The Dallas Cowboys travel to Lambeau Field to face the Green Bay Packers in Sunday's NFC divisional playoff game in a matchup between two historic franchises. This will be the first time these two teams will have met in the playoffs since 1995, the last time the Cowboys won the Super Bowl, and the first time at Lambeau field since one of the most legendary games in league history, the "Ice Bowl" in 1967.
Players who participated in that legendary game will tell anyone that there will never be another game quite like the one they played on that freezing afternoon when the scoreboard temperatire read -16 degrees. Playing conditions were horrific that day with the ball hard as a rock and players hardly able to feel any parts of their bodies that had not turned numb. The "Ice Bowl" may be memorable to many, but to all those who participated, the game was more miserable than memorable.
"The Ice Bowl, it was miserable," Packers Hall of Famer Donny Anderson said. "The thing about it is, I always try to say this in a nice way, but if we could remember pain as human beings, then we would never accomplish much. Women would never have babies again. The pain of being in the military, being shot and wanting to go back and protect our country, it's part of the life. I wonder sometimes how we truly played in the game, the teams. And then we both did as well as we did."
Even the officials were not able to leave the game without battle scars. As legend has it, referee Norm Schachter accidentally ripped the skin off his lips the first time he blew his whistle because the metal froze to his mouth. One can only imagine the fans in the stands that day and what they had to encounter by simply sitting/standing there.
This game's temperatures, however, will not be nearly as cold as weather forecasts predict them: in the 20s with no rain or snow falling during game time.
Sunday's game will be the coldest the Cowboys will have played this season, and many speculate that the weather will play a factor for the road warriors the Cowboys have proved themselves to be by going 8-0 on the road during the regular season. For Aaron Rodgers and the Packers, this will be just another playoff game at Lambeau, a field where they have thrived this season by going a perfect 8-0 at home. This will be only the third time an undefeated road team and undefeated home team will have met in the playoffs and the first time since the merger.
Tony Romo and Rodgers are the biggest reasons for both teams' success (Dallas on the road and Green Bay at home) as they have both been nearly flawless during the regular season. Rodgers has not thrown an interception at home in two years, and has led the Packers to dominant home victories over the likes of the Carolina Panthers, New England Patriots, and Detroit Lions, all playoff teams. Rodgers has been nearly perfect at home, except, of course, in the playoffs, where they have lost two of the last three home playoff games in the last few years. Nonetheless, Rodgers and the Packers remain extremely confident playing on their home field.
However, the Packers are not neglecting the Cowboys' own impressive record on the road. While Rodgers has been spectacular at home, Romo has been nearly or just as good, throwing only two interceptions on the road. The Cowboys' most impressive victory came at the Seattle Seahawks, a 30-23 win in Week 6. Romo has thrown 20 touchdown passes and two interceptions on the road. He has completed 70.6 percent of his passes and thrown for more yards away from home than at AT&T Stadium. The Cowboys themselves head into Lambeau Field with their own confidence at a high level.
This matchup may not have the same weather conditions as the legendary "Ice Bowl," but there is no denying the key storylines surrounding this game. This matchup highlights two historic franchises with a rich history of playoff succes. It pits a perfect road team against a perfect home team. Something must give.
