Polzin: Why the Packers believed in themselves, even when others doubted them

ARLINGTON, Texas — So much for the idea of playing with house money. The Green Bay Packers aren’t content to sit in this high-stakes game just for the fun of it. No, they insist they’re in it to win it.

So when you tell the youngest team in the NFL that it should be satisfied just to be in the NFC playoffs, when you doubt them and pick against them, be prepared for some pushback.

Will they laugh in your face? Nah, it’s more subtle than that. Just ask veteran running back Aaron Jones.

“Just a little chuckle, but you note in your memory bank and you go tell your teammates,” Jones said. “When you feel disrespected, you go do something about that.”

The Dallas Cowboys paid the price Sunday in a 48-32 loss to the Packers. They weren’t the ones issuing the disrespect, but it was Mike McCarthy’s team that took the brunt of any frustration Jones and Co. were taking out at AT&T Stadium.

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Green Bay, a seven-point underdog, jumped out to a 27-0 lead late in the first half and led 41-16 late in the third quarter. Don’t be fooled by the final score, this was a butt-whooping.

“I think it just shows what we’re about as a team,” quarterback Jordan Love said.

It’s been hard for some of us to get past the idea that this was supposed to be a rebuilding year for the Packers after moving on from Aaron Rodgers. The primary mission was to figure out if Love is the answer long-term for this organization. Anything after that was gravy.

Hence, a team that was playing with house money after winning its final three games of the regular season to sneak into the playoffs.

But Jones thought that notion was phooey. He believed this: That the Packers were better than their record indicated. That they’d grown from their struggles — they were 3-6 in mid-November — and were hitting their stride at the most important point of the season.

“I mean, did you look at our season?” Jones said earlier this week. “A lot ups and downs. People counted us out before the season even started. We’re resilient. We don’t back down from anybody. We’re not going to stop fighting. We’ve got a bunch of dogs in this locker room.”

Dogs like Jones himself. He had 21 carries for 118 yards and three touchdowns, exploding through holes and finishing runs by being physical.

Dogs such as Love, who should have been nervous while making his first career playoff start. Jitters? I didn’t see any in a masterful performance in which Love nearly produced a perfect passer rating, going 16 of 21 for 272 yards and three touchdowns.

Dogs such as wide receiver Romeo Doubs, who had six catches for 151 yards and a touchdown.

Dogs on defense such as veterans Jaire Alexander and Darnell Savage, who each had interceptions in the first half. Savage returned his 64 yards for a score, a play that exemplified just how much the Packers were in Dak Prescott’s head during those opening 28-plus minutes of the game.

It’s almost as if this team thrives on being told it can’t do something. It sure looked that way Sunday.

Packers running back Aaron Jones, center, celebrates his one of his two first-half touchdown runs with Jon Runyan, left, and Romeo Doubs (87) on Sunday in Arlington, Texas.

MICHAEL AINSWORTH, ASSOCIATED PRESS

“I think there’s a little bit of freedom to that in terms of how you go out and play,” Packers coach Matt LaFleur said. “These guys, they went for it, and that’s exciting to see.”

LaFleur went for it, too. The Packers won the coin toss, and he elected to take the ball. It’s clear he believed his offense could move the ball both on the ground and through the air against the Cowboys.

Green Bay took its opening drive 75 yards in 12 plays and took nearly 8 minutes of the clock. It punted to end its next drive before going into unstoppable mode, scoring touchdowns on five consecutive possessions.

The Cowboys had no answers. They blitzed the Packers on 10 of Love’s 21 dropbacks, according to NFL’s Next Gen Stats, but only got through four times for pressures.

And when Love did feel the heat, he didn’t melt. No, it was him doing the burning: 4 of 4 for 114 yards and a touchdown.

“We keep coming out here and showing what we’re about,” Love said.

Do they ever. Which brings us back to Jones, a man so nice that he can deliver an I-told-you-so and make it seem pleasant.

What game him so confidence during the week that he was so right and so many other people were so wrong about this team?

Packers quarterback Jordan Love reacts after throwing a touchdown pass during the second half.

MICHAEL AINSWORTH, ASSOCIATED PRESS

“Because we believe in each other, we have faith in each other and we know we have all the weapons in the building, in that room, however you want to put it, we have all the weapons that we need on this team,” Jones said. “People can continue to doubt us. That’s fine. We love the underdog mentality, we love the underdog approach. And clearly, what are people going to say next? We’re excited to see that.”

Analyzing how the San Francisco 49ers match up with the Green Bay Packers.

See the Packers in the NFC wild card playoff game vs. the Cowboys

Dallas Cowboys tight end Jake Ferguson wears decals honoring Martin Luther King, Jr., prior to an NFL football game against the Green Bay Packers, Sunday, Jan. 14, 2024, in Arlington, Texas.

Sam Hodde, Associated Press

Green Bay Packers running back Aaron Jones, center bottom, dives in for a touchdown on a run as a host of Dallas Cowboys players try to stop him during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Jan. 14, 2024, in Arlington, Texas.

Michael Ainsworth, Associated Press

Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love (10) is brought down by Dallas Cowboys defensive end Chauncey Golston, center, and safety Donovan Wilson (6) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Jan. 14, 2024, in Arlington, Texas.

Sam Hodde, Associated Press

Green Bay Packers running back Aaron Jones (33) applies a stiff-arm on Dallas Cowboys safety Markquese Bell (14) while rushing for yardage during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Jan. 14, 2024, in Arlington, Texas.

Sam Hodde, Associated Press

Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love (10) hands off to running back Aaron Jones (33) during the first half of an NFL football game against the Dallas Cowboys, Sunday, Jan. 14, 2024, in Arlington, Texas.

