The Packers are off to Atlanta, and Jon Meerdink and Gary Zilavy are here to tell you all about it. But first, the guys break down the biggest play in Sunday's win over the Cowboys, discuss the possible return of Jordy Nelson, and take time to remember the ups and downs of Mason Crosby's career with the Packers before his clutch kicks in Dallas.

Then, in the look ahead to the Falcons game, Jon and Gary talk about how different this season turned out to be than anyone could have expected.

Rodgers allegedly improved the throw to Cook

Jason Wilde writes in the Wisconsin State Journal about how it appeared FOX Sports' cameras captured Rodgers drawing out routes for Jared Cook, Randall Cobb, Davante Adams and Trevor Davis. 

As it turned out, Wilde writes, only Adams and Cook got actual instructions. “He gave Jared and Davante routes, and then he was running out of time, so he told me and (Davis) just to run out left,” Cobb recounted. “It’s not the first time it’s happened. (But) it’s the first time it’s happened in that kind of moment.”

Wait, maybe he didn’t

Ryan Wood writes for PackersNews.com and discusses head coach Mike McCarthy's perspective of the deciding play. While Rodgers was largely in control of what his teammates did on their final offensive snap, Wood says, he did not make the play up from scratch.

“He orchestrates that drive,” McCarthy said. “The ability to change the protection, particularly on the last play, and he did a really nice job after the sack earlier in that series. So the protection call, outstanding. The crossing route concept coming from the other side, it’s an outstanding selection by him. And with that, the execution was fantastic.”

Actually, it doesn’t matter because it was neat either way

For those inclined to get a little more insight, Geoff Schwartz writes on SB Nation about the offensive line protection for Rodgers on the throw to Cook. What made the final play unique was how the quarterback rolled out to his left and threw against his body. That made the jobs for David Bakhtiari and Lane Taylor on the left side of the offensive line even harder. 

When it mattered most, two of the Packers most underrated players made key blocks to help Rodgers find Cook for the game-winning play.

Nelson a long shot to play Sunday

The Packers were able to beat the NFC's top seeded Dallas Cowboys without their star receiver Jordy Nelson, and it looks like they'll be without him again for the NFC Championship Game. Rob Demovsky 

The source reiterated what ESPN reported last week that Nelson did not sustain any major internal injuries but added that it would still be difficult for Nelson to play just two weeks after he broke ribs. In fact, the source said that most players would have little or no chance to play that soon after such an injury but that "Nelson is different than most players."

Adding context to Mason Crosby's game-winning kick

A month ago, Crosby’s sister-in-law was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. Brittany Crosby, married to Mason’s brother Rees, is only 27. She recently started chemotherapy, preventing Brittany and Rees from joining a large representation of the Crosby clan at Sunday’s game, just up the road from their home in Georgetown, Texas.

Main Topic: This Packers Team is Way Different Compared to Our Expectations

Expectation: Eddie Lacy and James Starks will be just enough of a running game to help Aaron Rodgers.
Reality: Neither one was that great, and Ty Montgomery (and even Aaron Ripkowski for a bit) had to save the day.

Expectation: We need to get help for Clay Matthews!
Reality: We need to get help for Clay Matthews, because he doesn’t look anything like himself.

Expectation: The young players in the secondary will grow!
Reality: The young players in the secondary grew much worse.

Expectation: Jordy Nelson will take a while to recover from injury.
Reality: Jordy Nelson might be a different player now, and that’s pretty much fine.

Expectation: Jeff Janis and Jared Abbrederis will grow after their postseason cameos last year.
Reality: Neither one is an NFL receiver any more.

Expectation: The offensive line will need some time to adjust after Josh Sitton leaves!
Reality: The time to adjust was like eight seconds.

Expectation: Ha Ha Clinton-Dix will be better than ever this year.
Reality: He was, but Mike Daniels was even better still.

Expectation: Julius Peppers might tail off this year.
Reality: He just needed to rest until late October.

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