Week 13 @ Cowboys - 2/2

I walked into the stadium and it was very underwhelming. The shops, the concourse, the whole thing was dark and kind of unwelcoming. Before today I couldn’t understand why they were building a new stadium here. Now I can. My whole impression took a massive swing once I caught my first glimpse of the field, the seats and the patented hole in the roof though. Just like Lambeau, I felt the history. 5 Superbowl banners hanging from the ceiling, Emmit’s banner as the all time NFL Rushing Leader and names like Roger Staubach, Tom Landry and the great Tex Schramm among many.

As has always been the case Don and I sat on opposite sides of the stadium. For me it was row 14, upper deck, right behind the goal posts. Talk about a great view of everything that Texas Stadium had to offer. I took in the view, tried to come to terms with actually being there and then found my seat. It was amongst a sea of Cowboys fans baying for Packer blood and grated cheese. Literally. Of all of the stadiums and all of the fans, these were certainly the most raucous.

The game started reasonably well thanks to a good return from Koren Robinson and The Packers driving 3 and a half minutes to the Dallas 29. On 3rd and 1 though Brett threw his second long ball of the night, incomplete, and Mason kicked a field goal. I was shocked by this call ‘cause it was just one yard we needed to maintain possession, get a first down and give ourselves a better shot at 7 points instead of just taking 3. We risked 4 points on that one play right there.

The long balls continued for some reason through the first quarter and the beginning of the second. Now I’m no analyst so I’ll stop after this but the whole 17 minutes or so had me scratching my head. Against an offense like the Cowboys I would have thought time of possession and touchdowns would have been the key. Not quick touchdowns giving them the weight of possession and certainly not field goals. We’ve been doing so well all year with the short and intermediate passing game and Ryan Grant is doing all that we need a running back to do. Isn’t the best defence a good offense as they say?

Why the sudden change in game plan? Why bomb after bomb after bomb? How did we fall behind 27 – 10 with 10 minutes to go in the 2nd?

Like I said, that’s it for the analysis. Had the bombs have hit we’d be celebrating and I’m sure there was a reason for the plan. It just didn’t make any sense to little ol’ me that’s all. I come from the “if you’re on a good thing, stick to it” kind of mentality.

I find it remarkable when Brett gets hit. It doesn’t matter by who, how hard or how many times. He always gets up like he didn’t feel a thing. Even when Aaron came on the Cowboys fans sitting next to me and I figured Brett was just having something taped or shot or looked at a little longer.

At no point did any of us expect that that was the last we’d see of him. It just doesn’t happen that way. Didn’t Aaron step up though? I really enjoy watching him play. He seems so cool headed, poised and in control. I guess you get that from watching Brett play for two and a half years. Who better a teacher?

A funny thing happened at this point in the game. I was coming back into the stadium after a little boys break and 2 Packer fans walked past, on their way out of the stands. They told me to enjoy the game as they dragged their feet by. I asked if they were leaving and they said they were. Their reason was that Brett wasn’t coming back and we were already down by 17. I couldn’t believe it, I really couldn’t. Way to support the new guy.

As Aaron and the rest of the team got us to within 3 points toward the end of the 3rd quarter I was amazed. Not amazed that he was doing it. I’ve always thought we were in good hands with him. More amazed that he was doing it here, with all the hype, the noise, the pressure and against the 7th ranked passing defence in the league.

In the end we lost, 37 – 27 as most of you would already know but I left happy. We stayed within 10 points of a real Superbowl contender. We did so in their stadium as hostile, intimidating and loud as it was. We did so with players like KGB, Charles Woodson, Aaron Rouse and Bubba Franks on the side line. And we did it with Brett watching while Aaron called the shots, starting his night from 17 points down.

There’s alot of talk about the Championship game and the road going through Dallas now. Sure, that might happen but the Cowboys have 3 away games out of 4 remaining against decent opposition. You just never know how the cookie might crumble. Personally, I couldn’t care less where it is played (apart from budgetary restraints of course). If we do what we do well and we do it with the boys above back on the roster, the outcome could be a very different one.

I was slow to exit as always and made my way over to the north end zone where the NFL network were filming their post game show with TO. That was cool. From there we hung with a couple of Cowboys fans and chatted till well after 1am. Thanks Cade and buddies, you’re good guys. As we walked by they offered us their last brats for the evening. We stopped for a chat and they mentioned that the Packers and their fans are great for the game of football. We had to laugh when they said that’s why they invited us over. Had we have been Redskins fans they said they never would have bothered. Love it.

Perhaps we should make him some “Da Redskins still suck” pins?

So another week, can’t say another win unfortunately but definitely another awesome experience. A stadium that I had so many television memories of had quickly become a stadium with real memories I will never forget.

Some of the history rewritten today:

- Donald Driver surpassed Don Hutson (488) for 3rd on the Packers All Time receiving list, finishing the game with 491 total.

- Aaron Rodgers threw his first NFL touchdown. 11 yards to, you guessed it Greg “leave the milestone catches to me” Jennings and

- (I know it’s a Cowboys one but man it’s interesting) Tony Romo threw his 30th touchdown pass for the season. He finished the day with 33 total surpassing Danny White (29) to top the Dallas Cowboys all time single season Touchdown Passes record. Believe it or not the most Troy Aikman ever managed was 23 and even the great Roger Staubach could only manage 27 in his illustrious career.

Next week it’s home against the Raiders. I’ve still not seen THE Raiders game from 2003 so I’m looking forward to reliving that for myself here. I’m also looking forward to the snow that’s on its way in Green Bay. Until then i’ll leave you with a few extra pics with some very special Packer fans. 

“The Packer Pimp”

“Cheese Louise”

and (for my sins as a result of the first 2 photos) being ordained into the Packers ministry by “St Vincent”