Saturday, August 13, 2016

29. Packers 17, Cowboys 7 (2009)

Green Bay was limping in, having a record of 4-4 and losing its last two, including the last game to the winless Tampa Bay Buccaneers. After allowing a total of three points in wins over Cleveland and Detroit, the Packers would give up 38 points in losses to Minnesota and Tampa Bay. Green Bay was in need of a winning streak to help it make the playoffs. Dallas was coming in on an opposite run, winning four straight and averaging more than 30 points in those contests. The Packers were a desperate team and played like it, playing their best game of the season in a 17-7 win over the Cowboys.

A pair of missed field goals was it for the first quarter. The game finally started to get going late in the second. Tony Romo found an open Roy Williams over the middle and Williams was able to run inside the Packers 40, but eventual NFL Defensive Player of the Year Charles Woodson knocked the ball out of the hands of Williams and it was recovered by Clay Matthews for Green Bay.

After a nice punt return by Tramon Williams, the Packers took over at midfield with less than a minute to play in the first half in a scoreless game. Aaron Rodgers used a 24-yard pass to Donald Driver to help move the Packers into field goal range. From there, Mason Crosby nailed a 48-yard field goal to give the Green and Gold a 3-0 lead at halftime.

It would remain 3-0 at the end of the third quarter, but the Packers were on the move. The drive started with six and a half minutes to go in the third quarter and last into the fourth quarter. The 80-yard drive consisted of three third down conversions and ending with a Rodgers touchdown and Green Bay took a 10-0 lead.

On the third play following the kickoff, Romo went back to pass and Woodson came on the blitz. Woodson decked the Cowboys quarterback and forced a fumble. Clay Matthews recovered for the Packers and brought it down to the 3. The Packers faced a third down from the 2 and Rodgers found Spencer Havner for the touchdown to give Green Bay the 17-0 lead.

Dallas would drive down to inside the Packers 10 in both of its last two possessions. On the first one, Romo threw a short pass to the goal line intended for Jason Witten, but Woodson dove and picked it off to preserve the shutout.

Dallas would finally break the ice next possession on a Romo pass to Williams, but it was too little, too late for the Cowboys. But Green Bay recovered the onside kick and took a knee to run out the clock and the Packers had their biggest win of the season.

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