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Hunter Felt

NFL playoffs divisional round: Green Bay Packers 34-31 Dallas Cowboys – as it happened

Green Bay held their nerve to win a thrilling contest again Dallas
Green Bay held their nerve to win a thrilling contest again Dallas. Photograph: Joe Robbins/Getty Images

You can read a full report from the game here:

Final thoughts

Michael P:

Did I call this game or what.

You guessed “32-31 Green Bay” and that’s close enough for me. I think the main takeaway from this game is this: there’s always enough time on the clock for Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers. I don’t think we’ve seen this before.

And there’s a whole another game after this, the Steelers and Chiefs are due to be facing each other shortly. I’ll be enjoying that, but as a mere viewer rather than a commentator. Thanks for following along with this liveblog, especially those who contributed, and continue to follow us here at the Guardian throughout the NFL playoffs. Ciao!

Packers win!

The Green Bay Packers are going to play the Atlanta Falcons with a Super Bowl berth on the line! What an incredible game, what a crazy ending, holy heck!

Field goal (Packers) Packers 34-31 Cowboys

Packers 34-31 Cowboys, FINAL

Mason Crosby comes in for the 51 yard field goal attempt. His first attempt is good, but the Cowboys call a timeout to attempt to ice him.

So Crosby kicks again and… IT’S GOOD! IT”S GOOD! THE PACKERS WIN!

Updated

Packers 31-31 Cowboys, :18, 4th quarter

This is at the Dallas 32 and it looks like a catch to me.

And it stands!

Packers 31-31 Cowboys, :18, 4th quarter

Now here’s the thing: did the Cowboys leave too much time on the clock for Aaron Rodgers? That sounds like a joke but… it isn’t.

Packers start at their own 25. Rodgers throws incomplete to Cook. 2nd & 10, 30 seconds left, Rodgers connects with Montgomery for 17 yards. On 1st & 10, Rodgers takes a 10 yard loss courtesy of Heath. Packers take a timeout. 18 seconds left, Rodgers throws incomplete.

3rd & 30, Rodgers throws to Cook and did he manage to make the catch? The two officials don’t agree. We’re going under review.

Field goal (Cowboys) Packers 31-31 Cowboys

Packers 31-31 Cowboys, :35, 4th quarter

Prescott throws to Beasley, who picks up 7 yards. On 3rd & 3, he throws incomplete to Dez Bryant. It’s a 52 yard field goal attempt for Dan Bailey, who drills it to tie up the game!

Packers 31-28 Cowboys, 1:07, 4th quarter

Prescott throws to Witten who gets to the Green Bay 40. Prescott spikes the ball to stop the clock.

Packers 31-28 Cowboys, 1:33, 4th quarter

Crosby’s kickoff goes in the end zone. The Cowboys will start on their own 25. Prescott throws to Williams for a 24 yard gain! The Cowboys are already at their 49 yard line!

Field goal (Packers) Packers 31-28 Cowboys

Packers 31-28 Cowboys, 1:33, 4th quarter

Rodgers’s pass on 3rd & 13 is incomplete. The Packers bring out the field goal unit, it’s a 56 yard attempt.

And Crosby’s kick is… JUST BARELY GOOD! The Packers take the lead!

Updated

Packers 28-28 Cowboys, 1:44, 4th quarter

Very next play, Montgomery gets hit by DeMarcus Lawrence for a 5 yard loss! That might have taken the Packers out of field goal range! The Cowboys take another timeout.

Packers 28-28 Cowboys, 1:48, 4th quarter

Rodgers throws the ball… AND IT’S INTERCEPTED BY JEFF HEATH AGAIN!

But there’s a flag on the play: defensive pass interference against the Cowboys on, Church! Wow. That negates the interception and the play will start at the Cowboys 35. Automatic first down. Montgomery takes the ball two yards and the Cowboys take a timeout.

Packers 28-28 Cowboys, 2:00, 4th quarter

Oh hey, It actually has an answer. We all learn something today:

Packers 28-28 Cowboys, 2:00, 4th quarter

The Packers take a timeout here. It’s going to be 2nd & 1. Rodgers decides to take the ball himself and he scrambles to the Dallas 45. That’s a gain for 5 yards and a first down. And we are at the two minute warning!

Packers 28-28 Cowboys, 3:20, 4th quarter

Adams is on the sidelines, his return is questionable. Doctors are looking at his left ankle.

It’s 1st & 10 at the Green Bay 41, Rodgers hands off to Montgomery who takes it to midfield.

Packers 28-28 Cowboys, 4:04, 4th quarter

Rodgers throws to Adams, he picks up 16 yards on the play, getting to the ball to the Green Bay 41 but it looks like he’s hurt on the play.

