3 Green Bay Packers on the hot seat during the playoffs

The Green Bay Packers have played some of their best football when the pressure is off. While there is no such thing as a no-pressure game in the playoffs, compared to the Dallas Cowboys, the Packers have nothing to lose.

Green Bay isn't expected to win. Few thought Matt LaFleur's team would even get this far. It's the opposite for the Cowboys, who have fallen short of their ambitious expectations in recent years. A first-round exit to the seventh-seed Packers wouldn't go down well in Jerry World, potentially putting Mike McCarthy's future with the team in jeopardy.

Playing free and fearlessly could help the Packers pull off an upset, especially if the Cowboys feel the pressure and expectation on their shoulders.

However, some Packers desperately need a good performance in the playoffs. They are battling for more than just a playoff win, but their future with the team in 2024.

3. Darnell Savage

Green Bay needs its veterans in the secondary to step up in arguably its toughest matchup of the season. Star cornerback Jaire Alexander is battling an ankle injury that puts his status for Sunday's game in doubt. It would be a good time for Darnell Savage to make an impact in the secondary.

Injuries cost Savage seven games in the regular season. He returned in Week 17 against the Minnesota Vikings and had arguably his best game of the year against the Chicago Bears, making five tackles.

Savage has nine interceptions and 32 pass defenses in his Packers career but zero picks and one pass defense this season. Led by MVP candidate Dak Prescott, Dallas' offense is tough to stop.

A season-best performance from Savage will help the Packers beat the Cowboys, and it could go a long way to landing him a new deal in 2024. Savage is a free agent in the offseason, and the Packers may start over at the safety position. Savage needs to finish the season well.