The 6-2 Dallas Cowboys visit the 3-6 Green Bay Packers on Sunday afternoon. The tilt marks the return of former Packers head coach Mike McCarthy to his old stomping grounds, coaching against the quarterback and franchise he won Super Bowl XLV with. It is safe to say the 2022 Packers have been a giant disappointment. With that in mind, I’ve decided to take this article in a different direction to hopefully bring back some positive memories for Packers fans. Lets look back at some classic Packers/Cowboys games involving the two headliners for this week, Mike McCarthy and Aaron Rodgers.
11/29/2007: Cowboys 37, Packers 27
The 2007 Packers came out of nowhere after a mediocre 2006 season, and entered this game with a 10-1 record. The Cowboys, led by Tony Romo and Terrell Owens, were also 10-1, making this an absolutely marquee Thursday night primetime tilt. Brett Favre was Mike McCarthy’s starting quarterback at the time, and was having a phenomenal season. However, he injured his right elbow and left shoulder in the 2nd quarter, and had to leave the game. Favre’s injury gave the Packers an extended look at Aaron Rodgers, their 2005 first round pick in his 3rd season as Favre’s backup. Rodgers impressed, nearly rallying the Packers from a 17 point deficit. Rodgers finished 18-26 for 201 yards and a touchdown in relief. It is widely believed that Rodgers’ performance that night gave the Packers confidence to move on from Favre.
12/15/2013: Packers 37, Cowboys 36
The Packers entered this game with a record of 6-6-1, a backup quarterback, and their season hanging in the balance. Aaron Rodgers broke his collarbone in a week 9 loss to the Bears, and the Packers entered a tailspin. Matt Flynn got the start that day in Dallas, and things were looking bleak as Green Bay trailed 26-3 at half. However, Flynn and co. responded with 34 points in the second half to rally for a season-saving win. RB Eddie Lacy rumbled for 141 yards and the go-ahead score. CB Tramon Williams sealed the comeback with an interception that was initially ruled incomplete, but was overturned by replay.
01/15/2015: Packers 26, Cowboys 21
The Packers hosted the Cowboys in the divisional round of the 2014 playoffs, and the drama couldn’t be higher. Both teams had great regular seasons, finishing 12-4. Aaron Rodgers won his second MVP in 2014, but he entered this game with a slight calf tear. He still put together a brilliant performance, throwing for 316 yards and 3 TDs. After hitting Richard Rodgers for the go-ahead score, the Packers led 26-21 in the 4th quarter. On the Cowboys ensuing drive, the infamous Dez Bryant catch or no catch play happened on a 4th and 2 in Packers territory. I’m not going to get into whether he caught it or not, because that debate has been exhausted. Mike McCarthy threw the challenge flag, the officials ruled he did not catch it, and the Packers took over on downs and won the game.
01/15/2017: Packers 34, Cowboys 31
Two years after the infamous Dez Bryant game, the Packers and Cowboys met again in the playoffs, this time in Dallas. The underdog Packers had won 7 games in a row after running the table to get in the playoffs, and stormed out to a 21-3 lead. The Cowboys rallied to tie the game at 28 in the fourth quarter. The Packers got the ball back and drove to the Dallas 38. Mason Crosby then hit a 56 yard field goal to give the Packers the lead with 1:38 remaining. The Cowboys answered with a Dan Bailey 52 yard field goal. Aaron Rodgers got the ball back with 35 seconds remaining, which proved to be too much time. After a brilliant pass to TE Jared Cook down the left sideline, Mason Crosby hit the game winner from 51 yards to send the Packers to the NFC Championship.
10/08/2017: Packers 35, Cowboys 31
Neither team needed to wait long for a rematch of their epic playoff game the year prior, as they squared off again less than 9 months later, again in Dallas. This time the Cowboys started out hot, leading 21-6 at one point in the first half. After a quiet 3rd quarter, the teams erupted for a combined 30 points in the 4th. The Packers lead 28-24 after a Damarious Randall pick-6, but Dallas took the lead back with 1:13 remaining. Once again, this proved to be too much time for Aaron Rodgers. Rodgers drove the Packers to the Dallas 12, and first threw an incompletion to Davante Adams. Rodgers went right back to Adams, and threw a perfect ball the second time to complete the go-ahead touchdown. The win put the Packers at 4-1, but Rodgers would break his collarbone again the following week in Minnesota, and the season took a turn for the worst.
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