Revisiting the Packers past two playoff classics with the Cowboys

The Green Bay Packers travel down to Dallas for a wild-card round matchup with Dak Prescott and the Cowboys. There is a lot to be excited about and many storylines heading into this matchup.

Mike McCarthy is facing the team he used to coach, and it's a battle between two storied franchises with a recent history of playoff matchups.

Whenever the Packers square off with the Cowboys, drama and excitement come with each play. There is no doubt that this year should have more of the same, with Dak leading the league in TD passes and Love right behind him in second place.

As game day approaches, let's take a look back at two of the most memorable Packers playoff games against Dallas.

Packers edge past Cowboys in 2014 Divisional Playoffs 

• Sunday, Jan. 11, 2014
• Lambeau Field
• NFC Divisional Round
• Packers win 26-21

Tony Romo and the Cowboys traveled to the Frozen Tundra to take on Aaron Rodgers and the 12-4 NFC North Division champ Packers.

Both teams traded touchdowns in the opening quarter of the game. The Packers got on the board first when Rodgers connected with Andrew Quarless from four yards out, but Dallas struck back quickly. Romo connected with fullback Tyler Clutts from a yard out to tie the game and then hit Terrance Willams for a 38-yard touchdown to give Dallas a 14-7 lead.

A Mason Crosby field goal cut the Packers deficit to 14-10 going into the half, setting the Packers up to receive the second-half kickoff. Crosby buried another field goal, making it 14-13, but once again, the Dallas offense marched down the field and found paydirt. DeMarco Murray powered his way into the end zone, giving Dallas a 21-13 lead late in the third quarter.

Needing to get something going on the offensive end, Rodgers turned to his rookie wideout, a kid by the name of Davante Adams. Rodgers and Adams connected on a 46-yard touchdown that saw Adams make a man miss before he bolted in for six.

After a stop on defense, we got to see what I believe to be the best throw I have ever seen Aaron make. Rodgers scrambled to his left, set his feet, and fired an absolute missile into the arms of Richard Rodgers in the back of the end zone, giving the Packers the lead. 

Then things got crazy. Dallas was driving down the field, looking to regain the lead. Romo launched a ball up to Dez Bryant, which he caught. However, Bryant did not maintain possession of it as he fell to the ground. It was initially ruled a completion, but Mike McCarthy used his challenge, and after review, they deemed it was incomplete.

Green Bay held on and advanced to Seattle (we won't speak of that game, don't worry), while Dallas left Lambeau in heartbreak.

Packers upset Cowboys 2016 Divisional Round

• Sunday, Jan. 15, 2016
• AT&T Stadium
• NFC Divisional Round
• Packers win 34-31

Two years later, Green Bay went to Jerry World for yet another Divisional Round matchup. Rodgers and company came in after beating the Giants a week prior and were underdogs to the Cowboys rookie QB Dak Prescott. What I find crazy looking back on this game is that Ty Montgomery found paydirt twice in this game as the Packers running back.

Aaron had two touchdown passes to Richard Rodgers and Jared Cook in the game. Green Bay's offense showed up on the road in a hostile environment. Heading into the fourth quarter, the Packers led Dallas and a rookie Dak Prescott by a score of 28-13. That's right, a 15-point lead with 15 minutes to go in the game. It should be an easy closeout, as long as the defense makes stops and you don't get too conservative, right?

Wrong. The Cowboys tied the game up with 4:08 left off TD passes to Jason Witten and Dez Bryant. The teams traded field goals, and it seemed as if this game was destined for overtime when the Packers took over with 35 seconds left in regulation.

The start of the drive was almost a catastrophic disaster, as Rodgers got pummeled on a blindside hit but somehow managed to hang onto the ball. The next play will haunt Dallas fans for generations, as Rodgers hit Jared Cook down the field, just barely keeping his feet in bounds. This allowed the Packers a shot at a Mason Crosby 51-yard field goal attempt to win the game.

The snap was good, the kick was up, and it went right through the middle of the uprights…but Dallas had called a timeout right before the kick to ice Mason. His second kick looked destined to be wide left, but somehow took a right turn and made it through the uprights, sending Green Bay to Atlanta (once again, I won't talk about that game).

Here we are in 2024. The Packers have a new QB and are young, hungry, and playing with house money. The pressure is all on Dallas going into this game. How deep can this team go? I don't know, but maybe, just maybe, the Packers will once again send Dallas home in heartbreak.

More Packers news and analysis