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Cowboys–Packers rivalry

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The Cowboys–Packers rivalry is a professional American football rivalry in the National Football League (NFL) between the Dallas Cowboys and the Green Bay Packers. The two teams do not play each other every year; instead, they play at least once every three years and at least once every six seasons at each team's home stadium during which the NFC East and NFC North are paired up against one another. In addition, not only the two teams could meet in the playoffs in a given season, but also if the two teams finish in the same place in their respective divisions in any season, they will play each other the following season.[1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9] The rivalry has also resulted in several notable games, including nine playoff games.[10][11][12][13][14][15] CBS ranked this rivalry as the No. 3 NFL rivalry of the 1990s.[16]

Cowboys–Packers rivalry
A photo of the Cowboys playing field with Packers and Cowboys on it.
The Cowboys and Packers playing in 2007
Dallas Cowboys
Green Bay Packers
First meetingNovember 13, 1960
Packers 41, Cowboys 7
Latest meetingJanuary 14, 2024
Packers 48, Cowboys 32
Statistics
Meetings total39
Largest victoryPackers, 45–7 (2010)
Current win streakPackers, 5 (2016–present)
Post-season history

History

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Although the rivalry has existed throughout the history of each team, it was most notable during two time periods. The first period occurred during late 1960s[17] as both teams were highly successful prior to the AFL-NFL merger, which culminated in meeting in consecutive NFL Championship Games in 1966 and 1967. The 1967 meeting has been labelled the "Ice Bowl", with the temperature at kick-off at -13 °F (-25 °C). The Packers won the game on a late quarterback sneak by Bart Starr, which sent them to the Super Bowl.[18] Each game ended in dramatic fashion in favor of the Packers, which led to them winning the first two Super Bowls (Super Bowl I and II). The Cowboys never defeated the Packers in the time Vince Lombardi was Packers head coach.

The second period of notability occurred throughout the 1990s as both the Packers and Cowboys, alongside the San Francisco 49ers, were amongst the strongest teams in the NFC.[19] The Packers and Cowboys met in the postseason three straight years from 1993 to 1995, with Dallas winning in each encounter, all of which were in Dallas. The Cowboys won two of their three Super Bowls in this period after defeating Green Bay in the postseason and won nine of ten meetings in the 90s.[20] From 1992 to 1997, the Cowboys and Packers combined for five Super Bowl appearances and four Super Bowl championships. Additionally, the Packers won Super Bowl XLV in AT&T Stadium in 2011.[21] Even during periods where one or both teams were not successful, the match-up was still considered a "storied championship rivalry".[22][23]

During the Brett Favre era in Green Bay, the Cowboys dominated the rivalry, going 9–2, with a 9–0 at home in Dallas against the Packers when Favre was the quarterback.[24][25][26] However, the Aaron Rodgers era saw the Packers dominate the rivalry, as Rodgers compiled an 8–2 record against the Cowboys during his time as Packers starter, including a perfect 3–0 record in Dallas.[27] This notably included the infamous Dez Caught It game in Green Bay in the 2014 playoffs. Late in the game, quarterback Tony Romo completed what was initially called a catch on 4th down to wide receiver Dez Bryant near the goal line. After review though, the referees especially Gene Steratore, who previously overturned Calvin Johnson's catch,[28][29] overturned Dez's catch, saying that Bryant "did not complete the act of making the catch" after he bobbled the ball as he hit the ground. The Packers gained possession on the turnover on downs and ended up winning the game.[30][31][32][33] This subsequently prompted the rule change three years later, that allows the receiver's ability to make a football move when the receiver gets control of the ball and gets two feet or another body part on the ground inbounds. The NFL was hopeful of the new rule, saying "It will eradicate some of the frustration fans, coaches and players had with apparent catches -- like Cowboys receiver Dez Bryant's against Green Bay in the 2014 playoffs, or Steelers tight end Jesse James' reversed TD against the Patriots this past season – being deemed incomplete."[34][35][36]

Two seasons after the controversial 2014 NFC Divisional Game, the 4-seeded Packers again faced off against the top-seeded Cowboys in a 2016 NFC Divisional Game, which was played in Dallas. The Packers, who lost soundly to the Cowboys earlier that season in Green Bay, raced out to a 21-3 lead in the first half. However, Dallas, behind the efforts of Bryant and rookie quarterback Dak Prescott, fought back to tie the game at 28 in the 4th quarter. After the teams traded field goals, Green Bay had a chance to drive into field goal range and win the game at the end of regulation. However, the Packers faced a 3rd and 20 at their own 32-yard line with 12 seconds left in regulation and just one timeout at their disposal. Although their chances of getting into field goal range were highly improbable, Rodgers threw a laser to tight end Jared Cook, who caught the ball along the Dallas sideline and barely managed to drag both feet in bounds while possessing the ball for an incredible 36-yard completion that got Green Bay into field goal range with time remaining. Kicker Mason Crosby then converted the ensuing 51-yard field goal attempt as time expired to send the Cowboys home and the Packers to the NFC Championship Game. With this defeat, Green Bay remained undefeated at Dallas’ AT&T Stadium, while Dallas failed to participate in a conference championship game for the 21st consecutive season.[37][38]

