Dallas Vs Green Bay Preview: Can Aaron Rodgers Keep Up Perfection?

He hasn't nearly been the wide-eyed successor of a sure hall of famer as we thought he'd be. And for the few, Ted Thompson and Mike McCarthy excluded, who knew he'd be this good, my hat goes off to you. Because I, for one, am shocked and impressed.

But now comes the true test. Not only for Aaron Rodgers, but for a team that a year ago today was nothing but a surprise, nothing more than the youngest team in the league riding the coat tails of it's famous veteran quarterback. But without that icon backing them, what, and who, just are these Green Bay Packers?

Without a number four gracing the field behind center, what do we make of such an epic showdown, and should we expect it to be as good as it has been hyped up to be? If the performances we have seen up until now are any indication, we're in for a dog fight.

The reason? The Philadelphia Eagles. Granted, the Packers don't have a running back with the versatility of Brian Westbrook, and while Rodgers is mobile, fresh, and gushing with possibility, he isn't Donovan McNabb. And while Green Bay's defense is stacked with aggressive linebackers, relentless linemen, and aging, but proven corners, they are not Jim Johnson's proto-types. They are not, at least not yet, proven elite defenders.

They are lacking a Brian Dawkins, an Asante Samuel, and quite honestly, a scheme worth being afraid of week in and week out.

But what they do have at their disposal is arguably the best collection of receiver talent that there is in the league, and a quarterback, much to the dismay of Brett Favre fanatics, that knows how to get them the ball.

So, from an offensive standpoint, and with what we've seen from the Dallas defense, this should be a high-scoring affair. One that ESPN's Stuart Scott will be raving about. We'll hear, undoubtedly countless times, how Rodgers' and Romo's performances were as "cool as the other side of the pillow".

But unless Tony Romo is pressured enough, hit enough, and sacked enough that he's rattled and thrown off his game, it won't matter what the Packers do on offense. Because as good as Aaron Kampman is, the last time I checked, he hasn't developed the ability to clone himself and play both sides of the line. There is only one true pass-rusher on the Packers defense, and that simply will not do. Not against "stand in the pocket all day" Romo.

If Green Bay is to win this game, that smile will have to not just come off of Romo's face. The popcorn will not have to simply fall out of Terrell Owens' hands, and Marion Barber's ribs will not have to be slightly bruised. Romo must have his smile smacked from his lips, the popcorn torn out of TO's hands, and Barber's ribs crushed under a line of furious linemen.

Because, for this great Dallas team to be beaten, there will need to be a true rise of greatness on both sides of the ball. Aaron Rodgers, even though he's been close thus far, must be perfect. And the defense, even  more so.