Packers 28-28 Cowboys, 4:08, 4th quarter

Also: there really isn’t that much feet involved with this game. Not a lot of the terminology makes sense, I’ll admit.

Packers start at their own 25. Rodgers’s 1st down pass is incomplete.

Packers 28-28 Cowboys, 4:08, 4th quarter

Now. Can the Cowboys stop Aaron Rodgers and the Packers? Bailey’s kickoff goes into the end zone for a touchback. Okay let’s take a breath here everyone.

So. This might be a decent game, I think.

Touchdown & 2 Point Conversion! (Cowboys) Packers 28-28 Cowboys

Packers 28-28 Cowboys, 4:08, 4th quarter

1st and 10 at the Green Bay 15. Elliott gets the ball again and he takes it the 7. They’re almost at the door.

And on 2nd & 2, Prescott throws incomplete. 3rd & 2, still at the 7. Prescott throws a pass to Dez Bryant in the end zone and it’s a TOUCHDOWN!

And here’s the key part: The two point conversion. Prescott takes the ball in himself and he makes it into the end zone! WE HAVE A TIED GAME!

Packers 28-20 Cowboys, 5:05, 4th quarter

2nd & 10, Elliott only picks up 2 yards. 3rd & 8, the Cowboys really really really can’t settle for a field goal here considering the circumstances.

And they get a break, a defensive pass interference call results in an automatic first down!

Packers 28-20 Cowboys, 5:48, 4th quarter

Elliott picks up 12 yards this time, he’s at the 115 yard mark and he’s almost certainly not done.

Cowboys in shotgun, Prescott throws to Witten and all of a sudden the Cowboys are at the Green Bay 29.

Prescott throws deep here, taking a chance to find the end zone but it’s incomplete.

Packers 28-20 Cowboys, 7:34, 4th quarter

Elliott picks up 4 yards. On 2nd and 6, Prescott finds Bryant for a 15 yard gain to the Dallas 39. In some way or another, you figure Dez is going to factor into this ending.

On 1st and 10, Prescott throws to Bryant again, he gets pushed out after about 2 yards. Elliott gets the ball next and he gets to their 49 yards and that looks like it’ll be a first down.

Happy I can help. The Cowboys will start here at their 20.

Packers 28-20 Cowboys, 9:22, 4th quarter

Pakers at their own 39. Rodgers throws incomplete. On 2nd and 10, Montgomery picks up 5 yards but Barry Church takes Rodgers down for a 10 yard loss and the Packers have to punt!

Okay now this is getting REAL interesting.

Packers 28-20 Cowboys, 10:51, 4th quarter

Michael takes the kickoff to the Green Bay 20, where they’ll start their drive. Rodgers throws to Cook for a 19 yard gain. Well, that’s one way to start a counterpunch.

Touchdown (Cowboys) Packers 28-20 Cowboys

Packers 28-20 Cowboys, 11:39, 4th quarter

Prescott gets sacked at the Green Bay 21 but it doesn’t stop his drive. He throws to Witten for a 15 yard gain and, in the very next play,he throws to Witten for a touchdown!

Two point conversion time? Nope, they play it conservative, Bailey kicks the extra point.

Packers 28-13 Cowboys, end of the 3rd quarter

Rodgers’ interception is so earth-shattering that it crashed my browser. In the meantime the Cowboys make it to the Green Bay 36 to start the 4th.

Updated

Aaron Rodgers interception!

Packers 28-13 Cowboys, 2:31, 3rd quarter

The Packers get all the way to the Dallas 38 and THERE IT IS, there’s Aaron Rodgers’s first interception! Jeff Heath intercepts a ball intended for Adams and takes it to the Dallas 41!

Updated

Packers 28-13 Cowboys, 5:19, 3rd quarter

Rodgers keeps feeding the ball to Montgomery who keeps getting the job done, piecing together a drive that gets the Packers to midfield.

Interception!

Packers 28-13 Cowboys, 7:19, 3rd quarter

It’s 1st and 10 at the Green Bay 28. Elliott picks up 9 yards, the Packers’ offense can’t seem to stop him.

2nd and 1 and Prescott finally throws that interception that he’s been lucky to avoid to this point. Micah Hyde picks it off and takes it 18 yards to the Green Bay 39.


Packers 28-13 Cowboys, 8:43, 3rd quarter

Elliott goes off for a 22 yard burst that gets the crowd something to cheer for here. On 1st & 10, Elliott manages to eke out 4 yards.

But there’s a false start on Dallas. 2nd and 6 becomes 2nd and 11. A Prescott pass to Witten mangoes to just get them the first down.

Oh lord, Prescott throws an incomplete pass that was nearly intercepted. Next down, the Cowboys stick to running. Elliott picks up 5 yards on 2nd and 10 and then goes off ford 8 yards to the Green Bay 28. Their drive remains alive.

