Green Bay Packers: Lacy and Starks off and running

Dec 13, 2015; Green Bay, WI, USA; Green Bay Packers quarterback

(12) hands the football off to running back

(27) during the first quarter against the Dallas Cowboys at Lambeau Field. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports

What a difference, playing from ahead.

The Green Bay Packers defense played well for most of the game. It broke down twice when Darren McFadden gashed them for runs of 50 and 45 yards. Overall, Dallas gained 270 yards and held the ball for only 22:12.

Sam Shields was battling with Dez Bryant. He was able to snare a tip from Dez at the goal line and made an incredible interception in the end zone. That effort was one of the turning points of the game. After Sam went out with an injury, the rookies Damarious Randall and Quinten Rollins held their own.

The pressure on Matt Cassel was good but not great. Cassel was sacked twice for 15 yards. Cassel never looked comfortable on the field completing only 11 of his 29 passes and only one to Dez Bryant.

The Packers scored twice in the 2nd quarter and never looked back.

Next: McCarthy retakes play calling duties