Power Rankings: Shhh ... Packers have a big one coming up

Updated Nov. 27

Just once, wouldn't you love to hear an NFL player or coach say they have a big, maybe huge, game in front of them? Let's hear them talk about the importance of it instead of feeding us the tired old clichés about one game at a time.

Those of us in the Green Bay Packers' locker room following their Thanksgiving Day victory over the Detroit Lions tried to get the players to tell us about the importance of their meeting with the Dallas Cowboys this week. I tried a variety of ways to get somebody, anybody, to say it was big.

Brett Favre and Mike McCarthy are two big reasons for the Packers' success. (Getty Images)

Nobody would bite.

"One game I don't think is going to define us one way or the other," Brett Favre said. "It may have some implications in the playoffs, but we can't worry about that right now. Now we can concentrate on Dallas."

Said defensive end Aaron Kampman: "It's one game. That's how we see it."

That's not how we see it. We see it as the NFC's version of a Regular Season Super Bowl. A few weeks back we had the New England Patriots and the Indianapolis Colts in the AFC, and that one lived up to the hype.

This one will as well.

It's a special Thursday night at Texas Stadium between the 10-1 Cowboys and the 10-1 Packers. It is in no way or form just another game.

The Packers have lost eight consecutive games at Texas Stadium and haven't won there since 1989. But this is a different group from those teams, except for Favre. It shouldn't matter to the youngest team in the NFL. Most of these players were still in grade school when most of those games were played.

Both teams can score, which is why it will be a treat. The Cowboys are the second-highest scoring team in the league at 32.5 points per game, while the Packers are fifth at 26.5. Green Bay has averaged 33.5 the past four games.

For now, the Packers remain in the No. 2 spot in our CBSSports.com Power Rankings. That's mainly because when they are healthy they are better than the Cowboys on defense. The Packers give up 16.5 points per game, while the Cowboys give up 20.1

So the Packers stay ahead of the Cowboys. I'm not saying they will win Thursday -- you have to wait until Thursday for that pick -- but on an even field I would take Green Bay.

Poll Who will win Thursday night?   47%  Cowboys     53%  Packers     Total Votes: 83905

If the Packers don't have Charles Woodson, that will sting. Woodson, the best corner in the league this season, is iffy with a toe injury. That could change the way the Packers play since they rely so much on man coverage with Woodson and Al Harris when he is on the field.

A few weeks back, the Packers went to Denver and Kansas City and won games in tough environments in a six-day span. Now they are faced with back-to-back road trips on consecutive Thursdays. Last week, they dominated the Lions. This week, it's the NFC's Regular Season Super Bowl. The winner will likely have home-field advantage in the playoffs and probably the inside track to the real Super Bowl.

So is it just a game? Even if the players try to insist that it is, we know better.

This is big.

Too bad it's on The NFL Network, and much of the country won't be able to see it since it's not on some cable systems. As one Packers front office official said, "I bet the rush to get DirecTV this week in our state will be unreal."

It should be. We have a special game coming Thursday -- even if the Packers won't say it.

The Power Rankings through Week 12:

Power Rankings
Current		Team	Previous
	1	Colts · Trends	1
	They make it interesting, but they still find a way. The amazing thing is that they are winning yet not healthy. That's what a good quarterback does for a team.
	2	Saints · Trends	2
	Can anybody stop that offense? If they get to play their playoff games inside the Superdome, it's hard not imagining them in the Super Bowl.
	3	Vikings · Trends	3
	If the playoffs go through their dome, they will be tough to beat. They seem to be getting better -- if that's possible.
	4	Cowboys · Trends	5
	The offense woke up against the Raiders, which is a good sign moving forward. But it will be December the next time they play and we know how they fade in that month.
	5	Bengals · Trends	6
	It wasn't pretty against the Browns, but they went to 8-3. The one concern I have is they aren't passing it that well right now. That has to get better down the stretch.
	6	Chargers · Trends	7
	Momentum seems to be building for this team. As the defense improves, so will their Super chances. We know they can score.
	7	Patriots · Trends	4
	They got ambushed in New Orleans. That defense has not played well when facing good passing teams. Where's the pass rush?
	8	Eagles · Trends	9
	They struggled some against the Redskins and now must go on the road at Atlanta. That won't be easy.
	9	Broncos · Trends	12
	That was a season-saving victory against the Giants. But be careful this week against the Chiefs. They've owned the Broncos in December at Arrowhead.
	10	Packers · Trends	14
	They are starting to have a playoff look about them. The key will be how that offensive line holds up.
	11	Cardinals · Trends	8
	The division race tightened up with that loss to the Titans, and now they have a huge game with the Vikings. They have to be careful of San Francisco creeping back into it.
	12	Steelers · Trends	10
	The questioning of Ben Roethlisberger sitting out by teammates is not a good sign. They shouldn't do that. It could cause problems.
	13	Giants · Trends	11
	This is a team in big trouble. If Eli Manning can't play at close to 100 percent the rest of the way, they can forget the playoffs. Even with them, they could miss out.
	14	Falcons · Trends	15
	Matt Ryan won't play this week, which means Chris Redman will have their playoff hopes on his right arm against the Eagles. Can he play as well as he did last week, now that they know he's coming?
	15	Ravens · Trends	17
	They had a huge victory last week over the Steelers, but now have to go to Green Bay to face the Packers. That will be tough.
	16	Jaguars · Trends	13
	As long as they don't go to the West Coast again, they will be fine. They scored three points in two games there. Ouch.
	17	Titans · Trends	19
	Watch out. They're coming fast. If they can beat the Colts this week, the schedule the rest of the way is favorable.
	18	Dolphins · Trends	16
	Did they blow their playoff chances at Buffalo? If they did, that halfback pass on their opening drive of the game could be the reason why.
	19	Texans · Trends	18
	When they learn to beat the Colts, then we'll take their playoff chances seriously. If they lose at Jacksonville this week, it could be the end of the Gary Kubiak era.
	20	Jets · Trends	20
	They're still alive, but barely. They still don't look close to being the team that jumped to a 3-0 start.
	21	49ers · Trends	23
	Alex Smith has five games to show he is their guy for the future. He looked comfortable against the Jaguars.
	22	Bills · Trends	24
	The team is playing better under Perry Fewell. But he probably has no chance to keep the job.
	23	Seahawks · Trends	25
	It's too bad they don't play the Rams every week. If they did, they might make the playoffs. Justin Forsett looks like the real deal.
	24	Panthers · Trends	21
	It's time to make a change at quarterback. Find out what Matt Moore can do. What do they have to lose?
	25	Bears · Trends	22
	Paging Bill Cowher. Paging Bill Cowher. Is there any doubt they will make a coaching change now?
	26	Chiefs · Trends	26
	That San Diego game was a reminder of how far this team needs to go. They are a long way away from competing.
	27	Redskins · Trends	27
	They're still playing hard, but it doesn't matter. Jim Zorn is still gone after the season.
	28	Raiders · Trends	28
	At some point they have to get a quarterback. There is talent going to waste on this roster.
	29	Lions · Trends	29
	They have some offensive talent. Now they have to fix that defense. Teams do what they want. Green Bay wasn't even challenged.
	30	Rams · Trends	30
	Will they win again? It doesn't look good. Now comes the big decision: Which quarterback do they take in next spring's draft?
	31	Buccaneers · Trends	31
	Who will Raheem Morris fire this week? Is it another loss, another firing? It's time the blame goes to the man at the top.
	32	Browns · Trends	32
	It has to be hard to watch this team, especially for Browns fans. The question now is whether Eric Mangini makes it for a second season.