The conflict between the past and the present.
The Green Bay Packers and the Dallas Cowboys will square off at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, next Sunday at 3:30 p.m. CT.
This game means more than just being a playoff game. It’s a contest between two teams and two coaches who have undergone major changes.
Mike McCarthy, dubbed an offensive genius when recruited by Green Bay in 2006, oversaw the team’s strong offensive onslaught and helped Aaron Rodgers earn two MVP awards during his tenure. McCarthy, who was sacked by Green Bay in 2018, found himself in a similar scenario as the conductor of Dallas’ offensive engine.
Matt LaFleur, the head coach of the Green Bay Packers, was renowned as a genius, but in a different way. Following the hiring of Sean McVay by the Los Angeles Rams in 2017, teams were looking for the next innovative offensive mind, which is why coaches who worked with McVay, such as LaFleur, Bengals coach Zac Taylor, Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell, and, on a smaller scale, Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel, who worked with McVay in Washington from 2011 to 2013, landed head coaching jobs.
But what LaFleur has done this season with Jordan Love is incredible. Love had 32 touchdowns and 11 interceptions during the regular season. Love also averaged 7.2 yards per pass attempt and 11.2 yards after completion. Early in the season, LaFleur was chastised for trying to harness Jordan Love’s passing ability by calling a lot of dink-and-dunk throws. But after the Thanksgiving game against Detroit, LaFleur freed up the offense, and we saw a new Jordan Love.
Former Green Bay Packers Head Coach Mike McCarthy discusses why he views the game against the Packers as just another game USATSI 22080458
Mike McCarthy is unlikely to be distracted by the pomp of facing his former team. (Ed Werder, ESPN)
“I haven’t watched them all that much, but I’m sure you guys will enjoy the drama, and I won’t be participating this year.” It makes no difference who we play.”
He should be. This is a huge game for both teams, but it shouldn’t be viewed as McCarthy squaring off against his previous team; rather, it should be viewed as Packers vs. Cowboys. Only four players have remained on the Green Bay Packers roster after McCarthy was fired in 2018 (Aaron Jones, David Bakhtiari, Kenny Clark, and Jaire Alexander).
Nobody expected Jordan Love to make the playoffs only three weeks ago, and look where they are now. This is an opportunity for Jordan Love and the Green Bay Packers to extend their winning streak by traveling to Dallas and defeating the Dallas Cowboys. It will be interesting to watch if the Green Bay Packers are successful.
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