Sunday’s Packers-Cowboys Divisional playoff game was an elevator of emotion. Green Bay was all smiles while jumping out to a 21-3 lead, then a bundle of nervous energy as Dak Prescott looked nothing like a rookie leading Dallas to tie the game at 28- and 31-all.
Packers and Cowboys’ emotional postgame celebration gave way to hugs, heartache
Green Bay was all smiles after hanging on to advance to the NFC title game.
But nothing compared to the game’s final 15 seconds, when Aaron Rodgers turned a third-and-20 situation at his own 32 into a prime scoring opportunity. His desperate strike to tight end Jared Cook gave Green Bay a chance to win the game with just three seconds left on the clock. Mason Crosby, who gave the Packers the lead minutes earlier with a knuckling 56-yard kick, snuck a 51-yarder through the uprights to push his team to its eighth straight win and a showdown with the Falcons in the NFC Championship.
The emotional ending left a smattering of indelible images behind on the field at AT&T Stadium. First, the visitor’s sideline exploded in celebration.
Then, there were hugs.
Lots of hugs.
Rodgers held up an invisible title belt, or more likely just raised his arms in triumph. Either way, we miss the double-check celebration.
And Prescott, who played a tremendous game in his first-ever playoff appearance, felt the sting of a heart-wrenching defeat.
But no matter what the on-field reactions were, they were all demonstrably better than this one.
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