Packers earn huge win vs the Cowboys and their former coach.
The losing streak is finally over! The Packers won 31-28 vs the Cowboys in overtime in Mike McCarthy’s return to Green Bay.
After a scoreless first quarter, the Cowboys scored first to take a 7-7 lead. The Packers scored the next 14 points before the Cowboys tied it up at halftime 14-14. The Cowboys would score the next 14 points to take a 28-14 lead into the fourth quarter. The Packers tied the game 28-28, which would be the score at the end of regulation. The Cowboys won the coin toss and drove down the field before turning it over on downs. A huge catch and run from Aaron Rodgers to Allen Lazard and a face mask on the Cowboys against Aaron Jones led to the game-winner by Mason Crosby.
Thoughts about this exciting win:
When the Cowboys scored a touchdown and Aaron Rodgers got sacked and lost a fumble, it looked like the makings of a blowout, but Rudy Ford intercepted a Dak Prescott pass in the endzone and gave the Packers new life. Christian Watson scored his first NFL touchdown through the air on the drive. Remember that he had a rushing touchdown in the game vs New England, the last time the Packers won a game.
Ford intercepted another pass on the Cowboys’ next drive. That guy might be this year’s Rasul Douglas, a player who emerged out of nowhere to suddenly make some big plays in the secondary. Aaron Jones found the endzone on the drive for a 14-7 lead for GB.
The Packers did a great job playing the field position game to start the third quarter, but when they forced Dallas to punt, Amari Rodgers got hit in traffic and fumbled away the ball. I hate to pile on the guy, but he needs to really pick it up. He needs to know to put two hands on the ball when he is anticipating getting hit.
That fumble seemed to really turn the game as the Cowboys scored two more touchdowns to take a 28-14 lead into the fourth quarter. Including playoffs, the Cowboys were 195-0 in their history when leading by 14 points or more heading into the fourth. The game appeared over.
Watson struck again though. On a 4th and 7, Rodgers hit Watson, who sprinted to the endzone for a touchdown, cutting the deficit to 28-21. The defense forced a punt and the Packers scored on another TD pass to Watson, tying the game at 28-28.
After the defense forced a punt, the Packers had a chance to win it in regulation, but they ran the ball twice and took a lot of time off the clock in between plays. They then attempted a pass which was nowhere close to being successful. I don’t know what they were doing, but Rodgers was screaming at Matt LaFleur. Whatever the case, that was unacceptable to have such poor clock management, especially in a game where you are coming in losing 5 in a row and looking to salvage your season.
The Cowboys won the coin toss in overtime and took over, driving the ball down the field. Jaire Alexander might have gotten away with a penalty on CeeDee Lamb, but regardless, the Cowboys faced a 4th and 3 at the GB 35-yard line. They went for it and failed, setting the Packers up in prime position to win the game.
On 3rd and 1, Rodgers hit Lazard for 36 yards to the Dallas 20-yard line, giving the Packers an excellent chance to win the game. A face mask by Dante Fowler Jr. on Aaron Jones moved the Packers even closer to the endzone. Rodgers just knelt on the ball and centered it for Mason Crosby, who kicked the 28-yard FG through the uprights, giving the Packers a huge victory and the Cowboys a crushing defeat.
With this win, will the Packers build on it and possibly make a playoff push? Only time will tell. I do know that this wouldn’t be the first time the Packers went on a run after a huge win over the Cowboys. In 2009, the Packers lost a home game to the Vikings and their former QB Brett Favre. They then suffered a humiliating loss to winless Tampa Bay a week later. They then returned home to face the Cowboys, who were rolling coming into the matchup. The Packers played some great defense and won the game 17-7 and rode that momentum to a strong finish to the regular season. Although they would lose in the playoffs that year, the Packers rod that to the Super Bowl the next season, which they won vs the Steelers.
Who knows how the rest of the season will turn out? I do know that it’s always gratifying to beat the Cowboys, no matter where either team is in the standings. It may or may not spark the Packers to a strong finish to the season. It’s entirely possible this game might put the Cowboys into a tailspin. They do have to play the Vikings on the road next week. They could easily lose that game too.
Mike Mccarthy said the right things heading into this matchup. The Packers still ended up winning the game. They have a short time to enjoy this win as they play on Thursday night vs the Tennessee Titans. For now, let’s enjoy this win Packer fans, even if it’s just for a few days. We’ve definitely earned it.
Go Pack Go!
@DieHardPackerFan #DHPF #GregGoshaw @gg901
