Micah Parsons is everything the Green Bay Packers hoped he'd be for this defense. It's why they gave up two first-round picks to the Dallas Cowboys and made Parsons the highest-paid non-QB in NFL history.
It's also what makes his season-ending injury so devastating. He helped turn the Packers from a good team into an NFC powerhouse. Without him, it's fair to question whether they have enough to threaten the best teams in the conference.
Tony Romo called the game alongside Jim Nantz for CBS. Speaking after the contest, Romo broke down just how brutal a loss Parsons is to the Packers' championship hopes.
"To me, this opens (the NFC) up, because going into this, I thought that Green Bay was probably, maybe the top team, top two teams in the NFC," said Romo. "That changes, I think, if Parsons is out."
Romo said that without Parsons on the field, quarterbacks have that "extra hitch" and "extra look to the next receiver." It changes everything.
Packers must find a way to stay relevant in the NFC without their game-wrecking pass-rusher
A year ago, defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley had to adjust to a lack of consistent pass rush by drawing up various creative twists and stunts. He schemed pressure. It worked as well as Hafley could've hoped, but it can only take you so far.
Once you face the NFL's best teams, you have to be able to win with four rushers. The Packers could do that with Parsons on the field. When Hafley did send more pressure, it only added to their overall impact because of the disruption Parsons could create.
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Kenny Clark is gone. Devonte Wyatt is out for the season. The Packers haven't just lost Parsons, but they also don't boast the same depth as they did 12 months ago. Parsons and Wyatt rank Nos. 1 and 3 for the Packers in sacks. Rashan Gary is No. 2, but all 7.5 of his sacks came before Week 9. He has none since the victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers in October.
The Packers proved they could beat anybody this season. They swept the Detroit Lions, took down the Chicago Bears in the first meeting, and looked on track to win a heavyweight battle in Denver. Green Bay led by nine points in the third quarter before an interception and injury to Christian Watson ignited two quarters of pure horror for this team.
Romo spelled out the painful reality. With Parsons, the Packers were among the NFC favorites. A team nobody wanted to run into in January. Now, their Super Bowl dreams likely went up in smoke.