Packers beat Cowboys 23-13 as first-half defense drives third straight win
Green Bay held Dallas scoreless before halftime and intercepted Dak Prescott twice, moving to 4-2 while the Cowboys fell to 2-4.
The Green Bay Packers beat the Dallas Cowboys 23-13 at Lambeau Field on Sunday, October 18, after holding Dallas scoreless in the first half. The victory was Green Bay’s third straight and moved it to 4-2; Dallas fell to 2-4, according to FOX Sports and Packers Wire.
Green Bay scored 17 points before halftime and intercepted Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott twice in that span, FOX Sports reported. Safety Evan Williams made one of the interceptions. Prescott finished 34 of 54 for 258 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions.
Dallas struggles to run against Green Bay
Dallas gained 48 yards on 15 carries, an average of 3.2 yards per attempt, FOX Sports reported. It was the fifth time in six games that the Cowboys had rushed for 75 yards or fewer. The limited ground attack left Dallas with little relief for Prescott as Green Bay’s defensive backs covered receivers CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens, a matchup Packers Wire highlighted in its account of the win.
The defensive performance came despite significant absences. FOX Sports reported that linebacker Edgerrin Cooper and defensive tackle Javon Hargrave had suffered season-ending Achilles injuries in successive weeks. Edge rusher Micah Parsons remained on the physically unable to perform list with an ACL injury. Before the Dallas game, Green Bay ranked third in the NFL in yards allowed per play and success rate allowed on first and second downs, at 4.3 yards and 38.2%, respectively, according to Next Gen Stats figures cited by FOX Sports.
Packers sustain drives despite missed chances
Green Bay converted 11 of 18 third downs, including its first seven, FOX Sports reported. Quarterback Jordan Love directed the offense while coach Matt LaFleur’s play-calling kept drives moving, in Packers Wire’s assessment. The Packers had only 57 rushing yards, however, a limitation FOX Sports identified in an otherwise productive offensive outing.
Receivers also missed chances to add to the score. Both outlets reported that Matthew Golden dropped two potential touchdown passes. Christian Watson dropped a pass in the end zone, according to FOX Sports. Packers Wire reported that Green Bay scored on one of the drives that included a Golden drop and that kicker Trey Smack made every kick after a difficult outing the previous week.
The teams’ next scheduled games are divisional road trips: Dallas is due to visit Philadelphia on Monday, October 26, and Green Bay is due to visit Detroit on Sunday, October 25, FOX Sports reported.
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Sources and context
- 5 takeaways from Packers' 23-13 win vs Cowboys: Defense makes a statementPackers Wire (republished by Yahoo Sports)
- Stay Hot, Wisconsin: 3 Takeaways As Packers Continue Win Streak In Victory vs. CowboysFOX Sports
AI-assisted article checked against the listed sources. NewsJaws did not conduct interviews or attend the reported events.