Packers vs. Cowboys 2013: Green Bay wins ‘one for the ages’

Green Bay kept its playoff hopes alive with one of the biggest comebacks in NFL history.

by Matt Verderame

Dec 16, 2013, 2:33 PM UTC

Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports

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Packers vs. Cowboys 2013, Week 15: Green Bay’s unlikely hope

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The Dallas Cowboys were winning 26-3 in the third quarter, on their way to a laugher and a tie atop the NFC East. Then, they watching seemingly helpless as the Green Bay Packers rallied to stun them in their own building, winning 37-36 in a most improbable fashion.

Of course, this game will be remembered for Jason Garrett's playcalling and Tony Romo's two late interceptions. Despite gaining 7.4 yards per carry on the afternoon, Garrett decided to call a pass on 2nd and 6 from his own 34-yard line with 2:58 remaining and the Packers only having one timeout remaining.

The result? A Sam Shields interception on a ball thrown by Romo to Miles Austin. After Green Bay punched the ball in for a touchdown but failed on the two-point conversion, Dallas had one last chance. Predictably, it ended with Romo firing another interception because of miscommunication with Cole Beasley.

Thanks to the Philadelphia Eagles losing 48-30 to the Minnesota Vikings, the Cowboys still control their own destiny in the NFC East. However, the loss remains crushing for a bevy of reasons.

Over at Blogging The Boys, KD Drummond sums up the potential future for Garrett and his staff:

So on the Dallas 2013 resume are two embarrassing road blowouts, and two I-can't-believe-they-lost-from-that-far-ahead defeats.

The nuclear option might be getting closer to fruition for this franchise, and it might include the entire coaching staff.

The Packers had five possessions in the second half and scored a touchdown on every one of them. Green Bay was led by Matt Flynn, who cut through the porous Dallas defense to the tune of 299 yards and four touchdowns. With the win, the Packers are 7-6-1 and still in the thick of the NFC North race.

Rookie running back Eddie Lacy continues to prove he was well worth his second round selection. The former Alabama Crimson Tide back gained 141 yards on 21 carries with a touchdown.

Evan Western of ACME Packing Company tried to put the game into perspective afterward:

That game is one for the ages. After one of the most depressing first halves in Packers history, they fought back with five touchdowns in the second half at AT&T Stadium to emerge from Dallas with an incredible victory and with their playoff dreams still intact.

Matt Flynn, who struggled mightily in the first half, threw for four touchdowns in the second half, Eddie Lacy scored the go-ahead touchdown, and Tramon Williams recorded an interception to clinch the game for the Packers, who were down 23 points at halftime.