Episode 12 - Can The Pack Stop Dallas?

Jon Meerdink and Gary Zilavy celebrate the Packers win over the Giants, and talk about the potential loss of Jordy Nelson to a rib injury. Green Bay parts with DL Mike Pennel after two suspensions this season – will his loss impact the Packers chances? Geronimo Allison's September arrest finds its way into the news days before the biggest game of the year. Finally, the guys break down the NFC Divisional Round matchup between Green Bay and Dallas. The Packers haven't been able to stop the Dallas running game in recent memory, but have still gotten the best of the Cowboys. 

Headlines

Packers WR Jordy Nelson spent night in hospital; status iffy - Rob Demovsky

Packers wide receiver Jordy Nelson spent Sunday night in the hospital with what a source characterized to ESPN's Adam Schefter as a significant rib injury suffered in Green Bay's wild-card win over the New York Giants.

Packers coach Mike McCarthy said Nelson was back at the team's facility Monday, but won't try to practice until Saturday.

"If he doesn't practice Saturday, then he won't play in the game," McCarthy said of Sunday's NFC divisional playoff matchup with the top-seeded Dallas Cowboys.

Nelson was at Lambeau Field on Monday for medical treatment, but McCarthy would not say whether his No. 1 receiver sustained any internal injuries.

Packers release DT Pennel after 2nd suspension - Michael Cohen

After two suspensions in one year, the Green Bay Packers have moved on from defensive lineman Mike Pennel. The Packers released him Monday afternoon.

Pennel, 25, missed the first four games of the regular season after violating the NFL's substance-abuse policy during the offseason. He returned to the active roster in Week 6 and made his debut against the Dallas Cowboys. Pennel played in each of the next eight games before his problems resurfaced.

On Dec. 6, the league announced Pennel would be suspended for another violation of the substance-abuse policy. The suspension cost him the final four games of the regular season and expired last week, at which point the Packers received a one-week roster exemption.

But the Packers opted not to activate Pennel for the wild-card playoff game against the New York Giants, and the snaps along the defensive line were split among Mike Daniels, Letroy Guion, Kenny Clark and Dean Lowry. When Pennel's roster exemption expired Monday afternoon, general manager Ted Thompson made the decision to release him.

Pennel originally signed with the Packers as an undrafted free agent in 2014. He appeared in 37 games over the last three seasons and made 40 tackles, including one sack.

Packers' Geronimo Allison faces marijuana charge - Michael Cohen

Green Bay Packers wide receiver Geronimo Allison was charged with misdemeanor possession of marijuana last month after a traffic stop and subsequent arrest in early September.

The district attorney's office for Manitowoc County filed the charge on Dec. 15, 2016.

Allison, 22, was originally pulled over for speeding on Interstate 43 near Francis Creek at 1:19 p.m. on Sept. 4, 2016, according to a criminal complaint obtained by the Journal Sentinel. His Dodge rental car was clocked at 81 mph on a stretch of highway with a posted speed limit of 70 mph.

The complaint states trooper Bryan Ashenbrenner of the Wisconsin State Patrol smelled marijuana emanating from the car. Allison, who identified himself as a member of the Packers, denied smoking marijuana or having an illegal substance in the vehicle. He said the odor was left over from the night before when he was “with some guys that were smoking marijuana,” according to the narrative report.

But Ashenbrenner’s search of the vehicle produced three Backwoods cigars on the front passenger seat, and two of them were filled with a “green leafy material” that tested positive for THC.

Allison was placed under arrest for possession of marijuana and taken to the Manitowoc County Jail, where he declined to answer further questions. He was issued a citation for speeding and posted the $100 bond.

Main Topic: Dallas, We Meet Again

  • Dallas has started a season 9-1 four times in franchise history – 1976, 1983, 2007 and 2016. In the three previous years, Dallas was unable to win a playoff game.
  • In Packers history, seven players have had 100+ receiving yards and 2+ TD in a playoff game. Two of those players are on the active roster right now – Jeff Janis and Randall Cobb.
  • Green Bay has started the game defensively in a 2-4-5 alignment in 15 of 17 games (2 defensive linemen, 4 linebackers and 5 in the secondary). The two games they started in a base 3-4 front were against Dallas and Tennessee. The Packers run defense had its worst performances, allowing 191 rushing yards against the Cowboys and 154 rushing yards against the Titans.
  • Dallas was one of only two teams that ran the ball more than they threw it, and finished second in time of possession (31:41 per game).
  • Green Bay and Dallas have played 4 times since 2013. The Cowboys have ran for 641 yards on 99 carries, an average of 6.4 yards per carry. The Packers are 3-1 in those contests.

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