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 didn't look great against the 49ers, but they found a way. That's what good teams do. It has to be good having Bob Sanders back again.
	2	Saints · Trends	2
	It was a little bit of a struggle against the Falcons, but the schedule is favorable the rest of the way, to say the least. Is an undefeated season possible?
	3	Vikings · Trends	4
	They have a real hold on the division after sweeping the Packers. They really are a balanced team and Brett Favre is coming off a big game. There, I said it. Aside from the Steelers game, he is playing well.
	4	Broncos · Trends	3
	After their first loss, here come the champions. The Pittsburgh Steelers will provide another stiff test for the Broncos. They need to throw it better. Period.
	5	Patriots · Trends	5
	They come off the bye with a chance to take a real hold of the division by beating Miami. You know they'll be ready for the Wildcat.
	6	Bengals · Trends	6
	At 5-2 after their bye, they get a rematch with the Ravens this week. They can throw it better now than when they beat them the first time, which should help.
	7	Steelers · Trends	7
	They can show they are back with a road victory at Denver. The bye week gives them a little edge heading into that one, although Denver will be angry coming off its first loss.
	8	Eagles · Trends	8
	We get Eagles-Cowboys this week for first place in the NFC East. That should be fun. The Eagles are rolling after that Oakland disaster two weeks ago.
	9	Cowboys · Trends	11
	Is it time to stop ripping on Tony Romo? He's playing some of his best football. The defense, which was a problem much of the season, is playing better.
	10	Ravens · Trends	14
	They had to beat Denver to save their season, but now they get a big one against the Bengals on the road. To have a real chance to win the division, they need that one.
	11	Cardinals · Trends	9
	Can anybody figure this team out? They play well on the road and stink it up at home. Good thing they're on the road this week.
	12	Giants · Trends	10
	They are an example of how fast things can go bad in the NFL. If that defense doesn't play better soon, they could be playoff-less.
	13	Texans · Trends	16
	The improvement of the defense to go with that passing game has really helped this team. They do have a lot of premium talent on the defensive side of the ball.
	14	Chargers · Trends	17
	They seemed to right things the past two weeks, but now must head east to play a desperate Giants team. That won't be easy.
	15	Falcons · Trends	12
	They played well at New Orleans, especially in the second half, and the schedule gets easier now. They are a good 4-3 team.
	16	Packers · Trends	13
	Boy that offensive line is bad. If they don't improve there, Aaron Rodgers doesn't stand a chance.
	17	Bears · Trends	19
	Nothing like the Cleveland Browns to provide the perfect potion for all that ails a team. Facing Arizona at home this week won't be as easy.
	18	Dolphins · Trends	22
	That wasn't pretty against the Jets, but they found a way. Now they have to go to New England, with a chance to get back into the race. Playing two consecutive road games is tough.
	19	Jets · Trends	15
	There is no way they should have lost to the Dolphins at home, but at 4-4 they have been way too inconsistent. How about some special-teams work this week?
	20	Jaguars · Trends	18
	They will be a .500 team at best. The defense isn't very good, so they will play a lot of high-scoring games. The good news is they have a winnable game against Kansas City this week.
	21	Panthers · Trends	24
	Was that a job saver for coach John Fox and a season saver last week in Arizona? It was a big win, but those two things are still to be decided.
	22	49ers · Trends	20
	Playing close isn't good enough. They have to start winning those kinds of games. It's hard when they're limited on offense.
	23	Bills · Trends	21
	The run defense is really bad and they don't have the offense to make up for it. Did you ever think they would long to get Trent Edwards back so much?
	24	Seahawks · Trends	23
	They've been a major disappointment in a lot of people's minds. But the injuries have crippled this team. It's a tough first year for Jim Mora Jr.
	25	Raiders · Trends	25
	At least they showed up and competed against the Chargers. It's more than they did the previous week. Wonder how Tom Cable's troubles will affect the team?
	26	Chiefs · Trends	26
	They come off their bye with the Larry Johnson saga hanging over their heads. Something they need more of: Better play from Matt Cassel.
	27	Redskins · Trends	27
	Did they fix things during the bye? Is Jim Zorn safe now that he made it through the week off? Can they turn it around? Doubtful.
	28	Rams · Trends	31
	They won. They won. They won. After 17 consecutive losses, they should celebrate. Steven Jackson is having a good year for a bad team.
	29	Titans · Trends	32
	The move to Vince Young paid off. Yeah, as long as Chris Johnson runs for 228, it paid off. They did show more life coming off their bye in winning for the first time.
	30	Lions · Trends	28
	Losing to the Rams drops them down a few spots. They are competing, which is a good sign for this young team.
	31	Browns · Trends	29
	Does this team need a bye or what? Do they really have to play out the season with that offense?
	32	Buccaneers · Trends	30
	The Josh Freeman Era begins, and it's the right thing to do. They have to get him going for the future. Why wait?