The Green Bay Packers (4-4) begin their preparation for the Dallas Cowboys (6-2) today. This day, unlike the rest so far this season, comes with urgency and emphasis. Back to back losses; one an emotional home loss to Brett Favre and the Minnesota Vikings followed by a road loss to a winless, woeful Tampa Bay Buccaneers squad, have vaulted this organization into the cross hairs of most Packers fans. In addition to the ire drawn by Packers nation, this game will have immediate ramifications regarding the rest of the Packers 2009 season.

With the anger and emotions running high, it’s paramount that the Packers start fast vs. Romo and the boys. If Mike McCarthy’s crew should stumble out of the gate on Sunday, the crowd could turn ugly in a hurry and go from backing the Pack to booing them louder than the purple version of #4 did upon his return to Lambeau. In addition, if the Packers lose this game, you can all but mathematically eliminate them from any post-season hopes thus ending their season. At that point, the players in that locker room would know that they’re dealing with, at best, a lame duck coach and possibly a soon to be ousted general manager there by leaving them to merely audition for whomever is about to take over this historic franchise.

If the Packers should win this game, that would be the signature win that they’ve sought since beating the Bears on opening night at Lamebau, 21-15. This would be the type of win, after hitting what one would consider to be rock bottom, which could turn things around for the Packers confidencewise. Following the Cowboys into Lambeau Field comes a 49ers team that, as it stands today, has lost 4 in a row and appears to be in somewhat of a tailspin themselves after starting the season 4-0. Then it’s a short turn around for the Pack as they venture into Detroit on Thanksgiving Day to face the traditional Lions. Both, winnable games. If the Packers could succeed in running the trifecta, that would vault them back into the running for, at least, a wild card spot at 7-4 before they would face the Baltimore Ravens here at Lambeau Field on December 7^th.

For the Packers, they have to play flawless football, have a little luck and remain healthy, all of which has been seriously lacking thus far. It all starts with today’s practice and the corrections, adjustments, focus, re-focus, discipline, personnel moves, coaching changes…whatever you want to call it, it all starts here today.

NOTES:

*  Last year (9/21/08), the Cowboys came into Lambeau Field and beat the Packers  27-16. Dallas RBs Marion Barber (142 yards & 1 TD) & Felix Jones (76 yards & TD) help team to 217 rushing yards.  WR Miles Austin had 115 yds & TD.

*  During that last meeting, Greg Jennings was the primary receiver lighting up the Cowboys for 8 catches and 115 yards.

*  The last meeting was also the game in which Al Harris left the contest with a lacerated his spleen.

*  The Packers are 5-1 all time vs. the Cowboys in Green Bay (Including the Ice Bowl) but Mike McCarthy is 0-2 vs. Dallas.

*  The Cowboys have won 3 of the last 4 meetings between these two teams.

*  As it stands right now, the Packers (4-4) are behind Atlanta (5-3) and Philadelphia (5-3) for a wild card spot if the playoffs were to begin today.

*  Green Bay is 1 of 5 teams (New England, N.Y. Giants, Indianapolis, Pittsburgh) to be ranked in the top 10 in both offense and defense.

*  In the turnover category, the Packers are ranked tied for the 3rd highest total in the NFL at +10.  (New Orleans and Philadelphia are 1 and 2)   Dallas is at 0.  The Cowboys have 11 takeaways and 11 turnovers (5 INT's and 6 fumbles).

The Packers Mid-Week (Wednesday) Report:

*  T.J. Lang took most of the reps at RIGHT tackle while Chad Clifton was back at Left Tackle
     Lang's getting the reps because Allen Barbre is still shaking the effects of a concussion he suffered during the game in Tampa Bay.  When asked about making the shift from left tackle to right, Lang responded, "Personally, it's been pretty challenging.  I've played both guard and now both tackles.  It's been up and down for me and it's been a big learning process, more mentally than anything".  Lang also discussed the quarterback sacks given up, "Kind of hurts your pride a little bit.  When you're playing o-line ya know, your job is to keep your guy away from the quarterback.  It's been a negative for us the first half of the season", Lang went on to say, "We're trying to look at the positives, we've done some good things but obviously the negatives overshadow that". 
*  On this Veteran's Day, Aaron Rodgers, when asked if this game (vs. Dallas) is a must-win game, responded, "I consider World War II was a must-win.  As a grandson of a veteran of World War II I want to salute all the troops.  Thank you for everything you do", the Packers QB then went on to say, "It is an important game for us.  I don't use the words must-win but it's an important game for us.  We're 4 and 4 and we know what what's in front of us and we need to win".  When Rodgers was asked if there's a sense of urgency in the locker room today he said, "Unfortunately I feel like we do now.  It's tough because you don't ever want to lose to get that sense of urgency". 
*  Jermichael Finley was still in sweats and did not practice.
*  Aaron Kampman was around but he didn't practice.  More as a precautionary measure after suffering a mild concussion during Sunday's loss to Tampa Bay.  Kampman said that he felt better today but is still trying to make progress and is not quite where he wants to be or where the medical staff would like him to be.  He described the concussion and what it was like on the field, "Ya know, I didn't know myself.  You're taught that you use your head, you keep playing but you don't really know.  If you hurt your knee, you use your mind to evaulate your own pain and injury.  That's the thing, when it's your brain that's injured, you just don't realize it.  I was a little dazed in the 2nd quarter, at half time I was feeling the effects.  It wasn't until the third quarter that the symptoms were bad enough, I realized that I wasn't helping the team and pulled myself out".  Kampman's expected to be back on the practice field on Friday if he passes the medical tests.
*  Brady Popping wasn't at practice today, he's got a quad injury that flared up yesterday and caught Mike McCarthy off guard a little bit.  Brad Jones was in Poppinga's spot on the practice field today.
*  Daryn Colledge, when asked about this game being a must-win said, "Label it whatever you want, if we don't play well and get a win, our season as a whole becomes a lot more bleak.   Going back to Sunday, frustrating isn't even the right word for it.  Frustrated, extremely upset, that one hurt.  We've don'e some really good things and the good keeps being overshadowed by the negative.  We've got to win games, period. If we want to turn this thing around and seriously get into the wild card race and there's no better time to start than now....so yeah, it's urgent".