Packers & Cowboys Share 80 In Historic Tied Contest

By Peter Mann

It’s not every day the NFL produces a tied contest, let alone a high-scoring one, but this past weekend it happened in the clash between NFC North franchise, Green Bay Packers’ visit to the AT& T Stadium, home of NFC East outfit, Dallas Cowboys; so, let’s go on this week’s ‘Deep Dive’ into a contest for the ages.

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It’s Brian Schottenheimer’s first season in charge of the Cowboys, but for his side, it’s been a long time since they were tied themselves, the last time they had a game like this was back in late November 1969, yes 1969, over 55 years ago – that was a 24-24 dust-up with San Francisco 49ers.

Meanwhile, for Matt LaFleur and the Packers, this was his first tied contest in his 112th game at the helm; he’s been in Green Bay for a dozen seasons now and their last, that arrived the season before he took over, in mid-September 2018 when they were held, also in overtime, 29-29 with Minnesota Vikings.

This contest would also be hyped up for the return of Micah Parsons, former defensive end and rookie of the year (2021) at the Cowboys; Parsons’ four seasons in Dallas saw him play near seventy times and set a franchise rookie sack record, before being traded to the Packers this summer, just four weeks or so ago – he’s now the highest paid, non-quarterback in NFL history

Here though, on Sunday at the AT&T, this was a game which, at several stages didn’t look like it would finish tied; Green Bay taking up a 13pt lead early in the second quarter before the Cowboys began chopping away at it to move into a FG-score advantage come half-time.

The second half would see an immense, back-and-firth tussle between the two franchises, with neither getting any kind of grip on it, the largest margin being four-points for Green Bay, twice, first at 20-16 in the third quarter and then at 34-30 late in the third.

It would be the visiting Packers, and their wide receiver, Romeo Doubs, who’d claim the early advantage, quarterback Jordan Love connecting with him twice within the first five minutes of the first and second quarters, to move into a 13-0 lead (both plays totalled just shy of 70yds).

The Cowboys eventually burst into life themselves in the final ten minutes of the first half when the Packers blocked and safety, Markquese Bell, returned for a 2pt score to get the hosts on the board.

MVP quarterback, Prescott, then rushed from close range to further narrow the Packers’ lead, before connecting with wide receiver George Pickens, who was a pretty decent game himself, with a 15yd throw to claim a 16-13, half-time lead.

Green Bay had a score disallowed midway through the third quarter, but eventually regained the lead shy of two minutes later when running back Josh Jacobs finished a nine-play, 76yd play for his first score of the game.

Again, Prescott was having none of it and, as the third quarter edged towards its close, connected with tight end Jake Ferguson over 8yds, following a 12-play, 80yd move that gave the Cowboys a 23-20 lead going into the final fifteen minutes.

The non-stop nature of the contest didn’t relent in the fourth either, Green Bay and Dallas both trading scores with Prescott and Love relentless with the throws for their respective sides.

However, it would be Josh Jacobs who struck first in the fourth quarter, the Oklahoma native rushing home an 18yd score with 11:39 left on the game-clock; RB Jacobs was transferred to Green Bay from the Las Vegas Raiders back in 2023 and is in his seventh, NFL season (over 90 appearances overall).

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Cowboys RB, North Carolina star, Javonte Williams, then added another score, from close-range, for the hosts, enjoying his start to life in Dallas after four seasons with Denver Broncos, his side now three ahead with less than five minutes to play.

Again, Green Bay battled ahead, a 3rd-and-10 leading to Love and Doubs connecting for a third time in the contest, with less than two minutes remaining, over fifteen yards, and another lead.

Standout WR, Doubs, at just 25-years-old, is an LA-native and was a fourth-round draft pick for the Packers back in 2022 from the Nevada Wolf Pack; in his fourth season, he’s closing in on his fiftieth appearance.

Prescott connected with George Pickens, over 28yds, for his second score of the game with 43secs remaining for the Cowboys, but the Packers left it late to send the tie to OT, tying the game at thirty-seven, on the buzzer, with a 33yd FG from Brandon McManus.

Respective players statistics saw the following for Green Bay – Jordan Love 31/43, 337yds, 3TDs (pass); Josh Jacobs 22 carries, 86yds, 2TDs (rush); Romeo Doubs 58yds, 3TDs (rec); Brandon McManus 2/2, 53lng, 4/5PATs …… replying for Dallas – Dak Prescott 31/40, 319yds, 3TDs (pass), 2yds, 1TD (rush); Javonte Williams 20 carries, 85yds, 1TD (rush); George Pickens 134yds, 2TDs (rec), Jake Ferguson 40yds, 1TD (rec); Brandon Aubrey 1/1, 22lng, 5/5PATs

OT, that was decided by a pair of FGs, one apiece, Brandon Aubrey striking first for the Cowboys from 22yds, McManus levelling up with a 34yd score, again on the buzzer, to make for the second highest-scoring tied game in NFL history.

The highest scoring, a 43-43 game between Oakland Raiders and New England Patriots back in mid-October 1964.  

PETER MANN

NFL ANALYST

PETER IS A LIFELONG SPORTS FAN, JOURNALIST AND AUTHOR BASED IN COUNTY DURHAM. HE HAS FOLLOWED THE NFL AND THE RAIDERS SINCE THE 1980s, AND LOVES BOTH SPORTS AND FAMILY HISTORY. PETER HAS A DEGREE IN SPORT & EXERCISE PSYCHOLOGY, AND CAN BE FOUND ON TWITTER @petermannwriter

 
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