Packers finally beat the Cowboys in a defensive battle

Since 1993, the Dallas Cowboys have dominated the Green Bay Packers in the regular season and in the playoffs. In that span, the Cowboys were 7-0 against the Packers including three playoff victories to end the Packers’ season.

Last year, the Packers won the Super Bowl; however, they did not go through the Cowboys to do it. The Cowboys lost in the Divisional round of the playoffs to the Carolina Panthers. Many Packer fans wanted that 1996 NFC Championship game victory over the Cowboys but didn’t get it. Many Packer detractors believe that the Packers’ Super Bowl victory last year was tainted because they didn’t beat the Cowboys to do it.

With that being said, the Packers circled this Sunday on the calendar as the Packers took on the Cowboys. In all those losses mentioned before, the Cowboys won at home in Texas Stadium. Now the Packers had the ‘Boys at Lambeau and revenge was on their minds.

Unlike the past seven games which featured high-scoring offenses, this game came down to the two defenses and the Packer defense was just a little better.

With 2 and half minutes on the clock and the Cowboys’ leading 10-9, QB Troy Aikman was driving the Cowboys down in Packer territory to seal the game. The Cowboys were forced into a third down situation at the Packer 28-yard line and that’s when Packers’ defensive coordinator Fritz Shermur called a blitz, and it paid off. Cornerback Doug Evans blitzed off Michael Irvin and came scot-free. Evans drilled Aikman causing Aikman to fumble the football. There was a wild scramble for the ball, and Reggie White came up with it at the Packers’ 42-yard line!

On the Packers’ first offensive play of the series, QB Brett Favre rifled a short pass to Robert Brooks, who broke free in the Cowboys’ secondary and raced 45 yards down to the Cowboys’ 13-yard line. A 12-yard run from RB Dorsey Levens put the ball at the ‘Boys 1-yard line, but that’s when the defense stiffened. A few negative plays forced the Packers to try a 22-yard field goal by Ryan Longwell, who kicked three field goals early in the game. With anxious fans in the stands, Longwell booted his fourth of the day to give the Packers a 12-10 lead with 1:15 to play.

Aikman had a few shots to put the Cowboys into field goal range, but on a third down play he was intercepted by linebacker Brian Williams to end the Cowboys’ opportunity to win the game. The Packers ran out the clock to secure the 12-10 victory.

The Packers got the vindication they were looking for and are now 11-1 on the season. They will be on the road the next three weeks as they start the road trip at Minnesota on Monday Night next week. The Cowboys are now 5-7 and are on the outside looking in at the playoff picture. They will host the Oilers on Thanksgiving Day.

1997 Game 168 Stats