The two teams played their first overtime game in the series on November 13, 2022. The 3–6 Packers, riding a five-game losing streak, entered the game as 3.5-point underdogs to the 6–2 Cowboys, led by former Packers head coach Mike McCarthy in his return to Lambeau Field since getting fired by the Packers in 2018.[39] After a scoreless first quarter, the two teams entered halftime tied at 14 after each team scored two touchdowns. The Cowboys would score two more touchdowns in the third quarter to take a 28-14 lead heading into the fourth quarter. The Cowboys had never lost a game in franchise history when leading by 14 or more points in the fourth quarter, but two touchdown passes from Aaron Rodgers to rookie wide receiver Christian Watson allowed the Packers to tie the game and send it to overtime. After getting the ball first to start overtime, the Cowboys marched down to the Packers' 35-yard line and faced a fourth down and three, but couldn’t convert and turned the ball over on downs. On the Packers' ensuing drive, Rodgers completed a 36-yard pass to wide receiver Allen Lazard on third down to set up Mason Crosby's game-winning field goal.[40] This would be the final start in the series for Rodgers, who was traded to the New York Jets the following offseason.[41]

The two rivals most recently met in the wild-card round of the 2023–24 NFL playoffs at AT&T Stadium on January 14, 2024. In an upset, 7th-seeded Green Bay, led by first-year starter Jordan Love, defeated 2nd-seeded and McCarthy-led Dallas by a final score of 48–32.[42][43] At one point, the Packers led their rival by 32 points in the fourth quarter. This was the first time a 7th-seeded team won a playoff game since the NFL expanded the playoffs to 14 teams in 2020, and also extended Green Bay's record at AT&T Stadium to 5-0.[44][45][46]

Not only did the win prevent the Cowboys from having a third straight matchup with the teams' fellow rival, the San Francisco 49ers, but it also set up a record 10th playoff meeting between the Packers and 49ers.[47][48][49]

As of the 2023 season, Green Bay is one of two NFC teams (along with the San Francisco 49ers) with a winning record against the Cowboys, and one of only six teams in the NFL with a winning record against the Cowboys.[50] Moreover, the Packers have the same amount of postseason wins in AT&T Stadium as the Cowboys (Packers won 3 including Super Bowl XLV, Cowboys have also won 3).

The two teams have met nine times in the postseason, with Green Bay leading the series 5–4.[11][12][51][13]

