Green Bay Packers head coach Mike McCarthy met with the media on Monday, a day after learning his team's next opponent would be the Dallas Cowboys in the divisional round of the playoffs.

The following are select comments from his press conference:

• On Aaron Rodgers' calf injury: Aaron Rodgers is progressing, had some hip in his hop today. We'll have an evaluation Wednesday morning and set a plan for the week.
• On the Cowboys defense: More time in the system. Very detailed, very disciplined in what they're doing each and every snap. What jumps out is their pursuit.
• On creating a game-plan for the Cowboys: We met last night, 3:00 watched the game and started game-planning immediately afterward.
• On the timeframe from creating a game-plan: You have to be prepared, to get into the game plan immediately after the game. … Once the game was completed, I think the coaches' video got here a little after nine.
• On the improvement of the Packers defense: What gave us the confidence back then was the players and the path that we thought we had the right plan for using our players, being a little more creative. Playing more tight personnel packages. … I think that's what you're seeing with our defense.
• On the Dallas rushing offense: The Cowboys run game is excellent. Murray is a big-time back. … Anytime you see a player for the first time live, they leave an impression on you.
• On the Cowboys win the wildcard game: The thing that Iv'e been really impressed with and was evident in the Detroit game, they were down 14-0 and just kept battling. … You don't win eight games on the road without that. … This is something that jumps off the stat sheet when you see eight wins on the road.
• On Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo: I've always felt Tony is an excellent player, commands the whole offense at the line of scrimmage. Their run-pass balance helps any quarterback. But he still has that unique ability to extend plays. … He's a dangerous player.
• On if he remembers the Ice Bowl: I was in Pittsburgh, four years old. I couldn't' tell you exatly what I was doing.
• On others in the organization remembering: It's a a joke in our room when something happened a long time ago and none of us were born yet. "What about Dom?"
• On the Packers' special teams struggles: The things that have gone wrong on special teams, first you look at protection. Those are fundamental things. … I feel confident with that moving forward. … Tim (Masthay's) been an excellent player for us for a long time. … Some of those things we've addressed. … All the things we need to improve on, we've addressed.
• On Micah Hyde and the return game: Micah, The fact of the matter is, it's winter football. The return game is more important. … We'll see what the plan is come Sunday, but it's about getting more opportunities.
• On Rodgers' preparation: It's a big challenge for Aaron. I thought Aaron was brought up the right way. He likes to practice. Brett (Favre) was the same way. … When you have your start player out there every day, competing, it makes your whole environment better…. We'll talk it through and make an educated decision.
• On concern about Rodgers' performance on little preparation: I'm not concerned if you look at he way he plaeyd in the second half of the Detroit game. … Hey, the way he progresses, if he's a quick healer, he jumped out there and played normal football.