Packers-Cowboys through the years: Micah Parsons’ return, Dez Bryant’s catch, Ice Bowl

The historical past between the Green Bay Packers and Dallas Cowboys runs deep, beginning with one of many NFL’s most iconic video games, coined the Ice Bowl.

From Corridor of Fame coaches (Vince Lombardi, Tom Landry, Jimmy Johnson) to Corridor of Fame gamers (Bart Starr, Jerry Kramer, Paul Hornung, Forrest Gregg, Reggie White, Brett Favre, Charles Woodson, Bob Lilly, Mel Renfro, Bob Hayes, Troy Aikman, Michael Irvin, Emmitt Smith) — and certain future Corridor of Famers (Aaron Rodgers, Zack Martin, Jason Witten) — their greatest conferences are loaded with star energy.

Who is aware of the place Micah Parsons‘ return to AT&T Stadium for the primary time because the blockbuster August trade will rank, nevertheless it definitely provides one other chapter to one of many NFL’s most storied rivalries. NFL Nation reporters Rob Demovsky and Todd Archer look again on the high moments between the Packers and Cowboys.

Ice Bowl: Starr’s sneak beats Cowboys

A 12 months after the Packers beat the Cowboys within the 1966 NFL Championship Recreation to play in Tremendous Bowl I, the groups met once more at a frozen Lambeau Area. Temperatures at kickoff have been 13 under zero and the wind chill was minus 45, bringing concerning the sport’s nickname, The Ice Bowl.

On the primary play of the fourth quarter, Dan Reeves accomplished a 50-yard halfback possibility cross to Lance Rentzel for a landing that gave Dallas a 17-14 lead. However Starr had the Packers on the Cowboys’ 1-yard line with 16 seconds left and satisfied Lombardi to attempt a quarterback sneak, regardless of not having timeouts and a frozen enjoying floor. Starr crossed the objective line for the successful rating, and the Packers had the victory.

At kickoff, the temperature was -13 levels Fahrenheit.

Bart Starr handed for 2 touchdowns and scored the game-winning dashing TD within the coldest sport in NFL Historical past: The Ice Bowl. (1967 NFL Championship)

(by way of @NFLThrowback) pic.twitter.com/c5xtr1uQ04

— NFL (@NFL) May 26, 2019

Rivalry renewed: “Triplets” raise Cowboys previous Packers in ’95 NFC title sport

Whereas the Cowboys received two Tremendous Bowls and performed for 3 extra within the Seventies, the Packers largely struggled, reaching the playoffs solely twice from 1969 to 1992.

The Cowboys constructed what would grow to be the crew of the Nineties with Johnson and the “Triplets” — Irvin, Aikman and Smith. In 1994, the groups met within the divisional spherical of the playoffs at Texas Stadium because the Cowboys chased a 3rd straight Tremendous Bowl. Aikman threw for 337 yards, together with a 94-yard landing cross to Alvin Harper, in a convincing divisional spherical win. Their quest for a Lombardi Trophy ended the next week in opposition to the San Francisco 49ers, however 364 days later, Dallas beat the Packers within the 1995 NFC Championship Recreation 38-27, led by Smith’s 150 dashing yards and three touchdowns.

The Cowboys haven’t performed in a convention championship sport since.

2007 in Dallas: Aaron Rodgers‘ breakout begins

Earlier than Nov. 29, 2007, Rodgers had thrown 33 passes with one landing and one interception in his first three years as Brett Favre’s backup — however the course of his profession modified one evening in Dallas.

Favre left the sport within the first half after successful by Cowboys cornerback Nate Jones. Rodgers threw for 201 yards and a landing on 18-of-26 passing. The Cowboys received and secured home-field benefit, nevertheless it was spoiled within the divisional spherical by the New York Giants.

By the following season, Favre was with the New York Jets and Rodgers was starting his Corridor of Fame profession in Inexperienced Bay.

“The Catch” that wasn’t: Dez Bryant’s overturned sideline snag

Late within the 2014 NFC divisional sport at Lambeau Area, Dez Bryant hauled in a deep fourth-down cross from Tony Romo down the left sideline to place the Cowboys on the Packers’ 1-yard line whereas trailing 26-21. The catch arrange what would have been a go-ahead landing with lower than 5 minutes left in regulation. Besides after additional assessment, referee Gene Steratore dominated it incomplete.

The Cowboys by no means bought the ball again, and the Packers superior to the NFC Championship Recreation. The decision has been debated for years, and a number of other years later, members of the NFL’s competitors committee stated they imagine it ought to have been a catch.

By a unanimous 32-0 vote amongst NFL house owners, the league has a revised catch rule.

Below the brand new standards, Dez Bryant’s notorious incompletion in opposition to the Packers would have been a catch.

MORE ➡️ https://t.co/4hVZ7FGVxX pic.twitter.com/R7IKhyLT0E

— Dallas Cowboys (@dallascowboys) March 27, 2018

“The Catch” that was: Prepare dinner’s toe-tap units up Crosby’s winner

Two years after the Bryant no-catch sport, the groups met once more within the divisional spherical of the 2016 playoffs.

This time, Packers tight finish Jared Cook caught a 36-yard cross from Rodgers on third-and-20 with three seconds remaining in regulation. After a prolonged assessment, the decision of a catch was upheld. On the following play, Mason Crosby kicked a 51-yard area objective that despatched the Packers to the NFC Championship Recreation for the second time in three years.

Welcome again, Mike: McCarthy’s return to Lambeau

In Mike McCarthy’s first two seasons because the Cowboys coach, Dallas did not face Inexperienced Bay. So, the 2022 assembly was his first journey again to Lambeau Area because the Packers fired him in 2018.

The Cowboys led 28-14 coming into the fourth quarter however misplaced 31-28 in time beyond regulation. Within the days main as much as the sport, McCarthy overtly embraced the homecoming — one thing he admitted later that he felt was a mistake, saying, “I believed it was necessary for me to speak about Inexperienced Bay firstly of the week with the crew. I regretted it. That does not even want to return into our vitality base, however you reside and study.”

Mike McCarthy again at Lambeau. 🙌

📺: #DALvsGB on FOX
📱: Stream on NFL+ https://t.co/rSmBWilFeT pic.twitter.com/V1N2O7ekea

— NFL (@NFL) November 13, 2022

Playoffs once more: Cowboys crumble in wild-card upset

When the 2 groups met within the wild-card spherical of the 2023 playoffs, the Cowboys have been 12-5, unbeaten at dwelling and heavy favorites. In the meantime, the Packers snuck into the playoffs at 9-8 with Jordan Love in his first 12 months because the beginning quarterback. None of that mattered. Dak Prescott threw two interceptions, together with a pick-six that helped construct a 27-0 Inexperienced Bay lead, incomes Love his first playoff win.