Season-by-season results

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Dallas Cowboys vs. Green Bay Packers season-by-season results
1960s (Packers, 6–0)
Season Results Location Overall series Notes
1960 Packers
45–7 		Lambeau Field Packers
1–0 		Cowboys' inaugural season. This loss was the Cowboys' eighth of ten straight losses to start the season. Packers lose 1960 NFL Championship.
1964 Packers
45–21 		Cotton Bowl Packers
2–0
1965 Packers
13–3 		Milwaukee County Stadium Packers
3–0 		Packers win 1965 NFL Championship.
1966 playoffs Packers
34–27 		Cotton Bowl Packers
4–0 		NFL Championship Game. Packers win Super Bowl I.
1967 playoffs Packers
21–17 		Lambeau Field Packers
5–0 		NFL Championship Game, also known eponymously as the "Ice Bowl". Packers win Super Bowl II.
1968 Packers
28–17 		Cotton Bowl Packers
6–0 		Monday night game televised nationally by CBS.
1970s (Tied, 2–2)
Season Results Location Overall series Notes
1970 Cowboys
16–3 		Cotton Bowl Packers
6–1 		Cowboys' first victory of the series and the first on artificial turf. Last meeting at the Cotton Bowl, played on Thanksgiving. Cowboys won NFC title, but lost Super Bowl V.
1972 Packers
16–13 		Milwaukee County Stadium Packers
7–1 		Packers win NFC Central, their only division title from 1968 through 1994.
1975 Packers
19–17 		Texas Stadium Packers
8–1 		First meeting at Texas Stadium. Cowboys lose Super Bowl X. Packers' only win vs. Cowboys under coach Bart Starr.
1978 Cowboys
42–14 		Milwaukee County Stadium Packers
8–2 		Cowboys lose Super Bowl XIII.
1980s (Cowboys, 3–2)
Season Results Location Overall series Notes
1980 Cowboys
28–7 		Milwaukee County Stadium Packers
8–3
1982 playoffs Cowboys
37–26 		Texas Stadium Packers
8–4 		NFC Second Round playoffs. Packers' last playoff appearance until 1993.
1984 Cowboys
20–6 		Texas Stadium Packers
8–5
1989 Packers
31–13 		Lambeau Field Packers
10–5 		First meeting at Lambeau Field since the Ice Bowl.
Packers
20–10 		Texas Stadium Cowboys QB Troy Aikman makes first start against the Packers. Marked the only time both teams have met in the regular season twice. Cowboys finish 1-15 in first season under owner Jerry Jones and coach Jimmy Johnson.
1990s (Cowboys, 9–1)
Season Results Location Overall series Notes
1991 Cowboys
20–17 		Milwaukee County Stadium Packers
10–6 		Last meeting at Milwaukee County Stadium.
1993 Cowboys
36–14 		Texas Stadium Packers
10–7 		Packers QB Brett Favre's first start against the Cowboys.
1993 playoffs Cowboys
27–17 		Texas Stadium Packers
10–8 		NFC Divisional Playoff. Cowboys win Super Bowl XXVIII.
1994 Cowboys
42–31 		Texas Stadium Packers
10–9 		NFL Thanksgiving Day Game. Jason Garrett starts for injured Troy Aikman.
1994 playoffs Cowboys
35–9 		Texas Stadium Tie
10–10 		NFC Divisional Playoff. Cowboys' bid for three consecutive Super Bowl titles ends with loss to 49ers in NFC Championship.
1995 Cowboys
34–24 		Texas Stadium Cowboys
11–10
1995 playoffs Cowboys
38–27 		Texas Stadium Cowboys
12–10 		NFC Championship Game. Cowboys win Super Bowl XXX. Cowboys last NFC Championship Game appearance to date.
1996 Cowboys
21–6 		Texas Stadium Cowboys
13–10 		Monday Night Football. Cowboys win 8 straight meetings. Packers win Super Bowl XXXI. Chris Boniol sets team and then-NFL record with seven field goals.
1997 Packers
45–17 		Lambeau Field Cowboys
13–11 		Packers lose Super Bowl XXXII. Last start for Troy Aikman in the series.
1999 Cowboys
27–13 		Texas Stadium Cowboys
14–11
2000s (Tied, 2–2)
Season Results Location Overall series Notes
2004 Packers
41–20 		Lambeau Field Cowboys
14–12
2007 Cowboys
37–27 		Texas Stadium Cowboys
15–12 		Thursday night meeting. Last meeting in Texas Stadium. Aaron Rodgers relieves Brett Favre.
2008 Cowboys
27–16 		Lambeau Field Cowboys
16–12 		Sunday Night Football. Packers' QB Aaron Rodgers' first start in the rivalry, and the Cowboys' first ever win at Lambeau Field.
2009 Packers
17–7 		Lambeau Field Cowboys
16–13
2010s (Packers, 7–1)
Season Results Location Overall series Notes
2010 Packers
45–7 		Lambeau Field Cowboys
16–14 		Sunday Night Football. Packers win Super Bowl XLV.
2013 Packers
37–36 		AT&T Stadium Cowboys
16–15 		Packers come back from a 26–3 halftime deficit to win 37–36 behind 5 consecutive touchdown drives by backup QB Matt Flynn and the Packers' offense. Cowboys’ first home loss to the Packers since 1989.
2014 playoffs Packers
26–21 		Lambeau Field Tie
16–16 		NFC Divisional playoffs, known as the "Dez Caught It" game. Wide receiver Dez Bryant controversially had a 31-yard catch on fourth-and-2 overturned by referees, leading the Packers to a 26–21 win. Green Bay hands Dallas their only road defeat of the season.
2015 Packers
28–7 		Lambeau Field Packers
17–16 		First lead in the series for the Packers since 1994.
2016 Cowboys
30–16 		Lambeau Field Tie
17–17 		Cowboys QB Dak Prescott's first start in the rivalry.
2016 playoffs Packers
34–31 		AT&T Stadium Packers
18–17 		NFC Divisional playoffs, Packers win on game-winning 51-yard field goal by Mason Crosby as time expires after Jared Cook caught a 36-yard pass from Aaron Rodgers on third-and-20 from the Green Bay 32-yard line.
2017 Packers
35–31 		AT&T Stadium Packers
19–17 		Aaron Rodgers throws the game-winning touchdown pass to Davante Adams with 11 seconds remaining.
2019 Packers
34–24 		AT&T Stadium Packers
20–17 		Aaron Jones ties a Packers franchise record with 4 rushing touchdowns.
2020s (Packers, 2–0)
Season Results Location Overall series Notes
2022 Packers
31–28 (OT) 		Lambeau Field Packers
21–17 		Marks the return of Coach Mike McCarthy to Lambeau Field. This is the first game in the series that went to overtime. Aaron Rodgers' final start in the rivalry.
2023 playoffs Packers
48–32 		AT&T Stadium Packers
22–17 		NFC Wild Card playoffs. Ninth postseason meeting. Packers become the first 7-seed to win a playoff game. Packers quarterback Jordan Love's first start against Dallas and first postseason start.
Summary of results
Season Season series at Dallas Cowboys at Green Bay Packers Notes
Regular season Packers 17–13 Cowboys 8–7 Packers 10–5 The "at Green Bay Packers" column includes five games played in Milwaukee, in which the Cowboys were 3–2
Postseason Packers 5–4 Cowboys 4–3 Packers 2–0 NFL Championship Game: 1966, 1967
NFC Wild Card: 2023
NFC Divisional: 1982, 1993, 1994, 2014, 2016
NFC Championship: 1995
Regular and postseason Packers 22–17 Cowboys 12–10 Packers 12–5

See also

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References

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