A quick observation of quarterback Aaron Rodgers and how he played in the Green Bay Packers' 26-21 win over the Dallas Cowboys in Sunday's NFC divisional playoff game:
That stats -- as impressive as they were -- don't accurately describe what Rodgers did at Lambeau Field. Hobbled with every step, Rodgers played through a strained left calf and led a comeback victory that he capped with one of the best throws of his career for the go-ahead touchdown.
Rodgers fired a 13-yard touchdown pass through a tight window to rookie tight end Richard Rodgers with 9:10 remaining in the fourth quarter.
It was part of a second half that looked nothing like the first. Rodgers was immobile and ineffective while throwing for just 90 yards on 9-of-15 in the first half. He did throw one touchdown -- a 4-yarder to tight end Andrew Quarless. But in the second half, he found a way to move around a little more, albeit not much, and he caught fire. He completed 15 of 20 passes for 226 yards and two touchdowns after halftime.
"We've had a lot of gritty performances," Packers offensive coordinator Tom Clements said. "But that's certainly an outstanding performance on his part."
Perhaps the best news came Monday, when coach Mike McCarthy said Rodgers' calf was in better shape than a week earlier, when they began preparations for the Cowboys.
Still, McCarthy made no promises about how much Rodgers would practice in advance of Sunday's NFC Championship Game at the Seattle Seahawks.