The energy at AT&T Stadium was electric until it wasn't. You know that feeling when a party just dies? That's what happened. If you’re asking who won the cowboys or the packers during their most recent, high-stakes collision, the answer is a bit of a nightmare for Dallas fans. The Green Bay Packers didn't just win; they essentially dismantled the Dallas Cowboys 48-32 in the 2024 Wild Card round.
It was a blowout. Honestly, the score makes it look closer than it actually was because of some late-game garbage time points.
Jordan Love arrived. Dak Prescott struggled. The Cowboys' defense, which looked like a juggernaut all season under Dan Quinn, suddenly looked like they’d never seen a crosser or a play-action pass in their lives. It was one of those games where you realize the "vibes" in the regular season don't mean a thing once the January air hits. Green Bay became the first number seven seed to ever beat a number two seed. History was made, and it wasn't the kind Dallas wanted.
How the Packers Toasted the Cowboys’ Defense
It started early. Aaron Jones—who has basically made a career out of ruining the Cowboys' Sundays—ran for three touchdowns. He finished with 118 yards. It felt like he was gaining five yards before anyone even touched him.
Green Bay’s offensive line was the silent hero. They gave Jordan Love enough time to make a sandwich back there. Love finished with a near-perfect passer rating of 157.2. He went 16-of-21 for 272 yards and three touchdowns. He looked like a veteran. No, he looked like Brett Favre and Aaron Rodgers combined, picking apart a zone defense that looked completely lost.
Why did it happen?
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Dallas played soft. They played scared. They were heavily favored, coming in with a 16-game home winning streak. But the Packers didn't care about the streak. Romeo Doubs was wide open all day, catching six passes for 151 yards. If you watch the film, there are plays where there isn't a Cowboys jersey within ten yards of him. It’s baffling.
The Dak Prescott Playoff Dilemma
Then there’s Dak. Look, Dak Prescott had an MVP-caliber regular season. He led the league in touchdown passes. But when people ask who won the cowboys or the packers, they are usually talking about the game where Dak threw two massive first-half interceptions.
One of those was a pick-six to Darnell Savage.
That play essentially ended the game before halftime. The stadium went silent. You could see the "here we go again" look on the faces of the fans in the front row. It’s a recurring theme for Dallas—dominance in October, disappearances in January. Prescott finished with 403 yards and three touchdowns, but again, that’s a "lying stat." Most of those yards came when the Packers were playing a "prevent" defense, already thinking about their next opponent.
The pressure got to them. Mike McCarthy, facing his old team, looked outcoached by Matt LaFleur from the first whistle. Green Bay was aggressive. Dallas was reactive. In the NFL, that’s a recipe for a 48-point explosion.
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Key Moments That Decided the Game
- The opening drive: Green Bay marched 75 yards and took over seven minutes off the clock. It set the tone that they belonged there.
- Jaire Alexander’s interception: Setting up a short field that led to an Aaron Jones touchdown.
- The Darnell Savage 64-yard return: This made it 27-0. At that point, people were already heading for the exits to beat the Arlington traffic.
- Dontayvion Wicks’ touchdown: A 20-yard strike where the Cowboys' secondary looked like they were playing a different sport.
Why This Result Changes Everything for Both Franchises
This wasn't just a win; it was a changing of the guard. For Green Bay, it proved that the post-Rodgers era isn't just "fine," it's potentially elite. Jordan Love showed he has the poise to win on the road in the biggest spots. He wasn't rattled by the "Star" or the 90,000 screaming fans.
For the Cowboys, it triggered a massive identity crisis.
People expected heads to roll. Jerry Jones was visibly fuming in his suite. While McCarthy stayed on for the next season, the defensive staff saw a total overhaul. This game is now the benchmark for "Cowboys Playoff Failure." It’s the game people point to when they say regular-season wins are a fluke for this roster.
The Packers’ youth was their strength. They were the youngest team to win a playoff game since the 1970 AFL-NFL merger. That’s wild. While Dallas looked old and slow, Green Bay looked fast and fearless.
Examining the Historical Context
If you look at the long-term rivalry, Green Bay has really had Dallas’s number lately. This isn't just a one-off. Since the 2014 "Dez Caught It" game (he caught it, by the way), the Packers have consistently found ways to break Cowboys fans' hearts. Whether it’s Rodgers throwing a sideline dime to Jared Cook or Jordan Love carving up the seam, the "Green and Gold" owns the "Silver and Blue" in the postseason.
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The all-time series is incredibly close, but the postseason is where the legacy is built. Green Bay now holds a 5-4 lead in playoff matchups against Dallas. That matters. It’s the difference between being a "dynasty" and being "the team that always falls short."
What We Learned and What to Watch For Next
You can’t just rely on talent. Dallas had more Pro Bowlers. They had the home-field advantage. They had the "better" stats on paper.
But football is about matchups and coaching. Green Bay exploited the fact that Dallas’s linebackers were undersized and their safeties were aggressive to a fault. They used the Cowboys' speed against them by using misdirection and heavy personnel.
If you're betting on or following these teams in the future, watch the "trench" battle. The Packers won because their offensive line played perfectly. If Dallas can't fix their run defense, the answer to who won the cowboys or the packers will keep being the guys from Wisconsin.
Moving forward, keep a close eye on the following developments:
- Watch how Dallas handles the "Seven Seed" stigma in future brackets; they are now the poster child for the upset.
- Monitor Jordan Love’s contract value; this specific win likely added $50 million to his career earnings.
- Pay attention to the Cowboys' defensive scheme changes; the "light" defense that works against the pass-happy Eagles often gets bullied by the Packers' zone-run scheme.
Check the official NFL film archives or the "All-22" footage if you want to see exactly how Romeo Doubs kept getting behind the Dallas safeties. It’s a masterclass in route timing. The reality is that the Packers didn't just win a game; they exposed a blueprint on how to beat the modern Cowboys. It’s a blueprint the rest of the league has been copying ever since.
To get a better handle on how this rivalry shifts next season, track the Green Bay offensive line's health versus the Dallas interior defensive line's draft picks. That’s where the actual game is won, regardless of who is playing quarterback. Stop looking at the jersey names and start looking at the leverage in the gaps. That is the only way Dallas ever flips the script on this result.