Death, taxes, and the Dallas Cowboys being no match for the Green Bay Packers in the 21st century.
Much was made about how it had been 10 years (Thursday was the official anniversary) since the Cowboys tasted victory against their longtime rivals. Sunday night offered the next opportunity, and we are all going to have to keep on waiting.
The Cowboys were never really in the game against Green Bay and seemed to be fighting themselves as much as they were the Packers. It is hard to believe that they had
the mini bye to prepare for this as they looked as without preparation as a Cowboys team has looked in some time.
Dallas is officially 2-4 after their latest outing and while they have the “benefit” of playing in a down NFC East… they in no way look like a team that you can trust right now. In fact, they looked like that last week against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and only corroborated that notion at Lambeau Field.
This is a really tough moment for a Cowboys franchise that has experienced several of them within the last 1,000 days (and well beyond that, but you know what I mean). What happens next? Anything? Should something?
Only time will tell.
Below you will find our recap of how this mess unfolded. Welcome to another long week.
First Quarter
The Cowboys won the toss and chose to receive, interestingly. It seems that they wanted to set a tone.
Unfortunately that was not the case. While Dallas picked up a first down, they ultimately punted right after. Their opening drive lasted just six plays before putting the defense on the field. Gulp.
It turns out fear was appropriate. The Packers put together a masterclass drive that featured two different 3rd and 13 conversions. While the Cowboys were showing some aggression early on in it they quickly were put on their back foot. Green Bay ultimately cashed in with a Jordan Love to Matthew Golden touchdown which game them a 7-0 lead.
The Cowboys responded by going three and out on offense which had things feeling rather tense. It seemed like Green Bay was destined to march down and make it 14-0.
Dee Winters said no, though! For real! He intercepted Jordan Love and replay eventually showed he was down before getting up and returning it for a touchdown. Still, it helped.
As this was happening KaVontae Turpin was being ruled out with a rib injury, hopefully he is alright long-term.
The quarter ended after CeeDee Lamb had a big gain.
Second Quarter
That was the first interception of the season for the Cowboys defense so capitalizing on it would have been ideal.
Unfortunately that was not the case. Dak Prescott took a huge shot on second down as the team was inside the 20 and then one play later didn’t see a Packers defender and was picked off. Those are the types of things this team cannot afford.
Green Bay marched almost all the way down the field, but thankfully was held out of the endzone as they could smell it. The Packers faced a fourth and goal from the Dallas 2-yard line, lined up to go for it, the Cowboys called a timeout to get set, and the Packers made it seem like they were going to go for it before taking a delay of game. They ultimately kicked the field goal to make things 10-0 with about six minutes left before halftime.
While the Cowboys were “only” down by 10, this felt like a must-score drive for the Cowboys, especially with the Packers set to receive the kickoff after halftime.
Dallas was really moving and grooving, and it seemed like they felt that urgency. As the two-minute warning hit they were well within field goal range, and unfortunately on the first play out… CeeDee Lamb slipped on a slant route and Dak’s pass had nothing between him and Green Bay’s Brandon Cisse.
Somehow… it all got worse.
The Packers masterfully moved all the way down the field, partly thanks to Brian Schottenheimer inexplicably calling a timeout and stopping the clock for them, and scored another touchdown with under a minute to go.
The home team took a 17-0 lead into halftime and prepared to come out and get the ball again.
Third Quarter
The quarter began with Green Bay’s offense on the field and more points felt inevitable given the way the game had gone to that point.
Miraculously, the Cowboys forced a punt. A tried and true punt. It was hard to believe.
What’s more is the offense turned it into legitimate points, the most possible as a matter of fact. On a drive where Brevyn Spann-Ford got the lion’s share of work at tight end the Cowboys finally capped things off with Javonte Williams and drew blood for the first time in the game.
It would have been foolish to assume the Cowboys could force another Packers punt. That assertion wound up accurate, but they did force the next-best thing in a field goal. This extended Green Bay’s lead to 20-7.
Dallas took over and the pressure was seriously mounting what with a quarter and some time left. Unfortunately they could not get much going themselves and had to punt the ball away. No bueno.
Green Bay’s next possession began close to their goal line, and it ended even closer. Kenny Clark sacked Jordan Love on third down and forced yet another punt.
The Cowboys took over on offense and the quarter came to a close shortly after.
Fourth Quarter
Things began with Dallas driving and down by 13. They soon reached a fourth and short near midfield. They went for it… and did not get it. That felt very much like the ballgame.
Green Bay turned their possession into another field goal to make things 23-7 which left the Cowboys with very faint, but literal hope.
It turned out to be faint at the absolute best. Needing touchdowns and two-point conversions the Cowboys were forced to go for another fourth down well on Green Bay’s side of the field and turned it over on downs. Ballgame.
Although technically not. The Cowboys scored a touchdown inside of the final minute, failed the two-point attempt, and then failed the onside kick attempt. That was officially ballgame.
The Packers beat the Cowboys yet again, this time by a final score of 23-13.
