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Good luck picking a single Player of the Game from yesterday's absurd Packers victory over the Dallas Cowboys. There were so many guys who played key roles in that comeback that it's going to be next-to-impossible to sift through them all and decide on just one. I won't presume to present our Game Ball nominees in any particular order, and instead it will be up to you to figure out which one player gets your vote.
OFFENSE
QB Matt Flynn
After some people were questioning whether he should even get to lead the offense for the second half (myself among them), Matt Flynn shut everybody up with probably the best half of football of his life. Flynn was an ineffective 10 of 17 for 117 yards and a pick in the first half, and even that was misleading as 34 of those yards came on a garbage-time screen pass to Eddie Lacy.
The second half was a complete 180, though, as Flynn completed 14 of his 22 attempts for 182 yards and four touchdowns (to four different receivers), and looked remarkably good doing it.
RB Eddie Lacy
Flynn wouldn't have been in position to throw that first touchdown on the opening drive of the second half if not for Lacy and his 60-yard burst off left tackle on the first play from scrimmage in the third quarter. When all was said and done, Lacy had a career high in yards from scrimmage (141 rushing plus 30 receiving), and added the go-ahead touchdown with a Superman-esque leap over the pile at the goal line.
WR Jordy Nelson
Jordy didn't have massive stats on Sunday (five catches for 61 yards and a score) but he came up biggest when the Packers needed him most. He is in this discussion for two reasons, which you can see below.
The first was the Packers' first touchdown of the game, a pass which probably should have been intercepted if not for Nelson's sheer will:
And this one, a third-and-ten conversion that went for 21 yards on the Packers' second drive of the third quarter.
DEFENSE
CB Sam Shields
Despite Dez Bryant's big day, Shields defended him well when the two were matched up. He recorded three pass breakups on the day, and had the interception of Tony Romo that gave the Packers back the ball at midfield and led to the game-winning touchdown. He also added five tackles on the day, but it was his biggest play that puts him squarely in this discussion.
CB Tramon Williams
Williams led the Packers in tackles on Sunday, with 8 solo and one assisted. Of course, that's not what he will be remembered for. No, he had a would-be interception that was ruled incomplete on replay and had the pick that sealed the game when he read Romo's eyes and jumped a route that Cole Beasley cut off too early. Like Shields, he did an admirable job on Bryant, whose biggest work was done out of the slot and against the Packers' safeties, and his timely interception clinches his consideration for a game ball.
HONORABLE MENTIONS
K Mason Crosby
Crosby gets an honorable mention for two reasons: one, he booted just about every kickoff out the back of the end zone and two, his 57-yard field goal in the first quarter that would have been good from 65 yards. He put a charge into that kick, and has done nothing but justify the Packers' coaching staff's faith in him this year.
LT David Bakhtiari
Bakhtiari won't get a sexy stat line like Lacy or Flynn, but his contributions were no less important. His play on Sunday was crucial because of who was lined up across from him - DeMarcus Ware - and the fact that Ware had exactly one assisted tackle throughout the entire game. No sacks, no tackles for loss, nothing but one assisted tackle. Hats off to the rookie for his play.
So who gets your vote as player of the game? Let us know in the poll and the comments.
