Jordan Love walked into AT&T Stadium and basically shredded the script. If you're looking for the short answer on who won Green Bay or Dallas, the Packers didn't just win; they embarrassed the Cowboys on their own turf with a 48-32 victory in the NFC Wild Card round on January 14, 2024.
It was a bloodbath.
Honestly, nobody saw it coming. Dallas was the number two seed, undefeated at home all season, and boasted a defense that looked like a brick wall. Then, a first-year starter from Utah State decided to play a perfect game. By the time the fourth quarter rolled around, the "America's Team" faithful were heading for the exits while Cheeseheads were doing the Leap in the end zone.
The Night the Cowboys' Defense Disappeared
Usually, when we talk about a 48-32 score, we think of a shootout. This wasn't that. Green Bay was up 27-0 at one point. It felt like watching a glitch in the Matrix.
Joe Barry’s defense, which Packers fans had been complaining about for months, suddenly turned into a takeaway machine. Jaire Alexander snagged an early interception that set the tone, and Darnell Savage’s 64-yard pick-six off Dak Prescott was the moment the stadium went silent. You could literally hear a pin drop in Arlington.
Why the Packers dominated the trenches
It wasn't just the passing game. Aaron Jones has this weird, almost supernatural ability to destroy the Cowboys. He finished with 118 yards and three touchdowns. Every time he touched the ball, it felt like he was gaining seven yards before anyone even breathed on him.
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The Cowboys' defensive line, led by Micah Parsons, was supposed to be the X-factor. Instead, they were neutralized. Green Bay’s offensive line played with a mean streak we hadn't seen all year. They gave Jordan Love enough time to scan the field, have a sandwich, and then find a wide-open Romeo Doubs.
Jordan Love's Coming Out Party
People forget how much pressure was on Love. He was replacing a legend in Aaron Rodgers, who had famously "owned" the Cowboys for over a decade. Love didn't just follow the blueprint; he improved it.
He finished 16-of-21 for 272 yards and three touchdowns. A near-perfect passer rating of 157.2. Think about that for a second. In his first-ever playoff start, on the road, against a top-tier defense, he was statistically perfect.
- He stayed poised under pressure.
- His footwork was impeccable.
- He distributed the ball to seven different receivers.
Dallas looked rattled. Dak Prescott, despite throwing for over 400 yards and three scores, did most of that work when the game was already over. It was "garbage time" personified. CeeDee Lamb struggled to get on the same page with Dak early on, and those missed connections proved fatal.
The Historical Weight of Packers vs. Cowboys
This rivalry isn't just about one game in 2024. It’s about the Ice Bowl in 1967. It’s about the 90s when Troy Aikman and Emmitt Smith finally got past Brett Favre. When people ask who won Green Bay or Dallas, they are often tapping into decades of heartbreak.
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Since the 2010 season, Green Bay has held a massive psychological edge. Including that 2024 blowout, the Packers have won 10 of the last 11 meetings. That is a statistical anomaly in a league built on parity. Whether it's the "Dez Caught It" game in the 2014 playoffs or Aaron Rodgers' sideline dime to Jared Cook in 2016, the Packers always seem to find a way to break Dallas' hearts.
Mike McCarthy's Personal Stakes
There’s also the human element. Mike McCarthy, the Cowboys' head coach, won a Super Bowl with Green Bay. Watching his former team come into his new home and dismantle his Super Bowl aspirations was a narrative arc even Hollywood would find a bit too on-the-nose.
What This Means for Future Matchups
If you're betting on the next time these two face off, you have to look at the rosters. Green Bay is currently the youngest team to win a playoff game since the 1970 AFL-NFL merger. They aren't going anywhere.
Dallas is in a "win now" window that feels like it’s slamming shut. The contract situations for Dak Prescott and Micah Parsons loom large. When you lose at home as a heavy favorite, it changes the DNA of a locker room.
The Packers proved that their system—building through the draft and being patient with quarterbacks—works. Dallas proved that regular-season dominance doesn't mean anything if you can't stop the run in January.
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Breaking Down the Key Stats
- Final Score: Green Bay 48, Dallas 32.
- Total Yards: Green Bay 415, Dallas 510 (most of Dallas' yards came in the 4th quarter).
- Turnovers: Dallas 2, Green Bay 0.
- Third Down Efficiency: Green Bay went 7-for-11. They were efficient.
The discrepancy in turnovers was the real killer. In the playoffs, if you give a hot quarterback extra possessions, you're going to have a bad time. Dallas looked like they were playing catch-up from the second drive of the game.
Steps for Fans and Analysts
If you're tracking this rivalry or preparing for their next meeting, keep an eye on these specific metrics:
- Check the Injury Reports on Interior O-Line: Green Bay wins when their guards can pull and create lanes for Aaron Jones (or his successors).
- Monitor the Defensive Scheme Changes: Dallas has since moved on from Dan Quinn as defensive coordinator. How they adapt to a more zone-heavy or man-heavy approach will dictate if they can finally stop Jordan Love’s cross-field throws.
- Home Field vs. Neutral Site: Don't be fooled by the Cowboys' home record. They have shown a vulnerability to "bully ball" teams that can run the clock out.
The 2024 Wild Card game was a definitive statement. It shifted the power balance in the NFC. Green Bay didn't just win a football game; they signaled the start of a new era while simultaneously ending the Cowboys' best chance at a ring in years.
To understand the current state of the NFL, you have to understand that night in Arlington. The Packers were faster, more physical, and significantly better coached. Dallas was left picking up the pieces of another promising season gone wrong.
Next time these two play, don't look at the season records. Look at the matchups in the secondary and whether Dallas has found an answer for the Packers' vertical passing game. History suggests they probably haven't.