Star Ratings: Packers-Cowboys

What a win. Green Bay Packers and Dallas Cowboys have met eight times in the postseason. There have been so many classics, and this one will fall under it as well. Nothing will beat the Ice Bowl because it was for a championship, but the 2014 game with Dez no catch and now this, it’s making Packers-Cowboys into a great rivalry again. So many players played very well on Sunday afternoon.
Five Stars
Mason Crosby – Ice in his veins. Mason Crosby nearly didn’t make the roster a couple years ago. He shanked so many kicks, and many fans thought that Crosby was one of the weak links of the team. He responded to that funk and has been one of the better kickers of the last few years. He’s the first kicker to make two 50-plus field goals in the final two minutes of a playoff game. That should surprise no one. He’s a baller. Hope it continues moving forward.
Micah Hyde – Earlier this season we did #NickPerryContractYear and now, it should change to #MicahHydeContractYear. He’s been terrific down the stretch and today was no different. Dallas picked apart most parts of Green Bay’s secondary minus Hyde who only got targeted five times in the game. He also made a great read on a wide receiver screen that Packers safety picked off for a game-changing play. Hyde came into his own in the last few games.
Aaron Rodgers – He’s the man. Rodgers continued to paint his 2016 masterpiece. He went off for 356 yards and two touchdowns. It wasn’t the most efficient game, but Rodgers made the big plays when Green Bay needed him to on Sunday. Rodgers started out so hot in this game, and Dallas made a few adjustments to slow him down only to not have enough to hold up for a whole game. Packers quarterback continues to be an out of this world talent.
Four Stars
Jared Cook – Worth every penny. Jared Cook shined in this game at certain points with 104 yards and six catches. The biggest one being on the second-to-last play when Cook pulled in a sideline catch. Who knows how Cook makes that catch. Let’s not forget he wasn’t known for his hands coming into his time with Green Bay. Additionally, Cook dropped a pass a few plays before that big one. He’s a valued asset to this team.
Kenny Clark – Let’s keep an eye out for this guy next week in Atlanta. Kenny Clark is starting to come into his own. He played great in both the run and pass game. Clark looks like someone not afraid of the big moment and studies the tape of his opposition. He sniffed out a screen route among other plays in the middle of the field. Clark will face an easier offensive line next Sunday.
Three Stars
Ty Montgomery – Man, there were some good and bad things about Ty Montgomery’s day on Sunday. The good was Montgomery making a few plays on the ground including two rushing touchdowns. He also caught six passes out of the backfield for 34 yards, which is some of his best work out of the backfield in the passing game. Montgomery’s bad almost outweighed his good with some pathetic pass-blocking. He really needs to spend a full offseason to learn how to pass block.
Two Stars
Kentrell Brice – I really could pick on the entire secondary not named Hyde, but we’re going to start with Kentrell Brice. It’s hard to be too upset at him because he’s an undrafted rookie playing in a playoff team against a potent offense. It’s hard to expect him to have a good game in this situation. He does throw around the lumber a little bit which I love. Give Brice a full week of practicing with the one’s if Morgan Burnett is out, maybe it’s a different story in Atlanta.
One Star
Damarious Randall – Rough game from him. Don’t know if it was the foot injury or Green Bay moving him inside when Burnett went down. Randall had a tough time with Jason Witten of all people who might be the slowest receiver in football. Hopefully, Randall’s foot heals up and with Quinten Rollins potentially back, he might get some relief.
McCarthy Getting Tight Late – I won’t dwell on this much, but Mac is so fucking lucky that Crosby hit a 56-yard field goal. He played so conservatively that local sports talk radio would have been unbearable until July.
Charlie.