Fueled by Jordan Love and his group of young receivers, the Packers offense made easy work of the Cowboys defense. From the opening drive through the first half, Green Bay moved the ball at will against Dallas. Having only to punt one time the entire first half, the Packers put up 27 points to give them a commanding lead over the Cowboys at halftime.
Green Bay Packers Dominate Dallas Cowboys
While the offense kept its foot on the gas, Green Bay’s defense stepped up to the task of stopping a potent Cowboys offense. Throughout the season, Dallas established itself as one of the league’s top offenses. Per ESPN stats, the Cowboys averaged the fifth-highest yards per game while averaging nearly 30 points per game. Going into the game, Green Bay’s defense had the task of slowing down CeeDee Lamb.
Coming off a career year, Lamb was the X-factor for Dallas and a player they needed to feed. But the Packers were able to contain Lamb to three catches for 33 yards in the first half (per ESPN stats). One of Dak Prescott’s pass attempts to Lamb in the first half was intercepted and returned for a touchdown by Darnell Savage Jr. The play helped give Green Bay a 27-0 lead. Only once the Packers had established a commanding lead did the defense soften up and allow Lamb to produce.
Slowing down Lamb meant the Cowboys had to lean on players like Brandin Cooks and Jake Ferguson. This was especially crucial because neither have been dominant for the Cowboys this season. But both were big parts of the passing offense and had become favorites of Prescott. With a limited script on offense, the Cowboys struggled to catch up.
Through the first three quarters, the Packers offense moved the ball with ease. Love went 16-21 on the day with three touchdowns (per ESPN stats). More importantly, Love was not sacked once. Keeping Love clean was highlighted as one of the keys to Green Bay’s chances of winning this game. On multiple plays, Love evaded pressure and even threw a few beautiful spirals off his back foot. The playing style that Love has developed draws eery comparisons to that of Aaron Rodgers while he was with Green Bay.
The Aaron Jones Effect
Beyond Love’s performance, Aaron Jones made a massive difference. A healthy Jones has long been the determining factor between Green Bay succeeding and struggling. His presence alone gives the offense an added dynamic. Jones thrives in open space but can also find success running between the tackles. He is a true X-factor for Green Bay. Jones is a player whom the team will look to keep going forward.
Given the expectations going into this season, the Packers win over the Cowboys means more than just pulling an upset. It means this team has a strong upward trajectory for the future. With such youth at receiver and tight end, the organization’s plan to build around Love appears to be successful so far. Next up are the San Francisco 49ers, a team that has been a thorn in the Packers side. But if the team can come out hot and play loose like they did against the Cowboys, they have a chance to pull yet another upset.
Main Photo Credit: Wm. Glasheen / USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin
