Let’s flash back to that adrenaline-rush of a season in 2007. Thursday Night Football. The NFC’s No. 1 seed potentially on the line. Favre vs. Romo. Favre trying to record his first career win in Big D. Favre … goes down with a funny bone boo boo. In jogs the number two QB. I bet no one was excited to see what this kid could do – we needed to beat the Cowboys, for cripe’s sake!
Prior to this Week 13 matchup, Rodgers 
had logged minimal playing time in a game against the Vikings three weeks before. It was garbage time – the Pack ultimately routed the ‘Queens 34-0 – and Rodgers was two for two for 17 yards passing and -1 yard in two rush attempts. Since being drafted, Rodgers had appeared in five regular season games, playing substantial time in only one of those stints – a 48-3 trouncing at Baltimore in the forgettable 4-12 2005 season.
Back to Dallas – almost halfway through the second quarter, Favre exits and Rodgers steps in with the Packers trailing 10-27 and momentum completely on the Cowboys' side. Because the defense appeared as if it couldn’t stop Jessica Simpson at this point and Green Bay lost its star QB, I’m sure many fans thought the game was over. Then A-Rod started hitting his stride. The offense became more conservative – likely to keep things simple for Rodgers – and it worked. Connecting on crisp, short passes and scrambling to pick up yards here and there, Rodgers marched the Packers down field on a 4 minute, 52 second drive to get them within 10 before the half. I remember thinking, “Wow, he’s not looking too bad. Even if we don’t win this one, he may be able to win some games when Brett retires.”
Then, in the third quarter, Green Bay executes another solid drive (69 yards, 7:05) to make it 24-27. On the ensuing possession, Dallas is driving; it doesn’t look good for the Pack on 2nd down from the Green Bay 6-yard line. Romo drops back … and is picked by Al Harris! Green Bay ball at its own 20. Rodgers starts the drive with a 15-yard toss to Greg Jennings, but is sacked three plays later to force Green Bay to punt. As had been the case so many times in the early 90s, the defense couldn’t stop Dallas’ O and the Cowboys pulled away, 27-37.
Three years later, Aaron’s back in Big D. And he’s competing, not for a No. 1 seed for Brett Favre and Green Bay in the playoffs, but for a world championship as the Pack’s No. 1 QB. Wouldn’t it be something if Aaron Rodgers wins his first Super Bowl and the biggest game in recent franchise history in Dallas, a place where Brett Favre went, not counting the 2007 game, 0-9 (0-3 in the playoffs)? If any one of those games in Dallas goes to the good guys, the franchise could be in a very different place today (more hardware, most likely).
Alas, what’s done is done. And with a Packers win this Sunday in Dallas, a new era for the Green Bay Packers would truly begin.
So long, shadow.
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