SportsDirect Inc. staff
Dec 15, 2013
Packers 37, Cowboys 36: Matt Flynn threw four touchdown passes, Eddie Lacy ran for the go-ahead score with 1:31 remaining and the Green Bay defense capitalized on two late interceptions by Tony Romo as the Packers rallied from a 23-point halftime deficit to stun the host Cowboys.
Starting once again in place of Aaron Rodgers (collarbone), Flynn threw for 299 yards while Lacy ran for 141 for Green Bay (7-6-1), which scored touchdowns on all of its second-half possessions - aside from the final kneel-downs - and remained in contention for the NFC Central title, currently sitting a half-game behind Chicago.
The Packers' go-ahead score was set up by Sam Shields' stretching interception of Romo, while Dallas' final drive was halted by Tramon Williams' terrific diving pick with 1:21 left.
Romo passed for 358 yards and two scores, Dez Bryant set season highs with 11 catches for 153 yards and Dan Bailey kicked five field goals for the Cowboys (7-7), who appeared certain to tie Philadelphia atop the NFC East standings when they led 26-3 after a record-setting first half but instead remain one game back of the Eagles. DeMarco Murray added 134 rushing yards and a touchdown while Jason Witten had 71 receiving yards and a score for Dallas.
Romo passed for 250 yards in the first half, including a 25-yard TD pass to Witten late in the first quarter, to help the Cowboys enter halftime with a commanding lead. Flynn threw third-quarter touchdown passes to Jordy Nelson (13 yards) and Andrew Quarless (3 yards) to bring the Packers within 29-17 entering the fourth quarter, and Flynn's 11-yard TD pass to James Starks with 12:47 remaining made it a one-possession game.
Bryant's tip-toe TD grab over two defenders restored a 12-point lead for Dallas with 7:55 to play, but Green Bay refused to die, closing to within 36-31 on Flynn's 3-yard hookup with James Jones with 4:17 remaining. Shields then picked off a pass intended for Miles Austin and, seven plays later, Lacy dove over the pile to make it 37-36 before Williams secured another Romo pass - scooping it off the ground, barely - to give Green Bay its second straight win following a five-game slide.
GAME NOTEBOOK: The Cowboys had a franchise-record 332 yards and 17 first downs in the first half despite not converting a single third-down opportunity (0-of-5) in the opening 30 minutes. ... Bailey kicked field goals of 47, 23, 43, 50 and another 50-yarder, while Green Bay K Mason Crosby one-upped him with a 57-yard boot in the first quarter. ... Unless Dallas loses next week to Washington and Philadelphia also wins against Chicago, the Cowboys will be able to win the division with a home victory over the Eagles in Week 17.