The playoffs always do this. They take a regular-season juggernaut and turn them into a punchline in about three hours of real-time football. If you’re asking who won Packers or cowboys during their most recent, high-stakes collision, the answer isn’t just a score—it’s a total shift in the NFC power dynamic. Jordan Love and the Green Bay Packers didn’t just win; they dismantled the Dallas Cowboys 48-32 in the Wild Card round.
It was a bloodbath. Honestly, the score makes it look closer than it actually was because Dallas scored a few "pride" touchdowns late in the game when the Packers were basically playing prevent defense and thinking about their post-game flights.
The Day Jordan Love Became "The Guy"
Everyone wondered if Green Bay could actually survive without Aaron Rodgers. We spent months debating it on sports talk radio. Then, Love walked into AT&T Stadium—a place where the Cowboys hadn't lost in ages—and played a nearly perfect game. He finished with a 157.2 passer rating. That is basically as close to "perfect" as the math allows.
The Cowboys were the #2 seed. They had the home-field advantage. They had CeeDee Lamb and Dak Prescott coming off a career-best statistical season. None of it mattered. Green Bay’s offense looked like it was playing a different sport, shredding Dan Quinn’s defense through the air and on the ground. Aaron Jones, a Texas native who seemingly loves nothing more than ruining the Cowboys' weekend, rushed for three touchdowns.
Dallas fans were heading for the exits by the third quarter. It’s rare to see a "Super Bowl contender" look so completely lost on their own turf, but that’s exactly what happened.
Breaking Down the Numbers That Matter
When you look at who won Packers or cowboys, the stats tell a story of efficiency versus desperation.
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The Packers averaged 7.7 yards per play. Think about that for a second. Every time they snapped the ball, they were nearly getting a first down on average. Meanwhile, Dak Prescott threw two massive interceptions in the first half. One of those was a "pick-six" to Darnell Savage that effectively ended the competitive portion of the evening.
- First Downs: Green Bay stayed on schedule, while Dallas struggled on third-and-long.
- Turnover Margin: Packers +2. In the playoffs, that’s usually the whole game right there.
- Time of Possession: Dallas actually had the ball longer, but they were empty calories.
Why This Specific Game Changed Everything
This wasn't just another game. It was a legacy-definer. For Mike McCarthy, the Cowboys head coach and former Packers legend, it was a nightmare scenario. He was facing his old team, with his job potentially on the line, and his defense gave up nearly 50 points.
The ripple effects were huge.
It forced the Cowboys to rethink their entire defensive identity. Dan Quinn left for Washington. The Packers, on the other hand, realized they had a roster full of the youngest players in the league who weren't afraid of the bright lights. They became the first #7 seed to ever knock off a #2 seed since the NFL expanded the playoff format. That’s a massive historical footnote.
The Aaron Jones Factor
We have to talk about Aaron Jones. Every time he sees a star on a helmet, he turns into a Hall of Famer. He finished that game with 118 yards. It wasn't just the yardage; it was the way he ran. He was hitting holes before the Dallas linebackers could even process the snap.
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The Packers' offensive line deserves a ton of credit here too. They gave Love a clean pocket for most of the night. When a young quarterback has time to scan the field, and he's as talented as Love, the defense is in trouble. Dallas tried to blitz. It failed. They tried to play zone. Love picked it apart.
What Most People Get Wrong About the Result
A lot of people think Dallas just "choked." That’s the easy narrative. It’s what makes for good headlines. But it’s kinda lazy analysis.
The truth is more about Green Bay’s scheme. Matt LaFleur outcoached the Cowboys staff. He used pre-snap motion to confuse the Dallas secondary, creating wide-open lanes for guys like Luke Musgrave and Romeo Doubs. Doubs had a career day with 151 receiving yards. He was finding grass in the middle of the field all night because the Cowboys' safeties were too worried about the deep ball.
It was a tactical masterclass.
- Misconception: Dak Prescott was the only reason they lost.
- Reality: The Dallas defense couldn't stop a cold. They lacked physicality at the point of attack.
- Misconception: The Packers got lucky.
- Reality: They led 27-0 at one point. Luck doesn't get you a four-touchdown lead in the playoffs.
Looking Forward: The Rivalry in 2025 and 2026
If you’re tracking who won Packers or cowboys to see where the rivalry stands now, the momentum is firmly in Wisconsin. The Packers have won 10 of the last 11 matchups against Dallas. It has reached a point where it feels psychological.
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Dallas is still trying to figure out how to get over the hump. They’ve got the talent, but the "Packers hex" is real. For Green Bay, this win was the start of a new era. They proved that the transition from Rodgers to Love wasn't just successful—it might actually have made them more dangerous because of how much cheaper Love’s contract was at the time, allowing them to build out the rest of the roster.
Actionable Takeaways for Football Fans
Understanding this specific game helps you predict future matchups between these two. Here is what you should look for the next time they meet:
- Watch the Line of Scrimmage: If Green Bay can run the ball early, the Cowboys' pass rush (led by Micah Parsons) becomes neutralized. Parsons is great, but he can't hunt the QB if he's constantly worried about the run.
- The "Home Field" Myth: Don't automatically bet on Dallas at home in the postseason. The pressure of the "Star" seems to weigh heavy on them when things start going south.
- The Youth Movement: Green Bay thrives on young, fast receivers. If the Cowboys don't upgrade their speed at linebacker and safety, they will continue to get burned by LaFleur’s crossing routes.
- Quarterback Psychology: Look at the body language. In that 48-32 win, Love looked like he was playing a backyard game. Prescott looked like he was carrying the weight of the world. That matters in January.
The Packers won because they were the more cohesive, better-coached, and more aggressive team. It wasn't a fluke. It was a blueprint for how to beat a heavy favorite on the road. For the Cowboys, it remains the biggest "what if" of the modern era. They had the roster to go to the Super Bowl, but they ran into a buzzsaw wearing green and gold.
Next time these two play, ignore the season records. History says the Packers own the "Big D," and until Dallas proves otherwise on the field, that's the reality of the NFL.