NFL WILD CARD GAME 4: GREEN BAY PACKERS AT DALLAS COWBOYS

BY ADAM GREENE

In what could be the most hilarious moment of the postseason, the Green Bay Packers have the opportunity to fire Mike McCarthy twice as they travel to Jerry World to do battle with his Dallas Cowboy sin the second Wild Card of our Sunday afternoon.

This is the 39^th all time meeting between the franchises going all the way back to Dallas’ inaugural season in 1960. The Pack lead the head-to-head matchup 21-17. They’ve won their last four meetings and 10 of their last 12 going back to 2009. And Mike McCarthy coached Green Bay in most of those.

They faced off last season, with the Packers taking a 31-28 victory in Green Bay on Nov. 13. In the win, Aaron Rodgers (now with the New York Jets and completely insane) was 14 of 20 passing for 224 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions. Aaron Jones rushed 24 times for 138 yards. Christian Watson caught four passes for 107 yards.

Dak Prescott went 27 of 46 passing in the loss for 265 yards, three TDs and two picks. Tony Pollard rushed 22 times for 115 yards and a touchdown. CeeDee Lamb caught 11 balls for 150 yards and two scores. Dalton Schults (now with the Houston Texans) hauled in six passes for 54 yards and a TD.

GREEN BAY PACKERS AT DALLAS COWBOYS (-7.5, O/U: 50.5)

Location: AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Texas

Broadcast: FOX

Kickoff: Jan. 14, 4:30 p.m.

GREEN BAY PACKERS (9-8)

In Week 18 the Packers secured the seventh seed in the NFC Playoffs by knocking off the Chicago Beas, 17-9. Jordan Love was 27 of 32 passing for 316 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions. He was sacked once. Aaron Jones rushed 22 times for 111 yards. Jayden Reed caught four passes for 112 yards. Bo Melton had five grabs for 62 yards and Dontayvion Wicks had six receptions for 61 yards and two scores. The defense held the Bears to 75 yards on the ground and sacked Justin Fields five times.

DALLAS COWBOYS (12-5)

Dallas closed out the NFC East title with a 38-10 win over the hapless and tanking Washington Commanders last week. Dak Prescott was 31 of 36 for 279 yards, four touchdowns and an interception in the win. Tony Pollard had 17 carries for 70 yards and TD. CeeDee Lamb hauled in 13 passes for 98 yards and two scores. Jake Ferguson had six grabs for 69 yards. Brandin Cooks caught six passes for 39 yards and a TD. The defense held the Commanders to 50 yards on the ground, picked off Sam Howell twice and sacked him four times.

THE PICK

The specter of Bill Belichick looms large over this game. If McCarthy thought Dan Quinn was hanging over his job like a vulture, he just watched the sun get blotted out overhead by the circling Qutzalcoatlus that is the Super Genius. All season I’ve said that Jerry Jones will fire McCarthy if Dallas doesn’t at least make it to the NFC Championship. Now, I’m not sure that’s even enough. They should be safe this week, but a Packers upset, followed by a trip for McCarthy down to the Creekside to be “told about the rabbits” would not surprise me in the least. Cowboys 27, Packers 20

Last week

Straight up: 9-7

Against the spread: 11-5

Season

Straight up: 188-84

Against the spread: 173-99

Follow Adam Greene on Twitter @TheFirstMan.

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