After thrilling victory on the road vs. Lions, Packers gear up for Dallas Cowboys at Lambeau Field
GREEN BAY -- After a thrilling victory over the Detroit Lions, with a last-second Hail Mary pass from Aaron Rodgers to Richard Rodgers at Ford Field, the Green Bay Packers return home to Lambeau Field this Sunday, December 13th to face the Dallas Cowboys.
Packers Richard Rodgers celebrates Hail Mary TD catch
Aaron Rodgers celebrates after Hail Mary pass, victory over Lions
Kickoff is set for 3:25 p.m. Sunday. You can watch the game ONLY ON FOX6!
The Packers are 8-4 on the season. The Packers are tied for first place in the NFC North Division with the Minnesota Vikings who play on Thursday night, December 10th against the Cardinals, who lead the NFC West.
The Dallas Cowboys are 4-8 on the season.
This Sunday's game is the Packers' second-to-last home game of the regular season.
Green Bay is 16-16 against the Dallas in the overall series, but has won four straight over the Cowboys, including the last matchup, 26-21, at home in the divisional round of the playoffs last season.
Green Bay is 10-4 against Dallas at home during the regular and postseason.
The Packers have won five of the last six against the Cowboys at Lambeau Field, scoring over 40 points in three of the wins.
This is the third straight season that the teams have met (2013 regular season, 2014 postseason).
The Packers and Cowboys last meet in the regular season on December 15th, 2013 at AT&T Stadium. The Packers won 37-36.
Both teams met in the NFC Divisional playoff last season, with Green Bay coming away victorious, 26-21.
After a controversial fourth-down catch by Cowboys WR Dez Bryant was ruled incomplete late in the four quarter, the Packers drove to run out the last few minutes of the clock.
These clubs squared off in one of the most famous games in league history, the 1967 NFL Championship, dubbed the ‘Ice Bowl.’
Kickoff temperature was recorded as minus-13 with a minus-46 wind chill, the coldest game in league annals.
Bart Starr’s game-winning TD, a one-yard dive with 13 seconds left, sealed Green Bay’s third straight championship en route to its second consecutive Super Bowl title.
There's been a lot of focus on Packers running back Eddie Lacy this week. Lacy was benched by Coach Mike McCarthy after missing curfew ahead of the Packers/Lions game.
Eddie Lacy
Lacy spoke with reporters on Wednesday, December 9th, and said he squared things up with Coach McCarthy.
"We had a talk. We put it behind us -- and we're moving forward. I think we both got things out in that conversation, and we're both moving forward from that instance," Lacy said.
QB Aaron Rodgers said not only is Lacy back in good graces, he could be a big contributor this Sunday.
"Without a doubt we got confidence in Eddie. We've had a lot of backs around here over the years who have been great cold weather backs. Ryan Grant for years was a better runner in November, December and January than he was in the first couple months of the season. Eddie's the same way. He's a tough guy to tackle. He's a bowling ball out there. He's a smart guy. He's a good runner. He's very agile for a guy of his size. We're going to need him to play for us and be consistent," Rodgers said.
When asked directly whether he's a cold weather back, Lacy, a native of the south said "I'm a whatever you need back."
You'll recall, at one point this season, the Packers were 6-0 -- an undefeated football team. They now sit at 8-4.
Packers Head Coach Mike McCarthy
So heading into December when the Packers play some of their best football (at least they have under Coach McCarthy) -- just who are they in 2015?
"I think we're tied for the division lead the last time I checked. This year, as opposed to some of the other years, I think we're continuing to work through our identity throughout the year. A lot of that is unfortunately due to an injury to a key player in the pre-season. We've been trying to find that balance on offense and guys to pick up the slack," Rodgers said.
"We obviously didn't make the road easy for us these past several weeks with some of the losses that we've had. Everything we want is in front of us. We got a big test this weekend against a team that's obviously without their starting quarterback, but still talented in a number of different areas. We really got to focus on this week," Packers linebacker Clay Matthews said.
"We're 8-4. We're an 8-4 football team that needs to do better at the little things. We're not as detailed as we'd like to be right now," Coach McCarthy said.
What do you think? Can the Green Bay Packers pull off another victory this week vs. the Cowboys? Make your pre-game prognostication in our poll just below:
CLICK HERE for much more on this week's matchup via Packers.com.
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The Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) Northeast Region Office is reminding motorists heading to Lambeau Field on Sunday, December 13 for the Green Bay Packer/Dallas Cowboy football game that I-41 and adjacent roadways from Oneida Street north to Lineville Road in Brown County are under construction.
I-41, WIS 172 and I-43 could experience significant backups near the stadium, as could the I-41 interchanges at Oneida Street, WIS 172 and I-43. Barrier walls, orange barrels, and narrow lanes will affect travel. Due to the I-41 Project construction, Ashland Avenue through De Pere and Ashwaubenon will also experience increased traffic congestion as additional motorists use this as an alternate route. The heaviest congestion is expected three hours before and after the game.
Here is a list of the major roads in northeast Wisconsin most Packer fans will be traveling as they head for Lambeau Field, and the road conditions they should anticipate.
I-43 and I-43/I-41 interchange
WIS 172 and I-41/WIS 172 Interchange
Motorists should expect heavy congestion and potential long delays at the I-41/WIS 172 interchange and on WIS 172 in Brown County from I-43 to the WIS 172/I-41 interchange before and after the game. Motorists should consider utilize alternate routes if possible.
I-41
Barrier wall, narrow lanes, short merge distances and orange barrels will be present at various locations.
WIS 441/US 10 and Roland Kampo Bridge
Freeway Service Team
Two freeway service teams will be working on game day in Brown County. One team will be on I-41 from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. and the other will be on WIS 172 from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and again from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. These teams will assist motorists - free of charge - who are involved in minor crashes or are experiencing a breakdown. If necessary, the Freeway Service Team quickly relocates disabled vehicles from the highway’s travel lanes and/or shoulders to safe, pre-designated locations away from traffic.
Services the team provides include:
Please note if you are involved in a crash
The WisDOT’s Division of State Patrol advises you to immediately call 911 if you are involved in a crash. If there are no injuries and the vehicles can be moved, report the other vehicle’s license plate numbers as you may then be advised to move off the main portion of the roadway to a crash investigation site or to a ramp out of traffic. This will assist first responders in reaching you while helping to clear traffic delays during the critical travel times before and following the game.
Additionally, if your vehicle becomes disabled in the I-41 work zone between De Pere and Suamico, notify authorities immediately, and WisDOT will send the Freeway Service Team vehicle to your location. Motorists can then contact their motor club or towing preference after WisDOT has relocated your vehicle to a more accessible and safe location.
Extra police patrols
To combat drunken driving, law enforcement agencies in Sheboygan and Manitowoc counties are teaming up for a new High-Visibility Education and Enforcement (HVEE) Task Force on Sunday, Dec. 13. The agencies will be putting more officers on patrol for longer hours to stop, test and arrest drunken drivers.
Travelers should allow extra time and can check online for real-time traffic information, including travel times, lane closures and incidents, at 511 Wisconsin online at www.511wi.gov or by calling 511.