The Green Bay Packers are underdogs when they face the Dallas Cowboys in the NFC wildcard game. For one player, this game is an opportunity. An opportunity on more levels than for the rest of the team.
On one hand, Aaron Jones will be a veteran leader on this squad. As a leader, he has a chance to play an important part in guiding this team past a tough opponent, despite what has been a at times rough season. From a slightly different perspective, Jones also has a chance to play spoiler.
Coming from El Paso, Texas, this is a chance to show out in front of his friends and family from his home state. Even for those who aren’t able to make the game in person, you can be assured that plenty of eyes who would likely be watching the game anyway will have increased intensity as they eagerly await to see how the Green Bay Packers will perform on Sunday.
Looking forward to the opportunity, Jones shared with reporters what the stakes mean to him.
Going back home, lot of people, lot of family back there. Back home is all Cowboy fans so you want to have some bragging rights.
It is not like there is a need to want to play hard, or like there is much extra motivation required to spark a peak performance, after all, it is the NFL playoffs! However, for Jones, this will be a great opportunity to cap and highlight what has otherwise been a limited season for him.
Missing games or having limited impact on the season due to injuries, the Green Bay Packers offense has looked out of sorts and one-dimensional throughout the season. With the reentering and establishing of Jones in the offense, a more balanced approach has yielded better and increased results.
Coming off of three straight 100-plus-yard games, Jones will be looking to notch another century-mark performance to best put his team in a position to win and advance to the next round.
Looking to be in full gear and having regained a sense of being closer to full form, an optimistic and smiling Jones appeared primed to be ready to put on a stellar performance.
Green Bay Packers RB Reunion With Former Coach
Having played under Mike McCarthy for an extended time in Green Bay, Jones is aware of the narrative surrounding this game, not only with the playoff advancing implications but also the storyline of facing his former coach.
While not entirely disregarding this aspect, he seemed to downplay the importance of the game plan and matchup itself.
I was on the offensive side of the ball with him. From that standpoint I kind of don’t really remember much of his playbook, I’ve been in this system for a long time, but some of his philosophy, we know what he is trying to accomplish in that sense.
And that will be a fun aspect to discuss after the game, or years down the line when analyzing potential ongoing playoff matchups of this rivalry. But for the Green Bay Packers and Jones, the only thing that will matter is securing a win, and advancing in the playoffs.
