game recap: 5 takeaways from Packers' OT victory over Cowboys - Packers.com

green BAY – The Packers snapped their five-video game dropping streak with a dramatic 31-28 additional time victory over the Cowboys on Sunday at Lambeau container, spoiling former instruct Mike McCarthy's return to eco-friendly Bay.

here are 5 takeaways from the triumph:

1. The losses have been weighing on everybody, and that weight has ultimately lifted.

The Packers hadn't misplaced 5 in a row due to the fact Aaron Rodgers' first season as the starting quarterback, 14 years in the past. Head instruct Matt LaFleur hadn't experienced as a whole lot as two straight losses in an everyday season before this, as his group went from 3-1 to three-6 earlier than ultimately notching its fourth win of the 12 months.

The postgame catharsis became inescapable, primarily after rallying from 14 facets down in the fourth quarter to force additional time, and LaFleur addressed it at different moments in his remarks on the podium.

"Man, it's been a long time to rise up right here and have a smile," he begun. "it be been too lengthy to have that feeling to enter the locker room and spot the just sheer joy."

a bit later he delivered: "i know for myself it turned into difficult now not to get emotional after that online game," after which he proceeded to get emotional a few minutes later, choking up in brief and apologizing to the assembled media.

"We put lots into this. And it's complicated every now and then … It ability a great deal to us. And to be down and battle and proceed to battle, it really is what you want to see."

2. a star may additionally have been born.

Rookie receiver Christian Watson has been through an awful lot in his young profession – a knee harm that compelled him to omit most of coaching camp, a drop of a potential 75-yard TD circulate on the first offensive play in Week 1 at Minnesota, a subsequent hamstring injury and concussion that also saved him sidelined.

Then Sunday's game begun with Watson dropping passes on back-to-returned plays in Dallas territory, leading to a overlooked container intention.

both Rodgers and LaFleur stressed out they were going to come back to him, and boy did they. Watson's velocity was on monitor as he wound up scoring his first three NFL touchdowns amongst four receptions for 107 yards.

His TDs covered 58, 39 and 7 yards, the 2nd one on fourth-and-7 to get the Packers lower back within a touchdown early within the fourth quarter, and the last one to tie the game at 28 with 2:29 left in legislation.

"We had a lot of plays designed for him, so I don't suppose there was some other option," Rodgers stated of sticking with the rookie second-circular choose. "I believe that (first TD) capture doubtless on the atomic level shifted a lot of different things for him, exorcising some energetic demons. i am proud of him."

the first rating become on a deep shot corresponding to the huge drop at Minnesota, and he punctuated the touchdown with a celebratory backflip within the conclusion zone.

"it's been type of a rollercoaster experience for him," LaFleur referred to, likening Watson's resiliency Sunday with that shown by the total crew. "He spoke back."

delivered Rodgers, who comprehensive 14-of-20 for 224 yards with the three TDs and season-most suitable 146.7 passer rating: "That first one I think like became the monkey, the 800-pound gorilla off his again, the load of expectations and frustrations and drops and disappointment and with a bit of luck this is a big jolt for him moving ahead.

"We want him to stay match, as a result of when he's, he's a special type of man."

three. a new protective standout emerged as neatly.

Defensively, the Packers moved starting safety Darnell Savage to fit nook within the nickel protection and inserted Rudy Ford in his region at safeguard.

All Ford did become intercept two passes, each of which preceded green Bay touchdowns in the first half.

His first opt for came just three snaps after Rodgers fumbled on a sack, giving the Cowboys a primary-and-intention at the 10-yard line, looking to add to a 7-0 lead. On third down, Ford reduce in front of tight end Dalton Schultz at the goal line for the pick and a 34-yard return.

"anytime you're taking aspects far from the opposition, it really is large time," LaFleur said.

Then on Dallas' next possession, an additional Prescott move over the center found Ford's hands, and an additional 34-yard return set up the Packers to take a 14-7 lead on a 12-yard TD run via Aaron Jones.

"He performs with a lot of speed," LaFleur stated of Ford, a waiver declare from Jacksonville at roster cutdown time who has performed his approach from a special-teamer into a daily protective position. "you could suppose his velocity out there, and he is physical, too."

four. a transformation became made on particular groups, and the defense rose to the event late.

With the score tied at 14 in the third quarter, punt returner Amari Rodgers fumbled for the fifth time this season (2d lost one), and the turnover shifted all the momentum the Cowboys' means.

Dallas scored in 4 performs on a 13-yard run with the aid of Tony Pollard (22 carries, a hundred and fifteen yards), got a three-and-out, and then scored again in seven snaps on a 35-yard landing through receiver CeeDee Lamb (11 catches, one hundred fifty yards, two TDs) to go up 28-14.

Kickoff returner Keisean Nixon grew to be the Packers' punt returner for the rest of the game.

eco-friendly Bay's protection additionally modified for the greater, stopping Dallas on numerous fourth-quarter possessions plus on the opening force of overtime.

Two incompletions through Prescott (27-of-forty six, 265 yards, three TDs, two INTs, 78.6 score) on third-and-three and fourth-and-three from the eco-friendly Bay 35, as Dallas turned down an extended field aim, gave the ball again to the Packers for his or her successful force.

5. The clinching play in OT had been within the works all evening, but there isn't any time to rejoice.

eco-friendly Bay failed late in regulation to get a first down with a chance to win, a pressure that upset Rodgers and LaFleur, but they cashed in with one more shot.

desiring just a field intention to win, the Packers faced third-and-1 from their own forty four. At that factor, the offense had run the ball for over 200 yards – Jones had 138 dashing yards on 24 consists of in all, with AJ Dillon including 65 yards on 13 attempts – which allowed a play-motion slant to Allen Lazard to work superbly.

Lazard's defender fell down at the line of scrimmage, and he break up the core of the container after the brief reception for a 36-yard gain to get into field-intention range.

"we'd variety of been environment that up for ages all over the game and it hadn't been there, hadn't been there, hadn't been there," Rodgers spoke of. "Allen and that i had a conversation on the sideline and felt like if we got here back to that play, it had an opportunity to be there and he's pretty expert at that route."

one other run with the aid of Jones for five yards, plus a facemask penalty, put the ball interior the 10. Rodgers took a knee – leaving the team dashing total at 207 yards – to position the ball in the middle of the container, and Mason Crosby turned into good from 28 yards out just about seven minutes into OT.

The Packers kept their season alive by attending to 4-6 however have a in a similar fashion critical task again in exactly four days, on Thursday night soccer against Tennessee (6-three) at Lambeau.

"In our world, it is Wednesday, so we have now received to flip the script immediately," LaFleur stated, "because we have bought a rattling first rate football group coming in here."

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