Biggest Takeaways from Green Bay Packers' Week 14 Win

The Green Bay Packers strung together their first consecutive wins of the season since the Week 7 bye with their 28-7 victory over the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday, giving the team the momentum it needs to make a playoff push. 

The name of the game on Sunday was balance, with head coach Mike McCarthy, who resumed play-calling duties from associate head coach Tom Clements, calling exactly 20 run plays and 20 pass plays as the Packers leaned on Eddie Lacy in the inclement weather. 

The defense, true to 2015 form, played a solid game, limiting the Cowboys to just 270 total yards and holding them to 1-of-11 on third-down conversions. Rookie Damarious Randall stepped up to shadow Dez Bryant after the Packers lost veteran cornerback Sam Shields to a concussion. 

But it was the offense's improvement that was the dominant story on Sunday, with the success of the run game setting up opportunities in the passing game, too. The Packers rushed for 230 total yards—their highest mark on the season.  

Green Bay still struggled to move the ball through the air, and the pass-catchers need to win their matchups, especially on the outside. But if the passing game can improve in tune with the rushing game, the Packers will look like contenders. 

Let's break down five key takeaways from the Packers' win, which elevates them to one game ahead of the Minnesota Vikings for the NFC North lead.

RB Eddie Lacy Is Back in Coaching Staff's Good Graces

Morry Gash/Associated Press

When ESPN's Rob Demovksy reported Eddie Lacy missed curfew prior to the Packers' Week 13 game in Detroit, leading to his eventual benching, many speculated what the future might look like for Lacy. 

The running back had struggled with injuries and lack of production to that point in the season. 

But the coaching staff appeared to be happy with the way Lacy handled the mistake, rewarding him with carries Sunday against the Dallas Cowboys after giving him the start over James Starks or former practice-squad player John Crockett. 

Lacy had a meeting with head coach Mike McCarthy on Thursday, and McCarthy's ensuing comments came across as a challenge:

"Everything Eddie wants to accomplish is right there in front of him," McCarthy said Thursday, per Demovsky. "Everything is in front of him. If Eddie or any other player wants to jump up and grab that opportunity, it's right in front of them." 

Lacy rewarded the coaching staff for giving him that opportunity against Dallas. On 24 attempts, he gained 124 total yards, averaging 5.2 yards per carry. 

Eleven of those carries came in the first half, as the Packers went to him early and often. 

Lacy's importance to the team only increases late in the season, as cold and often sloppy weather sets in and the Packers need to lean heavily on the ground game. He appeared rejuvenated and ready to produce for the team for the rest of the season on Sunday; now he needs to follow through.

Mike McCarthy's Play-Calling Reinvigorates Stale Offense

Mike Roemer/Associated Press

The head coach couldn't say it enough this season: He would not be taking back play-calling duties from associated head coach Tom Clements. 

But heading into Week 14, he was singing a different tune. Fox Sports' Jay Glazer reported Sunday morning that McCarthy would call plays against the Dallas Cowboys. 

The Packers have been uncharacteristically ineffective on offense this season and have lacked creativity or rhythm.

But that changed on Sunday with McCarthy holding the reins.

First of all, he prioritized the run, something the Packers have struggled to do as they have lacked offensive balance this season. As ESPN.com's Rob Demovsky pointed out, the Packers' 20 first-half rushing attempts were the most in any game this season, and Eddie Lacy's 11 first-half carries were also his most of that kind this year.

Ultimately, the Packers ended up with 20 passing plays and 20 rushing plays on the day.

McCarthy also found success using screens, including one memorable 14-yard completion to fullback John Kuhn on 1st-and-10 late in the second quarter.  

McCarthy's game was not without its head-scratching moments, such as a pass call (which was incomplete) on 2nd-and-goal at the Dallas 1-yard line. 

But it was clear the Packers regained something under McCarthy they had been lacking under Clements and will attempt to harness that as the head coach calls the remainder of the season's games.

TE Richard Rodgers Continues to Improve but Needs More Production

Jeffrey Phelps/Associated Press

Richard Rodgers' season was on the verge of becoming forgettable before the Week 13 matchup against the Detroit Lions.

Now, it's hard to imagine anyone will forget what he did on the other end of a 61-yard Hail Mary pass from Aaron Rodgers to win the game.  

While that play will be forever memorialized, Rodgers put together a nice game prior to it, with seven receptions for 85 yards and no drops. 

It spiked the second-year player's confidence and built trust with his quarterback, which allowed him to have another flashy night against the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday. 

Rodgers connected with the tight end for a three-yard touchdown reception that helped the Packers build a crucial early lead. 

However, it was the tight end's only reception of the game. 

Even though the Packers scored four times, they often struggled to get downfield through the air. Lacking production from their tight ends has been a big part of that issue. 

With his size and hands, Rodgers should be making a difference all over the field, not just in the end zone.

Rookie Damarious Randall Steps Up in Sam Shields' Absence

Mike Roemer/Associated Press

It didn't look good for the Packers when veteran cornerback Sam Shields, who was shadowing Dallas wideout Dez Bryant, left the game with a concussion in the first half. 

But first-round draft selection Randall has been putting together an impressive NFL debut, and it was more of the same on Sunday as he took over the responsibility of manning Bryant. 

The rookie held Bryant in check throughout the game, as Bryant had only one reception for nine yards despite Matt Cassel targeting him six times.

Bryant also dropped two passes. 

The rookie has developed as quickly and as well as anyone could have hoped, especially given that his primary position in college was safety. It makes the Packers that much stronger to be able to lose a Pro-Bowl cornerback and feel secure in replacing him with a rookie. 

"Damarious Randall played very well against [Bryant]," head coach Mike McCarthy said after the game, per 620WTMJ. 

Packers Are Getting Red-Hot in the Red Zone

Jeffrey Phelps/Associated Press

Yes, the Packers are still struggling to move the ball through the air, and they could be doing better on third-down conversions. 

But when it comes to what matters most—converting in the red zone—the Packers are making it count. 

Green Bay went 4-of-5 on red-zone attempts Sunday against Dallas. That 80 percent conversion rate is higher than their mark of 61.11 on the season, which was 10th in the league heading into Week 14, according to TeamRankings.com. 

But the team has been trending in the right direction; Green Bay was 75 percent in red-zone scoring attempts in Week 13, after averaging 50 percent over its last three games. 

The Packers are also one of only two teams in the top 10 in the league in red-zone scoring percentage to have a better conversion rate away (68.42 percent) than at home (52.94 percent), which will help them if they need to play on the road through the postseason. 

The success of large, sure-handed tight end Richard Rodgers has helped the Packers score in the red zone, in addition to the reemergence of the run game.