It's bad when you lose to a rival with a lot at stake.  It's even worse when you lose your starting quarterback in the process.  For now it's pretty clear that the road to the Super Bowl goes through Dallas and the question everyone will be asking is "will Brett Favre start against Oakland ?"  One could put spin on this loss, saying that Favre went down and not having three key defensive players really hurt but the fact is Dallas proved to be the better team on this night.  Despite the injuries and mistakes the Packers were right there, down by three in the fourth quarter, needing just one stop.  But it never happened.

As always, there was good and bad.  Aaron Rodgers was good, moving the offense efficiently while direct two very important touchdown drives that turned a laugher into a nail-biter.  Jarrett Bush was bad.  With the chance to step in for Charles Woodson and make a name for himself Bush was picked on and picked apart by Tony Romo and the Dallas receiving corps.  Terrell Owens ripped through the secondary throughout the first half but was held in check in the second half.  The play calling was erratic and at times reckless early on but Coach McCarthy found his groove with Rodgers at the helm and the understudy finished with 201 passing yards.

If these two teams meet again it will be a different story.  Clearly the loss of Woodson made the difference and if he's healthy in the playoffs the Packers secondary won't be a playground like it was tonight.  But for now the Packers will have to settle for being number two in the NFC.