The Dallas Cowboys’ season is over after a shocking 48-32 loss to the Green Bay Packers in the Super Wild Card round of the NFL playoffs at AT&T Stadium on Sunday.
After dominating its competition at home all season, the Cowboys fell behind quickly as Green Bay controlled the game. The Dallas offense struggled to find its rhythm while Green Bay quarterback Jordan Love and running back Aaron Jones carved up the defense.
Green Bay got the ball first and marched right down the field, using nearly half the quarter and taking a 7-0 lead on a three-yard touchdown run from running back Aaron Jones, who had been bottled up by Dallas’ defense early in the drive but found running room as the passing game stretched the field.
Trailing 7-0 late in the first quarter, Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott dropped back to pass on third down deep in his own territory. However, Green Bay’s Jaire Alexander fought off Brandin Cooks and came up with a crucial interception, allowing Green Bay to increase its lead to 14 as Jones scored again on the second play of the second quarter.
Despite reaching Green Bay territory multiple times, Dallas’ drive continued to stall before reaching the red zone or even field goal range. One possession late in the second quarter turned into a touchdown pass for Love, and another resulted in a pick-six to give the Packers a 27-0 lead.
The Cowboys finally reached the red zone on their final possession before halftime but needed some help to score. Wide receiver CeeDee Lamb was tackled short of the goal line with no timeouts remaining in the waning seconds, but a Green Bay penalty prolonged the half. Prescott then found a wide-open Jake Ferguson for a one-yard touchdown to avoid being shut out at the half.
The Cowboys had a better rhythm in the second half, gaining 346 yards and scoring 25 points on a Brandon Aubrey field goal and a Tony Pollard touchdown run. However, Green Bay answered every time, scoring 21 points.
A 46-yard completion from Love to Romeo Doubs set up another touchdown run from Jones to make it a 34-10 game. Dallas had a chance to make it a two-score game after Pollard’s touchdown, but a penalty nullified the two-point conversion, and Aubrey missed the extra point off the right upright.
Green Bay then opened the game up again as Love found Luke Musgrave for a 38-yard touchdown to give the Packers a 41-16 advantage and continued to pour it on in the fourth quarter.
Prescott found Ferguson for two more touchdowns late in the game, and this time, Dallas converted on both two-point conversions to make it a two-possession game. However, the Cowboys did not come up with the ensuing onside kicks, and Green Bay hung on for the win.
Love threw for 272 yards and three touchdowns, while Jones added 118 and three touchdowns on the ground.
Prescott finished with 403 passing yards, three touchdown passes, and two interceptions. Ferguson caught all three touchdown passes and had 10 total catches for 93 yards, while Lamb added 110 receiving yards after a slow start.
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WHAT TO KNOW
— The Dallas Cowboys hosted the Green Bay Packers in the Super Wild Card round of the NFL Playoffs at AT&T Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
— Green Bay won 48-32 to end the Cowboys’ season. Dallas has been eliminated in the Super Wild Card round in two of the last three seasons.
— Sunday was the Cowboys’ first home loss since Week 1 of last season against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, ending a 15-game streak.
— The Packers have won four games in a row and are moving on to the Divisional Round. They are the first-ever No.7 seed to win a playoff game.
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BY THE NUMBERS
— Lamb led the NFL with 135 catches in the regular season. He had just two in the first half and finished the game with nine.
— The 48 points scored by Green Bay is the most Dallas has ever allowed in a playoff game. The 27-0 deficit in the first half was the largest for Dallas since 1969.
— Dallas head coach Mike McCarthy is now 11-11 in the postseason.
— Jones averaged 123.3 rushing yards in his career against Dallas entering the game and ran for 118 yards with three touchdowns on Sunday. Second-year wide receiver Romeo Doubs had 151 receiving yards and was one of three Packers to catch a touchdown pass.
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WHO SAID
— Love to Fox Sports on beating Dallas at home: “We came in thinking we were going to dominate. A lot of people counted us out, but we didn’t care about that. We knew what opportunity we had in front of us and made the most of it.”
— McCarthy on his team’s performance: “We didn’t get it done in any of the phases.”
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NEXT UPÂ
— Dallas’ (12-6) season is over. Green Bay (10-8) will face No.1 seed San Francisco (12-5) in the Divisional Round next weekend.
