NFC: Green Bay Packers 26, Dallas Cowboys 21 In the first playoff game between these teams in Green Bay since the 1967 NFL Championship Game, immortalized as the Ice Bowl, Aaron Rodgers threw two second half touchdowns as the Green Bay Packers overcame an 8-point deficit to defeat the Dallas Cowboys 26–21. After a Dallas punt on their opening possession, Green Bay mounted a 10-play drive which featured 45 rushing yards from Eddie Lacy and ended when Rodgers threw a 4-yard touchdown pass to Andrew Quarless. Dallas responded with their own 12-play drive which was prolonged with a Brad Jones holding penalty on 3rd down. After a Tramon Williams pass interference call put the ball on the Green Bay 1-yard line, Tony Romo connected with Tyler Clutts for a touchdown. On their next drive Green Bay drove to the Dallas 27-yard line before Rodgers was strip-sacked by Jeremy Mincey, who recovered the fumble for Dallas. Five plays later Romo threw a 38-yard touchdown to Terrance Williams to give Dallas a 14–7 lead. After forcing a Green Bay punt – Green Bay's first punt at home in the first half in 5 games – Dallas drove to the Green Bay 33-yard line before Romo connected with Jason Witten on 2nd-and-7 for what appeared to be a first down. Upon review, however, the ball was spotted one-yard short and Dallas failed to convert the 3rd down to force a field goal. Dan Bailey's 50-yard attempt, however, was partially blocked by Datone Jones and missed wide right. On a 2nd-and 20 on their next drive Rodgers converted with a 31-yard pass to Randall Cobb, and Mason Crosby hit a 40-yard field goal as time expired to cut Green Bay's deficit to 14–10 at halftime. Green Bay was forced to punt on the opening drive of the second half, but on Dallas' ensuing possession Julius Peppers forced a fumble by DeMarco Murray which was recovered by Jones at the Dallas 44-yard line. Lacy then ran for 29 yards to the 16-yard line before Rodgers hit Davante Adams to get inside the 10-yard line. T. J. Lang, however, was called for unnecessary roughness and Green Bay was unable to convert a 3rd-and-16 and settled for a Crosby 30-yard field goal. Romo then threw a 20-yard pass to Dez Bryant and a 15-yard pass to Witten before Murray rushed for 26 yards to the Green Bay 1-yard line and scored a touchdown on the next play to make the score 21–13. On Green Bay's ensuing drive Rodgers converted a 3rd down with a 16-yard pass to Adams, hit Cobb for a 26-yard gain, then on 3rd-and-15 connected with Adams for a 46-yard touchdown to get within one entering the fourth quarter. After a Dallas punt, Rodgers completed 7 consecutive passes including a 13-yard touchdown to Richard Rodgers. The two-point conversion attempt, however, was unsuccessful, and Green Bay led 26–21 with 9:10 remaining. Driving into Green Bay territory, Romo completed a 9-yard pass to Cole Beasley to set up a 4th-and-2 from Green Bay's 32-yard line. The Cowboys attempted a pass play on 4th and 2, to wide receiver Dez Bryant, which was initially ruled a completion. However, Packers coach Mike McCarthy challenged the ruling on the field, initiating an instant replay review of the call by referee Gene Steratore and other officials. After the play was reviewed, the ruling was changed to an incomplete pass because Bryant did not maintain control of the ball after it hit the ground. Rodgers finished 24-for-35 for 316 yards and 3 touchdowns with no interceptions, ensuring that he would end the season without throwing an interception at home and that he would be 9-0 at home during the season. He finished the game going 9-for-9 in the fourth quarter, the most attempts without an incompletion in the fourth quarter of a playoff game in 25 years. Murray was the leading rusher with 123 yards and a touchdown on 25 carries, while Lacy had 101 yards on 19 attempts. Adams and Cobb both had over 100 yards receiving for Green Bay, with Adams catching 7 passes for 117 yards and a touchdown and Cobb having 8 receptions for 116 yards.

• published: 20 Aug 2015
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