Tied at 31 with 35 seconds left in the game and two timeouts, Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers thought the Dallas Cowboys left too much time on the clock. He made them pay in a big way.
On a throw only Rodgers can make, he rolled out to the left and threw a dart down the sideline to tight end Jared Cook. Cook managed to drag both feet for a 36-yard completion to the Cowboys 32 yard line. The pass set up kicker Mason Crosby for a 51-yard field game winning field goal to give the Packers a 34-31 win.
“Proud of our guys. We stuck together and believed in each other like we have on this entire run,” said Rodgers after the win.
What makes the pass to Cook more impressive is it was not an actual play call, according to wide receiver Randall Cobb. Cobb told The MMQB’s Robert Klemko that Rodgers told each receiver what to do, as if he were a kid drawing a play design in the dirt. It was a huge play, but maybe the biggest play came in a 10-yard loss.
Two plays before the miracle pass to Cook, Cowboys safety Jeff Heath blitzed and sacked Rodgers from his blindside. Somehow Rodgers managed to hold on to the football with one hand and had the awareness to call a timeout with 18 seconds left. The offense was able to recollect themselves and pull out the win.
Rodgers finished with 356 yards passing, two touchdowns and one interception. This gives the Packers their eighth straight win since the regular season and will look to continue their winning ways as they face the Atlanta Falcons in the NFC Championship game next Sunday.
The Packers will need to get healthy on defense if they want to contain the Falcons and their number one scoring offense. While the Packers secondary is already depleted with cornerback Quinten Rollins still in concussion protocol for the second week, safety Morgan Burnett suffered a thigh injury on the opening drive after he collided with cornerback LaDarius Gunter on a pass breakup. Burnett returned for the second series, but was not able to finish the game.
Cowboys’ wide receiver Dez Bryant took advantage of the undermined Packers secondary. He posted career playoff highs with 132 yards receiving to go along with nine catches and his first two postseason touchdowns. It will be tough to contain Falcons wide receiver Julio Jones with a secondary not at full strength.
The Packers survived, but they will need to sure up some things if they want to move on to the Super Bowl. It starts with getting healthy on both sides of the ball. They allowed the Cowboys to comeback after leading 21-3. Regardless, the Packers won and that is always something a team can enjoy.
“We’re going to enjoy this one and then get on Atlanta tomorrow. This one is special – more special than we’ve had in awhile,” said Rodgers.
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