Green Bay Packers: The Tale of Two Halves

Dec 15, 2013; Arlington, TX, USA; Green Bay Packers quarterback Matt Flynn (10) reacts to a touchdown with tight end Andrew Quarless (81) in the fourth quarter at AT

“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times . . .”

What else could better sum up the Green Bay Packers polarizing 37-36 comeback win over the Dallas Cowboys?

OK, maybe it’s a bit of a stretch to use the words of Charles Dickens to recap a Packers’ victory that was just as puzzling as it was shocking.

Who would have thought at halftime, being down 26-3, Green Bay would fight their way back into the game and pull off the biggest comeback victory the franchise has seen in 30 years?

I certainly didn’t see this coming – A Packers offense with Matt Flynn under center would go a perfect 5-for-5 in second-half possessions with a touchdown? The same offense that only mustered three points in the first half against the league’s last-ranked defense?

So which Packers team is the real deal?

The one we saw look abysmal in the first half or the one who was unstoppable in the second?

It felt like on Sunday we were watching two completely different teams. I’d love to think of something clever here to say where I could tie in a Jekyll and Hyde reference, but I’m not sure which side of this Packers’ team is the mad scientist and which side is the monster.

One thing is for sure, Green Bay will need to play more like they did in the second half of the Dallas game going forward if they want to run the table and make the playoffs.

In fact, with a Detroit loss, the Packers can take the division and host a playoff game if they win their final two games against Pittsburg and Chicago.

Let’s go Ravens!!!

(No, I won’t bring in an Edgar Allan Poe reference here.)

If Detroit in fact loses to Baltimore on Monday night, then the Packers’ destiny is in their own hands. Pretty incredible considering they were 5-6-1 only a couple of weeks ago.

I only hope the Packers can get off to a better start then they have against Atlanta and Dallas the last two weeks. Even though I love a great comeback win, it would be nice for the Packers to put together a complete game.

Allowing 332 yards of offense, 26 points, and 17 first downs in the first half like they did in Dallas, will not get the job done hosting Pittsburg at home on Sunday.

Personally, I’d liked to see a little more of the defense that held Dallas to 136 yards of offense and ten points, forced two big-time interceptions late in the game, and got consistent pressure on Tony Romo, including three sacks, in the second half.

To the Packers defense’s credit, they did hold strong in their own territory and force Dallas to kick four field goals in the first half when it appeared the Cowboys offense was driving down field and knocking on the door to score.

The defense could have also used a little more help from the Packers offense in the first half.

Green Bay’s offense only mustered 129 yards, three points, and seven first downs in the first half. Not to mention only thirty yards on the ground and one costly interception. Flynn’s first half passer rating was an unimpressive 55.3.

Things looked ugly for Green Bay going into halftime. But the Packers came out in the second half guns ablazin’.

They scored touchdowns on all five of their possessions. Tallied 321 yards of offense, 34 points, and went 6-for-7 on third downs. Flynn finished the game with a 113.1 passer rating thanks to four second-half touchdowns.

The Packers looked like a completely different team after halftime. So what happened?

I love the late-game heroics, but now, I have no idea what to expect from this Packers team going forward.

At home, with Pittsburg coming to town and the season on the line, will we see the Packers team that couldn’t be stopped and scored 34 point in a half or the Packers team that got dominated in every way for a half by a mediocre Dallas club?