N.F.L. Playoffs: Packers Beat Cowboys on Last-Second Field Goal
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(Jan 16th -2017)
The Green Bay Packers could not hold on to a huge early lead, but Mason Crosby’s pair of 50-yard field goals in the fourth quarter were enough to give the team a 34-31 victory over the Dallas Cowboys, earning them a trip to the N.F.C. championship game next week against Atlanta.
After a string of boring playoff blowouts, all won by home teams this season, Green Bay bucked the trend in a thrilling game in which the team raced to a 21-3 lead only to slowly let Dallas back into the game, tying it at 28-28 before the team’s traded long field goals, with Crosby’s 56- and 51-yard makes beating out the 52-yarder from Dan Bailey that nearly resulted in overtime.
There were offensive fireworks on both sides, as Aaron Rodgers threw for 356 yards and 2 touchdowns while Dak Prescott, the Cowboys’ Cinderella story at quarterback, threw for 302 yards and 3 touchdowns. While Rodgers walked away with the win, the explosiveness and resilience of Prescott showed exactly why the team confidently kept him as the team’s starter even after Tony Romo was declared healthy.
In the end, however, Rodgers had just enough to overcome Dallas’ furious comeback. He rattled the Cowboys’ defense all game, catching them moving too slowly on substitutions, taking advantage of penalties, and deftly avoiding the pass-rush to set up passing plays.
And on the final drive, when his team needed him most, he found Jared Cook downfield for a shocking 35-yard gain that set up Crosby’s game-winner.
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