Leaping ahead early and making the second-seeded Dallas Cowboys play from behind was one of the essential components of the seventh-seeded Green Bay Packers’ commanding 48-32 victory against them.
In order to start the game with quarterback Jordan Love and the offense running the show, Packers coach Matt LaFleur gave his captains instructions to ask to receive the opening kickoff. LaFleur’s optimism was rewarded by the Packers offense with a 12-play, 75-yard scoring drive that was highlighted by Aaron Jones, the running back, scoring his first of three rushing touchdowns, this one from 3 yards out. Following that, Jones tied the record for the most road rushing touchdowns in an NFL playoff game as well as the record for the most rushing touchdowns in a wild-card round game.
“That’s the mindset,” Love, who finished 16 of 21 passes for 272 yards and three touchdowns and had a 157.2 passer rating—just 1.1 points short of a perfect 158.3 rating—said. “As I said before, our goal is to get the offense going quickly, score points, and establish a strong оffensive foundation. We have been doing it for the whole season. We attempt to maintain the momentum as it has been beneficial for us. I believe that everything begins with the way we play the game: quickly get going, score points, and apply pressure on them again.”
The Cowboys’ second drive started at their own eight after the Packers punted following their second possession of the game. Green Bay regained possession of the ball in the red zone three plays later. Pro Bowl cornerback Jaire Alexander intercepted a diving pass intended for wide receiver Brandin Cooks from Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott, despite Alexander being a game-time decision due to an ankle ailment.
“It was very light. About his interception of Prescott in the playoffs, Alexander said, “There was no better feeling.” Dak is now one of the only quarterbacks in my career to have thrown me several interceptions. He’s thus one of my favorite quarterbacks.”
After three plays, Dallas went into pаnic mode as Jones scored his second of three running touchdowns in the end zone, putting the Packers up 14-0.
Alexander said, “Ah man, we needed that, we needed that spark.” “We had to get the audience to calm down. And, you know when we have interceptions it’s always wonderful, particularly the [64-yard] pick-six [by safety Darnell Sаvаge], so yep, we needed that.”
Alexander’s ranking of the “top QBs” includes four quarterbacks who he has intercepted several times. Joining Prescott are quarterbacks Justin Fields of the Chicago Bears, Josh Allen of the Buffalo Bills, and former Hall of Famer Tom Brady. Dak was added to Alexander’s list, and Green Bay scored three more touchdowns in a row to go up 27-0 just before the half, effectively ending the game. That sort of triumph communicated to the rest of the NFL world that, in the words of Alexander, “Pack is back!”
“How do I feel about it?” Alexander stated when questioned about the impressive playoff triumph. “Anybody who doubted us … I feel like they see that we are legit.”