3 Packers who may have saved their jobs in playoff win vs. Cowboys

Joe Barry

The Packers allowing a perfect passer rating to Baker Mayfield feels like an awfully long time ago. Joe Barry's defense has come up big in three must-win games, and it may have saved Barry his job.

LaFleur said he "couldn't be happier" with Barry's defense.

"I know what Joe Barry is all about and the resiliency," said LaFleur. There's tough moments. And there's tough moments in every season and I felt like I know what we have in him and was confident if anybody could right the ship, it was him."

It doesn't sound like LaFleur is planning a defensive coordinator change. If the Packers struggle to stop the 49ers this week, he may view things differently. Perhaps LaFleur is still open to replacing Barry. But he went out of his way to compliment his defensive coordinator after beating the Cowboys.

If Barry's unit continues to play well, it will leave no doubt. Green Bay allowed a total of 19 points in must-win games against the Minnesota Vikings and Chicago Bears, but the real test came against a dominant Cowboys offense.

Green Bay forced two punts and made two interceptions, including a pick-six, on Dallas' opening four drives. The Cowboys managed just seven points in the first half, and it would've been zero had De'Vondre Campbell held on to an interception in the end zone or if the officials had called a blatant false-start penalty on the Cowboys' touchdown as time expired.

The Packers sacked Dak Prescott four times and forced two interceptions. While Prescott ended with 403 passing yards and three touchdowns, he threw 60 passes, and Green Bay was defending a huge lead for most of the second half.

Barry's biggest test comes in the divisional round, but his defense has made significant improvements at just the right time.

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