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Sep. 18--IRVING -- This time, the Cowboys will be better prepared for Green Bay quarterback Aaron Rodgers.
The first time they saw Rodgers he completed 18 of 26 passes for 201 yards with one touchdown while replacing an injured Brett Favre in a 37-27 loss to the Cowboys on Nov. 29.
Rodgers rallied the Packers from a 27-10 deficit to close it to 27-24, but the Cowboys were able to hold on.
His performance left an impression that night, and the Cowboys won't forget it when the teams meet again Sunday night.
"You didn't get a chance to prepare for him," outside linebacker Greg Ellis said, "but still, you have to give him credit. He got them back in that thing, and he's proven in these two games he's a pretty good quarterback."
Replacing a legendary quarterback is never easy, but Rodgers has handled himself well so far, with two victories to start the season.
"When he passes the ball, he has a rocket for an arm," nose tackle Tank Johnson said. "Anytime you have a rocket for an arm, sometimes the coverage doesn't matter. He has the intangibles that can overcome a good defense or a bad defense."
One of Rodgers' strengths, according to the Cowboys, is his ability to avoid the blitz. In last season's encounter, he scrambled around the pocket away from pressure. And with his strong arm, he isn't afraid to zip throws into tight spots on the run.
The Cowboys got a preview of sorts Monday against Philadelphia's Donovan McNabb, who wiggled out of sacks and moved around the pocket.
Last week, Rodgers had three runs for 25 yards against Detroit.
"He rolls out to his left, he passes. He rolls to his right, he's going to run," Johnson said. "It was a good game to come off of, knowing he was a running quarterback."
Rodgers said he expects opponents to be better prepared because they now have video of three regular-season games to study.
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