If you were looking for a clear winner in the most recent Dallas Cowboys vs. Green Bay Packers showdown, I have some weird news for you. Nobody won.
Wait, what?
Yeah, you heard that right. On September 28, 2025, these two historic rivals walked off the field at AT&T Stadium with the scoreboard reading 40-40. It was a stalemate. A deadlock. One of those rare, "did that really just happen?" moments in NFL history. Specifically, it was the second-highest-scoring tie in the history of the league.
I know, it sounds fake. We’re used to overtime ending with a dramatic field goal or a sudden-death touchdown. But this time, the clock just... ran out.
Why There Was No Winner
Most people assume playoff rules apply to every game, where you play until someone scores. But in the regular season, that's not how it works. After a full 10-minute overtime period where both Brandon Aubrey and Brandon McManus traded field goals, the final whistle blew.
The stadium was silent.
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Dak Prescott and Jordan Love basically just looked at each other, shrugged, and headed to the locker rooms. For the Cowboys, it was their first tie since the 1969 season. If you’re a math person, that’s over half a century of football without a "T" in the win-loss column.
The Scoring Madness
This wasn't some boring 0-0 defensive slog. It was a track meet.
Romeo Doubs was absolutely torching the Dallas secondary, hauling in three touchdowns from Jordan Love. On the other side, George Pickens (who has become Dak’s favorite target) matched that energy with 134 yards and two scores of his own.
The fourth quarter was pure chaos:
- 1:45 left: Love hits Doubs for a 15-yard TD. Packers lead 34-30.
- 0:43 left: Dak finds Pickens for a 28-yard bomb. Cowboys lead 37-34.
- 0:00 left: Brandon McManus nails a 53-yarder as time expires to force OT.
Honestly, by the time they got to overtime, both defenses were gassed. The Cowboys moved the ball, Aubrey kicked a 22-yarder, and everyone thought it was over. But then Green Bay marched right back down, McManus hit a 34-yarder with literal seconds left in the extra period, and that was it. 40-40.
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The Micah Parsons "Revenge" Narrative
You can't talk about this game without mentioning the elephant in the room. Or rather, the Lion in the cheesehead.
The biggest shock of the 2025 season wasn't the tie; it was the fact that Micah Parsons was wearing a Packers jersey. After the massive trade that sent the superstar edge rusher to Green Bay, this was his first time back in Arlington.
Did he wreck the game? Sorta. He had a sack and a couple of tackles for loss, but the Dallas offensive line—led by a revitalized Tyler Smith—actually held their own. The irony of the "Micah trade" is that it actually gave Dallas the draft capital that helped them secure two first-round picks for 2026.
What Happened in the 2026 "Playoff Win"?
Technically, the Cowboys and Packers didn't play each other in the January 2026 playoffs. Dallas didn't even make the postseason this year. However, if you're seeing headlines about Dallas "winning" because of Green Bay in 2026, it's because of the NFL Draft.
On January 10, 2026, the Green Bay Packers lost their Wild Card game to the Chicago Bears. Because of the Parsons trade, the Cowboys owned Green Bay's first-round pick.
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When the Packers got knocked out, that pick officially landed at No. 20 overall. So, while the Cowboys weren't on the field, their fans were celebrating a "win" for their future roster. They now head into the 2026 offseason with the 12th and 20th overall picks.
Recent Matchup History (Last 3 Meetings)
- January 14, 2024 (Playoffs): Green Bay won 48-32. This was the "Jordan Love arrival" game that broke Dallas fans' hearts.
- September 28, 2025: Tied 40-40. The epic overtime shootout mentioned above.
- January 10, 2026 (Indirect): Packers lose to Bears, handing Dallas the 20th pick in the 2026 Draft.
How to Track the Next Game
If you're looking for the next time these two face off to finally settle the score, you'll have to wait for the 2026 Regular Season.
Since the Cowboys finished second in the NFC East and the Packers finished second in the NFC North, the NFL’s scheduling algorithm has locked them in for a rematch. This time, the game will be at Lambeau Field.
Actionable Next Steps
To stay ahead of the curve for the 2026 season, you should focus on these three areas:
- Monitor the 2026 NFL Draft (April 23-25): Watch what Dallas does with picks 12 and 20. Most experts, like those at Bleacher Report, expect them to go heavy on defense after the Eberflus firing.
- Check the Schedule Release in May: That’s when we’ll know the exact date for the 2026 Cowboys at Packers game. Expect it to be a primetime slot—the NFL loves the ratings this rivalry brings.
- Watch the Salary Cap: Dallas is currently sitting roughly $36 million over the cap for 2026. How they restructure contracts will determine if they can even compete with the Packers' young core next year.
The 40-40 tie might have left a sour taste in the mouths of fans who wanted a winner, but it cemented this rivalry as the most unpredictable pairing in football. Whether it's a playoff blowout or a regular-season stalemate, Dallas and Green Bay simply cannot play a boring game.