Sam Hodde, Associated Press

Green Bay Packers cornerback Jaire Alexander holds the ball after intercepting a pass by Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Jan. 14, 2024, in Arlington, Texas.

Michael Ainsworth, Associated Press

Green Bay Packers running back Aaron Jones (33) is pushed out of bounds by Dallas Cowboys safety Donovan Wilson (6) while rushing for yardage during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Jan. 14, 2024, in Arlington, Texas.

Michael Ainsworth, Associated Press

Green Bay Packers cornerback Jaire Alexander (23) runs with the ball after intercepting a pass by Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott, not visible, during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Jan. 14, 2024, in Arlington, Texas.

Michael Ainsworth, Associated Press

Green Bay Packers cornerback Jaire Alexander reacts after intercepting a pass by Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Jan. 14, 2024, in Arlington, Texas.

Michael Ainsworth, Associated Press

Green Bay Packers wide receiver Romeo Doubs (87) makes a catch as Dallas Cowboys cornerback DaRon Bland (26) applies the hit during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Jan. 14, 2024, in Arlington, Texas.

Michael Ainsworth, Associated Press

Green Bay Packers running back Aaron Jones, center, celebrates his rushing touchdown with Jon Runyan, left, and Romeo Doubs (87) during the first half of an NFL football game against the Dallas Cowboys, Sunday, Jan. 14, 2024, in Arlington, Texas.

Michael Ainsworth, Associated Press

Green Bay Packers running back Aaron Jones (33) reacts with guard Jon Runyan (76) after scoring a rushing touchdown against the Dallas Cowboys during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Jan. 14, 2024, in Arlington, Texas.

Sam Hodde, Associated Press

Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott (4) is brought down by Green Bay Packers cornerback Keisean Nixon (25) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Jan. 14, 2024, in Arlington, Texas.

Sam Hodde, Associated Press

Green Bay Packers wide receiver Dontayvion Wicks (13) celebrates his second quarter touchdown catch with wide receiver Jayden Reed (11), wide receiver Romeo Doubs (87) and running back Patrick Taylor (27) during the first half of an NFL football game against the Dallas Cowboys, Sunday, Jan. 14, 2024, in Arlington, Texas.

Sam Hodde, Associated Press

Green Bay Packers head coach Matt LaFleur, center right, bumps chests with wide receiver Dontayvion Wicks, center left, after Wicks caught a touchdown pass against the Dallas Cowboys during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Jan. 14, 2024, in Arlington, Texas.

Michael Ainsworth, Associated Press

Green Bay Packers wide receiver Dontayvion Wicks (13) celebrates with wide receiver Christian Watson (9) after scoring on a touchdown catch against the Dallas Cowboys during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Jan. 14, 2024, in Arlington, Texas.

Michael Ainsworth, Associated Press

Green Bay Packers safety Darnell Savage (26) runs with the ball after making an interception on a pass by Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Jan. 14, 2024, in Arlington, Texas. Savage scored on the interception return.

Michael Ainsworth, Associated Press

Green Bay Packers safety Darnell Savage (26) reacts with teammates after scoring on an interception return on a pass by Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Jan. 14, 2024, in Arlington, Texas.

Michael Ainsworth, Associated Press

Dallas Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy looks on during the first half of an NFL football game against the Green Bay Packers, Sunday, Jan. 14, 2024, in Arlington, Texas.

Sam Hodde, Associated Press

Dallas Cowboys tight end Jake Ferguson, center, scores on a pass from quarterback Dak Prescott, left, as Green Bay Packers linebacker Rashan Gary (52) looks on during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Jan. 14, 2024, in Arlington, Texas.

Sam Hodde, Associated Press

Dallas Cowboys wide receiver CeeDee Lamb, left, tries to catch a pass as Green Bay Packers cornerback Keisean Nixon (25) defends during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Jan. 14, 2024, in Arlington, Texas. Lamb was unable to make the catch.

Sam Hodde, Associated Press

Green Bay Packers tight end Luke Musgrave (88) receives a pass during the first quarter as Dallas Cowboys linebacker Damone Clark (33) defends of an NFL wild-card playoff football game Sunday, Jan 14, 2024, Texas, in Arlington.

Maria Lysaker, Associated Press

Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love (10) celebrates after a touchdown during an NFL wild-card playoff football game Sunday, Jan. 14, 2024 in Arlington, Texas.

Matt Patterson, Associated Press

Green Bay Packers line of scrimmage during an NFL wild-card playoff football game Sunday, Jan. 14, 2024 in Arlington, Texas.

Matt Patterson, Associated Press

Packers Cowboys Football

Michael Ainsworth

Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love (10) reacts after throwing a touchdown pass against the Dallas Cowboys during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Jan. 14, 2024, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Michael Ainsworth)

Michael Ainsworth

Green Bay Packers running back Aaron Jones reacts after a long run against the Dallas Cowboys during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Jan. 14, 2024, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Michael Ainsworth)

Michael Ainsworth

Dallas Cowboys tight end Jake Ferguson (87) makes a touchdown catch in front of Green Bay Packers safety Zayne Anderson (39) during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Jan. 14, 2024, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Sam Hodde)

Sam Hodde

Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love walks on the field following an NFL football game against the Dallas Cowboys, Sunday, Jan. 14, 2024, in Arlington, Texas. The Packers won 48-32. (AP Photo/Michael Ainsworth)

Michael Ainsworth

Green Bay Packers head coach Matt LaFleur congratulates quarterback Jordan Love (10) during the second half against the Dallas Cowboys of an NFL wild-card playoff football game Sunday, Jan 14, 2024, Texas, in Arlington. (AP Photo/Maria Lysaker)

Maria Lysaker