Green Bay Packers vs. Dallas Cowboys: A look at last year’s matchup
In the NFL – the league where it’s “what have you done for me lately?” – we can forget all the talk about the “Ice Bowl.”
Tony Romo. Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports
That’s ancient history, but has nothing to do with this Sunday’s Green Bay Packers vs. Dallas Cowboys matchup.
It’s an entirely different era; a different game.
There will be plenty of references to the Ice Bowl this week and comparisons between that game so many decades ago with the game to be played Sunday.
We’re not going to do that now … we’re going to look at the most recent matchup – the one last year when the Packers overcame a 23-point deficit at halftime to steal a 37-36 win at Jerry World.
What’s most amazing is that the Packers did it with Matt Flynn at quarterback and rookie Eddie Lacy running out of the backfield.
In that game, Flynn threw four touchdowns in the second half …
Let me repeat that … four touchdowns in the second half.
Is this Dallas team much different last year’s team?
Well, Tony Romo is still the quarterback; DeMarco Murray is still the running back; Jason Witten is the tight end and Dez Bryant is one of the receivers.
These star players were all on the field when the Packers beat the Cowboys last season … with their backup quarterback who went 2-5-1 in relief of Aaron Rodgers.
So, what is the real X-factor in Sunday’s game?
Aaron Rodgers.
If Matt Flynn can throw four touchdowns in a single half against this team, it will be interesting to see what Aaron Rodgers
Eddie Lacy dives into the end zone for the go ahead fourth quarter touchdown against the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium last December. The Packers beat the Cowboys 37-36. Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports photography
can do.
In that game last year, here are Flynn’s statistics:
| GREEN BAY PACKERS | ||||
| Passing | Cmp | Att | Yds | TDs |
| M. Flynn | 26 | 39 | 299 | 4 |
Here are Tony Romo’s stats
| DALLAS COWBOYS | ||||
| Passing | Cmp | Att | Yds | TDs |
| T. Romo | 29 | 48 | 358 | 2 |
And while everyone is talking about DeMarco Murray and the Dallas run game, you shouldn’t sleep on Eddie Lacy and the Packers run game.
In fact, in last year’s matchup Lacy went off on the Cowboys for 141 yards rushing, while DeMarco had 134.
Lacy said today that defenders don’t like tackling him when it’s cold and with next Sunday’s game time temperatures expected to be between 10 and 15 degrees, it will be plenty cold.
With the Packers intercepting Tony Romo twice in the final half, the defense responded after giving up touchdown after touchdown in the first half.
As it turned out, it was the Packers turning point for last season – a game that gave them a playoff spot. Though they didn’t go far in last year’s tournament, the Packers are in a much better place this year.
They will with Aaron Rodgers and Randall Cobb this time around; they will because they will be playing at home where they are undefeated; they will because they will have the weather on their side.
While there is plenty of history behind this iconic matchup, we need to first look at the most recent history to get a feel for what might happen on Sunday.
Stay tuned …
Complete stats from last year’s game:
Green Bay Packers Dallas Cowboys
| Total First Downs | 26 | Total First Downs | 27 | |
| By Rushing | 8 | By Rushing | 6 | |
| By Passing | 16 | By Passing | 17 | |
| By Penalty | By Penalty | |||
| Third Down Efficiency | 7/13 – 53% | Third Down Efficiency | 2/9 – 22% | |
| Fourth Down Efficiency | 0/0 – 0% | Fourth Down Efficiency | 0/0 – 0% | |
| Total Net Yards | 433 | Total Net Yards | 466 | |
| Total Rushing/Passing Plays (includes Sacks) | 68 | Total Rushing/Passing Plays (includes Sacks) | 69 | |
| Average Gain per Offensive Play | 6.4 | Average Gain per Offensive Play | 6.8 | |
| Net Yards Rushing | 150 | Net Yards Rushing | 134 | |
| Total Rushing Plays | 27 | Total Rushing Plays | 18 | |
| Average Gain per Rushing Play | 5.6 | Average Gain per Rushing Play | 7.4 | |
| Tackled for a Loss (Number-Yards) | 3–12 | Tackled for a Loss (Number-Yards) | 1–3 | |
| Net Yards Passing | 283 | Net Yards Passing | 332 | |
| Times Sacked (Number-Yards) | 2 – 16 | Times Sacked (Number-Yards) | 3 – 26 | |
| Gross Yards Passing | 299 | Gross Yards Passing | 358 | |
| Pass Comp-Att-Int | 26 – 39 – 1 | Pass Comp-Att-Int | 29 – 48 – 2 | |
| Average Gain per Passing Play (includes Sacks) | 6.9 | Average Gain per Passing Play (includes Sacks) | 6.5 | |
| Kickoffs (Number-In End Zone-Touchbacks) | 7 – 7 – 5 | Kickoffs (Number-In End Zone-Touchbacks) | 9 – 9 – 9 | |
| Punts (Number-Average) | 4 – 49.3 | Punts (Number-Average) | 2 – 51.5 | |
| Blocked | 0 | Blocked | 0 | |
| Net Punting Average | 42.5 | Net Punting Average | 28.5 | |
| FGs Blocked – PATs Blocked | 0 – 0 | FGs Blocked – PATs Blocked | 0 – 0 | |
| Total Return Yardage (excludes Kickoffs) | 21 | Total Return Yardage (excludes Kickoffs) | 28 | |
| Punt Returns (Number-Yards) | 1 – 26 | Punt Returns (Number-Yards) | 1 – 7 | |
| Kickoff Returns (Number-Yards) | 0 – 0 | Kickoff Returns (Number-Yards) | 2 – 46 | |
| Interception Returns (Number-Yards) | 2 – -5 | Interception Returns (Number-Yards) | 1 – 21 | |
| Penalties (Number-Yards) | 7 – 59 | Penalties (Number-Yards) | 7 – 79 | |
| Fumbles (Number-Lost) | 0 – 0 | Fumbles (Number-Lost) | 0 – 0 | |
| Touchdowns | 5 | Touchdowns | 3 | |
| Rushing | 1 | Rushing | 1 | |
| Passing | 4 | Passing | 2 | |
| Interceptions | 0 | Interceptions | 0 | |
| Kickoff Returns | 0 | Kickoff Returns | 0 | |
| Fumble Returns | 0 | Fumble Returns | 0 | |
| Punt Returns | 0 | Punt Returns | 0 | |
| Extra Points (Made-Attempted) | 5 – 5 | Extra Points (Made-Attempted) | 3 – 3 | |
| Kicking (Made-Attempted) | 4 – 4 | Kicking (Made-Attempted) | 3 – 3 | |
| Two Point Conversions (Made-Attempted) | 0 – 1 | Two Point Conversions (Made-Attempted) | 0 – 0 | |
| Field Goals (Made-Attempted) | 1 – 1 | Field Goals (Made-Attempted) | 5 – 5 | |
| Red Zone Efficiency | 5/5 – 100% | Red Zone Efficiency | 2/3 – 66% | |
| Goal To Go Efficiency | 4/4 – 100% | Goal To Go Efficiency | 1/2 – 50% | |
| Safeties | 0 | Safeties | 0 | |
| Final Score | 37 | Final Score | 36 | |
| Time of Possession | 28:18 | Time of Possession | 31:42 |