Next game: Sunday, September 21 vs. Dallas
Packers Gameday at 4:00 p.m. on Newsradio 620 WTMJ, 5:00 p.m. on Today's TMJ4 and a live blog here

"Get your popcorn ready."

Those were the words of Cowboys receiver Terrell Owens before last year's Packers-Cowboys game, a 37-27 Dallas victory at home that propelled them to home field advantage in the 1997 NFC playoffs.

Sunday, you can turn the tables for the "Shootout at the Lambeau Corral," as this Packers-Cowboys game happens at the house that Lombardi made famous.

Players on both sides have also turned the tables this week on the trash talking, as they've kept their controversial comments to an absolute minimum, in the shut-up-and-play tradition of Lombardi.

On Packers coach Mike McCarthy's part, that's a purposeful effort.

Read more below this series of links:
• Packers, Cowboys Quietly Approach Shootout at Lambeau Corral
• Audio: Coach Mike McCarthy on Wisconsin's Morning News
• Our Experts Predict
• Packers Platter: Fox and Hounds
• Rodgers, Jennings Jelling
• Wells Believes He's Healthy
• Sports Glance with Lance: The House that Romo Built
• Listen to the Ice Bowl

"Hopefully we'll continue to disappoint you," said McCarthy in an exclusive interview on Newsradio 620 WTMJ's "Wisconsin's Morning News."

It doesn't mean there's not reason to get popcorn, your Packers Platter, or any other culinary specialty ready for what could turn out to be a special football game.

"Our football team is really focused on Sunday night. I really like the way our football team goes about their business. It's a very strong work ethic. It's really about improving.

"It's a great challenge, because we are playing at home on Sunday night football versus a prime time opponent, but our focus is about winning and improving."

Improving Pass Defense From Last Time

One thing they definitely need to raise in comparison to last year is the performance in the secondary.

Owens had reason to talk, and to enjoy his popcorn after last year, when he caught nine passes for 156 yards and a touchdown against Green Bay. Some of his big catches came against Pro Bowl cornerback Al Harris, but contrary to public belief, not all of them.

"They did a good job with formations last year in the Dallas game, and we didn't go as good a job as we would have liked as far as the assignments and the check and the adjustments," admits McCarthy.

"We've had another year to prepare for those type of things, and I'm sure we'll do a much better job Sunday night."

One guy they'll be able to lean on, even with a broken toe, is cornerback Charles Woodson.

Fighting his injury, Woodson produced two interceptions and a return for a touchdown in the Packers' 48-25 victory over the Lions last Sunday.

McCarthy believes much of the same can happen Sunday night.

"I would hope so," states McCarthy.

"He's obviously very talented, a very productive football player throughout his career. His ability to play with injuries is very unique, as far as his preparation, getting himself ready, but also overcoming on Sunday playing with his specific injury."

Also still injured, and hampered in last Sunday's win, was running back Ryan Grant. McCarthy will have him work more today, in a hope that more practice time becomes more productivity against a team which he gashed for two touchdowns, including a 57-yarder, in the '07 matchup.

"(He's) feeling better than he did last week," says McCarthy.

"He will work today. We're looking forward to giving him a full day's work and getting him ready."

Romo's Home State, Rodgers' Home Field

Sunday night, on a national television stage, the Shootout at the Lambeau Corral involves two quarterbacks going at it who, in consecutive years, have debuted at the position for teams with perhaps more heritage than any other.

Rodgers, of course, is coming out of Brett Favre's shadow to quickly build a star of his own that, hopefully for Green Bay, will go alongside Favre and Hall of Famers Bart Starr and Arnie Herber. Romo does the same, following the greatness of Troy Aikman, Roger Staubach and Don Meredith.

"I think it's about two quarterbacks that have definitely prepared themselves for the opportunity and now have taken advantage of it," states McCarthy.

"Tony is off to a great start in his career, the way he's played over the last year and a half, and hopefully Aaron will continue in the path he has started."

McCarthy is thankful that unlike last year's meeting, this meeting happens on the early fall tundra Rodgers' home stadium, and not the house that Jerry Jones owns, where the Packers haven't won in 19 years.

The Packers have won 10 of their last 11 regular season home games and 11 out of 13 overall in that stretch, with only losses last year to Chicago and the New York Giants in the NFC Championship Game marring that record.

"I think that's the way you want it to be at home," states McCarthy.

"I know during the 90's, they had a great run here. That's kind of what we'd like to have."

So is it the home field, or is it the team that takes the home field, that causes such an advantage?

"I think it's a combination of both," believes McCarthy.

"We have an incredible home field advantage here, the environment with our fans at Lambeau Field, and we need to take advantage of that. There's always a comfort of playing at home. Playing on the road is a challenge. I think teams have done a better job over the years handling crowd noise as opposed to years ago.

"We need to take advantage of that, playing at home, and that opportunity. I think our team has finally done that hear the last 10 or 11 games."

McCarthy's Men in Black...Shoes, That Is

Sunday night, the Packers will go with a fashion choice that some fans may consider unusual.

No, they're not wearing black uniforms for the showdown, only black shoes.

"It's definitely in line with the tradition of the Green Bay Packers and something that our players wanted to do, and I was all for it," states McCarthy.

It's a move that also goes in the tradition of the NFL, where players wore black shoes for years before the current style of athletic shoes came about. And according to McCarthy?

"I think it's a good look."