The Dallas Cowboys suffered a shocking 48-32 home loss to the Green Bay Packers in the Wild Card round of the NFL playoffs on Sunday. The heavily favored Cowboys turned the ball over four times and allowed the Packers to score on nine straight possessions to end the game.
Packers Control Game from Outset
The Packers set the tone early, marching down the field on a 10-play, 75-yard opening drive that ended with a Aaron Jones 3-yard touchdown run. On the next possession, Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott was intercepted by Packers safety Darnell Savage, setting up a field goal to give Green Bay a 10-0 first quarter lead.
“We just didn’t execute the way we should have,” Prescott said after the game. “I didn’t execute the way I should have. So I take full responsibility for this loss.”
Offense Sputters as Defense Wilts
Dallas struggled on offense all game, punting on five straight first-half possessions. The Cowboys defense also had no answers, allowing the Packers to score touchdowns on five consecutive drives from the second quarter onward.
“The Packers beat us. Lambeau Field beat us,” said Cowboys owner Jerry Jones. “I thought their defense played outstanding.”
Quarterback Jordan Love, making just his second career playoff start in place of injured Aaron Rodgers, diced up the Cowboys defense for 324 yards and 4 touchdowns. Meanwhile, the Dallas offense could not keep pace despite 364 passing yards from Prescott.
“All the credit goes to our guys, our leadership in that locker room,” Packers coach Matt LaFleur said. “They would not allow us to die today.”
Season Ends with a Thud
The shocking defeat brought a crashing end to a Cowboys season filled that began with high Super Bowl expectations. Dallas earned a 12-5 record and breezed to an NFC East division title behind a high-powered offense led by Prescott, running back Tony Pollard, and receivers CeeDee Lamb and Dalton Schultz.
But the good vibes evaporated on Sunday. The Cowboys became just the second home team to lose in the opening playoff round over the last three seasons.
| Season | Home Team | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Dallas Cowboys | Lost to 49ers 19-12 |
| 2023 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | Lost to Cowboys 31-14 |
| 2024 | Dallas Cowboys | Lost to Packers 48-32 |
“I’m disappointed. Surprised,” Jones said of the loss. “I thought we had a team that could compete for the Super Bowl.”
What’s Next for Dallas?
The ugly defeat will raise serious questions about the Cowboys leadership and roster construction heading into the offseason. Head coach Mike McCarthy’s job security is suddenly unstable after failing to advance in the playoffs. Meanwhile, ownership must decide whether to extend or franchise tag Pollard, Schultz and other key free agents.
Prescott vowed to improve after turning the ball over twice and taking three sacks. But at age 30 and owed over $40 million per year, his margin for error is shrinking.
The Cowboys also have significant needs on both lines of scrimmage and throughout the defense. After seeing Green Bay’s backup QB shred them on Sunday, Dallas desperately needs playmakers at all three levels on that side of the ball.
For now, Jones plans to take time to reflect on where things went wrong before charting a path forward.
“I’m not going to discuss any changes right now,” Jones said. “I won’t discuss coaching or personnel per se.”
One thing is clear – the standard is Super Bowl or bust for Jones and the Cowboys. By that measure, the 2023 season ended as a major disappointment in Dallas.
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