The Green Bay Packers host the Dallas Cowboys Sunday in the NFC Divisional Round of the playoffs.
Who knows if this rematch will live up to the original, but we can’t help but reminisce the infamous Ice Bowl for the NFL Championship back in 1967. It’ll be a little warmer though projecting 14 degrees game time (1:00 PM ET) with five mph winds, nothing close to below zero, but it’s still the Frozen Tundra.
In addition to the historic championship game which the Packers won, these two “America’s Teams” have great history, especially in the playoffs. The Cowboys of the 90’s knocked out Green Bay three straight years, including the NFC Championship in ‘95. Recent history is on their side as that was the last playoff meeting between the two.
But things have changed in a new era as the Packers led by Aaron Rodgers just won a Super Bowl in Dallas’ AT&T Stadium and are looking to regain the Lombardi Trophy. Meanwhile, Tony Romo finally just led the Cowboys to a playoff win, their first since 2009.
Eddie Lacy goes airborne for a touchdown in Dallas.Their most recent meeting was a regular season game last year in Dallas in which the Packers came back to win 37-36 with backup quarterback Matt Flynn. They rallied from a 20 point deficit with five second half touchdowns. Eddie Lacy ran for 141 yards and a score. In the blistering cold, Eddie Lacy could be the x-factor Sunday.
As far as the passing game, someone will need to step up as the third go-to receiver. Jordy Nelson and Randall Cobb have proved themselves as the best receiving duo combining for the most touchdowns of any wideout tandem, but it would help to have an extra target move the chains.
Rookie receiver Davante Adams has emerged as the number three and has shown he can handle the spotlight. His best game this year was against the New England Patriots in primetime.
Andrew Quarless has been known to catch some big time balls, especially noting the comeback in Miami. Quarless caught the winning td after the fake spike to Adams.
Fellow rookie tight end Richard Rodgers also has come on strong of late gaining A-Rod's trust.
Still on a bad calf, Aaron Rodgers will need to play his best in the playoffs.
Something’s got to give as both teams are impressively undefeated; Green Bay (8-0 at home) vs. Dallas (8-0 on road).
Coming off a well deserved bye week after defeating the Detroit Lions in Week 17 and the Cowboys just sneaking by those same Lions on Wild Card Weekend, this proves to be a memorable matchup: "Ice Bowl II".