The Good, Bad And Ugly From The Green Bay Packers’ Win Over The Dallas Cowboys

Mike McCarthy threw his headset in disgust.

Aaron Rodgers jumped as high as a 38-year-old can, pumped his fist and flexed.

McCarthy’s return to Green Bay had been spoiled. The Packers’ losing streak was over.

Kicker Mason Crosby drilled a 28-yard field goal with 3:09 left in overtime Sunday, lifting the Packers to an improbable 31-28 win.

Green Bay improved to 4-6, ended its first five-game losing streak since 2008 and saved its season for the time being. Dallas, which let a 14-point second half lead slip away, fell to 6-3.

Here’s the good, bad and ugly from Green Bay’s win over the Dallas.

THE GOOD

CHRISTIAN WATSON: The Packers’ rookie second round pick has been a major disappointment most of his first season, struggling with injuries and drops.

Watson missed much of training camp after undergoing knee surgery. He’s missed three games with a hamstring injury — and was knocked out of the last two games with a concussion and a chest injury. And he entered Sunday’s game with just 10 catches.

But Watson had his coming out party Sunday, scoring the first three touchdowns of his career and giving the Packers’ passing game life for the first time in 2022.

Watson beat single coverage and hauled in a 58-yard TD pass from Aaron Rodgers with 4:54 left in the second quarter that tied the game, 7-7. Early in the fourth quarter, Watson got loose and hauled in a 39-yard TD from Rodgers that pulled the Packers within 28-21.

And Watson ran a crossing route with 2 ½ minutes left and nabbed a 9-yard TD from Rodgers that tied the game, 28-28.

Watson had a couple of early drops that proved costly. But he more than redeemed himself with three touchdowns that kept Green Bay in the game.

After being invisible for months, Watson showed why Green Bay traded up into the second round and used the 34^th overall pick in April’s draft on the wideout from North Dakota State.

RUDY FORD: Ford entered the day having played just 12.48% of the defensive snaps this season. But with cornerback Eric Stokes on injured reserve, Ford moved into the starting lineup and shined.

The Packers moved slot man Rasul Douglas to cornerback, safety Darnell Savage into the slot and Ford to safety. Ford proceeded to have the biggest game of his career with a pair of interceptions that led to 14 points.

With Dallas leading, 7-0, midway through the second quarter and facing a third-and-goal from Green Bay’s 11, Ford intercepted Dallas quarterback Dak Prescott and returned it 34 yards.

The Cowboys were in scoring range at the time and about to take a two-score lead. But Ford’s huge play changed that — and momentum of the game.

Just three plays later, Aaron Rodgers hit Christian Watson for a 58-yard touchdown that tied the game, 7-7.

Then with 2:30 left in the half, Ford intercepted Prescott a second time and returned it 34 yards to the Cowboys 24. Three plays later, Aaron Jones had a 12-yard touchdown run to give Green Bay a 14-7 lead.

PAYING THEIR RESPECTS: The Packers paid their respects to Mike McCarthy before the game, putting a picture of their former head coach on the JumboTron next to the heading, ‘Welcome Back.’

McCarthy led the Packers to a Super Bowl championship in the 2010 season. And McCarthy, who coached in Green Bay from 2006-18, was the second-longest tenured coach in team history behind only Earl “Curly” Lambeau (1921-’49).

But McCarthy wasn’t the only former Packer coach or player now working in Dallas that was recognized before the game.

The others included offensive line coach Joe Philbin, coaching assistant Scott Tolzien, defensive backs coach Al Harris, assistant special teams coach Rayna Stewart, assistant head coach Rob Davis, linebackers coach Scott McCurley, defensive passing game coordinator Joe Whitt Jr., assistant offensive line coach Jeff Blasko and quality control coach Ryan Feder.

THIS AND THAT: Green Bay ran for 207 yards on 39 carries — an impressive 5.3 yards per attempt. The Packers set the tone early with 13 rushes for 65 yards in the first quarter (5.0) and pounded away throughout the day. … Isaiah McDuffie, filling in for the injured De’Vondre Campbell, had a team-high 13 tackles. … Aaron Rodgers had his best game of the season, completing 14-of-20 passes for 224 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions. Rodgers also finished with a 146.7 passer rating. … Allen Lazard had a 36-yard catch in overtime that set up Crosby’s game-winning kick.

THE BAD

COVER THAT MAN: Green Bay had no answers for Dallas wideout CeeDee Lamb.

Lamb finished with 11 receptions for 150 yards and a pair of touchdowns. That marked the first time this season Lamb hit the 100-yard mark in a game.

Lamb had a three-yard TD reception in the second quarter that gave Dallas a 7-0 lead. Then late in the third quarter, Lamb whipped cornerback Jaire Alexander for a 35-yard TD that put the Cowboys ahead, 28-14.

Lamb is one of the more dangerous wideouts in the league. But the Cowboys aren’t particularly gifted after that, and the Packers should have made slowing Lamb their top priority.

TURNOVER WOES: Green Bay had just 13 turnovers the entire 2021 season. They already have 15 in 2022.

Midway through the second quarter Rodgers was sacked by DeMarcus Lawrence and Jayron Kearse recovered. That was the third time Rodgers fumbled this season and the Packers have lost all three.

Then in the third quarter, return man Amari Rodgers fumbled and lost a punt (more on that below).

The 2022 Packers have little room for error, and the turnovers have proven extremely costly.

THIS AND THAT: Safety Johnathan Abram, a player Green Bay signed this week, was called for holding on a second quarter kickoff. That penalty forced the Packers to start a drive at its own 10-yard line. … Dallas running back Tony Pollard had 115 rushing yards, as Green Bay’s struggles against the run continued.

THE UGLY

AMARI RODGERS: Green Bay’s second-year wide receiver has been one of the Packers’ most disappointing third round draft picks in recent memory. Rodgers has just eight career catches and lost his job as Green Bay’s kick returner earlier this year. But the Packers have continued to trot Rodgers out on punt returns, even though he entered the game averaging just 7.0 yards per return and has struggled mightily with ball security.Green Bay’s loyalty to Rodgers proved costly — again — on Sunday.

Midway through the third quarter, Rodgers fumbled a punt for the fifth time this season and Dallas’ Sean McKeon recovered at the Packers’ 45. Four plays later, Tony Pollard shot up the middle for a 13-yard touchdown run that gave Dallas a 21-14 lead.

Keisean Nixon replaced Rodgers on punt returns for the rest of the game. By then, though, the damage was done.