers was excellent in that game, throwing for 362 yards with four touchdowns and no interceptions. He somehow managed to throw yet another Hail Mary touchdown, too.
Rodgers has been hotter than any other quarterback in the league since the back half of the regular season.
Dallas has been riding the arm of rookie quarterback Dak Prescott and the legs of rookie running back Ezekiel Elliott. Prescott hasn’t looked like Rodgers by any means, but a 67.8 completion percentage, 3,667 yards, 23 touchdowns and just four interceptions are exceedingly good numbers for a quarterback who gets a ton of production out of his running game.
Elliott carried the ball 322 times as a rookie, putting up a league-leading 1,631 yards along with 15 touchdowns. He also caught 32 passes for 363 yards and a touchdown. The Cowboys have found a lot of success behind what many believe is the best offensive line in football. That line includes Tyron Smith, Zack Martin and Travis Frederick, all of whom made the Pro Bowl this season.
It will be up to Clay Matthews and the Packers’ defense to disrupt that line. Stopping Elliott is obviously the big goal, but on top of it all, the best way forward seems to be making Prescott uncomfortable. That hasn’t happened much this year, but Prescott isn’t a prolific passer either. Rattling him and forcing him into even a single interception could be key for the Packers.
Dallas is coming off a bye, having earned the top seed in the NFC thanks to a 13-3 regular season record. So they were resting when the Packers were facing off with the Giants in the wild card round and are one of the healthiest teams still remaining in the playoffs.
The Packers aren’t quite as healthy. Wide receiver Jordy Nelson sustained a rib injury against the Giants and had to stay overnight in the hospital because of it. That injury was caused by a helmet hit directly to his ribs from New York safety Leon Hall. Nelson, Rodgers’ favorite target this season, won’t play against the Cowboys.
Below is all you need to watch Sunday’s action.
How to Watch Packers vs. Cowboys on Sunday
Time: 4:40 p.m. ET
Location: AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Texas
TV: FOX
Announcers: Joe Buck, Troy Aikman, Erin Andrews
Online: Fox Sports Go
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