There was a time when the Dallas Cowboys dominated the Green Bay Packers. There was also a time, before that, when the Green Bay Packers dominated the Dallas Cowboys. And, since 2010, the Green Bay Packers have again dominated Jerry Jones’ team with victories in nine of the last ten meetings including eliminating Dallas in the playoffs three times.
Yes, the Packers and Cowboys have a rich history which was forged on a day when temperatures were so cold you could turn a popsicle into an all-day sucker. It was New Year’s Eve in 1967 when the expression “Frozen Tundra” was used to describe the conditions at Lambeau Field.
The two teams battle to the end, Dallas holding a 17-14 lead and the Packers still looking for their initial second half points while driving within inches of the goal line. On third down with time running out conventional wisdom suggested throwing a pass so if it was not successful there would be time to attempt a field goal to tie the game. If a run failed, the game clock would tick off, and the Cowboys would win.
Green Bay Quarterback Bart Starr came to the sideline to confer with his legendary head coach, Vince Lombardi.
“Coach,” Starr said, “The linemen can get their footing for the wedge, but the backs are slipping. I’m right there, I can just shuffle my feet and lunge in.” Lombardi then responded to his quarterback, “Run it, and let’s get the hell out of here.”
He did, the Packers did, and the underdog Cowboys were sent packing with a bitter 21-17 Championship Game loss.
And a rivalry for the ages began.
After the Packers early domination of Tom Landry and his Cowboys, Dallas turned the table on Green Bay beginning in 1978. For twenty years these two teams met 19 times, and the Cowboys won 15 of those games including knocking the Packers out of the playoffs four times. Since 2010, the Packers have turned the tables on the Cowboys while pinning them with losses nine times in ten games and knocking the Cowboys out of the playoffs three times. That includes a game two years ago when the confident Cowboys got blown out by Love and company on their home field, 48-32.
Yes, this is a fierce rivalry, but unlike so many that have teams trade wins in highly competitive games, these two squads take turns beating down the other like a big brother pounces on a little one.
Will the Packers domination continue tonight when these two teams square off in Dallas for the first time since the two powerhouses met in that lopsided playoff loss in the 2023 season?
Give me a reason why it won’t.
Looking, still looking, can’t find anything from a physical perspective for backing Dallas here. That leaves Dallas’ hopes pinned to their pride surfacing in response to that beat-down they suffered the last time these two teams squared off.
Don’t see it.
The Cowboys got a tough break last week when the Packers allowed a 10-0 fourth quarter lead slip to a 13-10 loss to the Cleveland Browns. Had Green Bay come to Dallas riding a three-game winning streak and alone in first place in the NFC North Division maybe a letdown could have been in the cards.
Now, just losing, like the Packers did last week in Cleveland, is not enough to inspire a big effort in a succeeding game. To get the full motivational value from a loss, an NFL team needs to be challenged by their next opponent.
Are the Packers challenged by the Cowboys, or do they see them as one of the weaker teams in the league with a defense that invites opponents' points? The problem for the Cowboys is that the Packers don’t see a weakling in Dallas today, they see the Cowboys who have been good for way too long to take lightly here.
What does it add up to?
Dallas fans will be filing out of AT&T Stadium before the Packers complete their romp.
Qoxhi Picks: Green Bay Packers (-6½) over Dallas Cowboys