Packers 28-13 Cowboys, 11:25, 3rd quarter

Well, their chances just took a significant hit, I’d say. They get the ball for the first time in the second half, starting at their own 25 here.

Touchdown (Packers) Packers 28-13 Cowboys

Packers 28-13 Cowboys, 11:25, 3rd quarter

Well this is deflating for the Cowboys. Rodgers throws a beautiful pass to Cook for 26 yards that puts the Packers at the Cowboys 3.

And he puts the Cowboys defense out of its misery by finding a wide open Cook in the end zone for a touchdown about 40 seconds later. Touchdown Green Bay! Crosby’s extra point is good. Utter calamity for Dallas.

Packers 21-13 Cowboys, 13:02, 3rd quarter

The Packers start at their own 25. Rodgers throws deep to Cobb for 25 yards, and just like that he’s at midfield.

Mongomery picks up 3 yards, Rodgers finds Adams for 4 yards. It’s another 3rd down situation for the Cowboys defense.

And Rodgers completes a throw to Adams for a 14 year old gain and the Packers are already at the Dallas 29.

2nd half starts

Well, we’ll see if they can. First they have to stop the Packers, who get the ball to start the second half.

Email from Paul S.:

Who was at fault on the Seattle safety—the quarterback, of the lineman? Seems to me that Wilson was very close under center, and that it would be natural for the lineman to take one step back and plant – collision course! Aren’t there exact foot placements, movements, etc. that folks are taught, to prevent this stuff from happening? (I’d prefer to blame the veteran, not the rookie.)

Okay I’m gonna be honest here: I don’t remember a single thing that happened during that Seahawks game. My brain has completely blanked it out. But I always blame the quarterback for everything because it’s funnier when the quarterback screws up.

I 100% agree with this sentiment.

Halftime thoughts

Well it briefly looked like it was going to be a blowout but it’s starting to look like this could be the entertaining, high-octane offensive battle we thought it could be. Credit to the Dallas defense, which has started to figure things out at the end of the half after having absolutely no answers for Rodgers for the first quarter and a half.

Updated

Halftime! Packers 21-13 Cowboys

Packers 21-13 Cowboys, end of the first half

And Orlando Scandrick takes down Rodgers, it’s a loss of 9 yards. The best defensive sequence for the Cowboys so far in the game and definitely something good they can take into the locker room heading into halftime.

Updated

Packers 21-13 Cowboys, :55, 2nd quarter

1:03 is way too much time to leave on the clock for Rodgers. Bailey’s touchback will put the Packers at their own 25. Rodgers’s first two throws are incomplete, however.

Field Goal (Cowboys) Packers 21-13 Cowboys

Packers 21-13 Cowboys, 1:03, 2nd quarter

And Prescott’s 3rd and 10 throw to Witten is incomplete, partially tipped. Not sure about the play calling in that sequence. In any case, Dan Bailey is out for a 33 yard field goal attempt that cuts the Packers’ lead down to 8.

Packers 21-10 Cowboys, 1:08, 2nd quarter

Prescott throws incomplete on 1st and 10. On 2nd and 10, Prescott throws incomplete and the Cowboys are looking for a flag for pass interference that apparently isn’t to come.

It’s 3rd and 10 and the Cowboys have to desperately call their final timeout to avoid a delay of game penalty.

Packers 21-10 Cowboys, 1:59, 2nd quarter

It’s 3rd and 4 and Prescott finds Beasley for 18 yards before he’s absolutely nailed by Kentrell Brice. Yikes.

But he’s okay and, more importantly, the Cowboys are at the Green Bay 15 with a fresh set of downs.

Packers 21-10 Cowboys, 2:00, 2nd quarter

On 1st and 10, Elliott gets nowhere. 2nd and 10, Prescott passes to Beasley for a 6 yard gain and…

And we’re at the two minute warning. So hold that thought. (Gotta love those artificially created cliffhangers.)

Packers 21-10 Cowboys, 3:38, 2nd quarter

After a return from Schum’s short punt, the Cowboys are at their own 49. Prescott and Bryant connect for 5 yards, putting them in Packers territory. Elliott picks up 3 yards. A big 3rd down here and Elliott converts it, making it to the Green Bay 39.

Packers 21-10 Cowboys, 5:10, 2nd quarter

Rodgers’s pass to Adams, who may have been held on the play, is incomplete. In any case, the Cowboys have finally forced the Packers to bring out the punting unit.

Packers 21-10 Cowboys, 5:13, 2nd quarter

Another good break for Dallas. Christine Michael bobbles the ball during the kickoff return and recovers around the 6 yard line. That could have been a safety there.

Ripkowski only gets a measly yard on his first down run. Rodgers throws to Allison, it’s incomplete. It’s 3rd and 9 and the Cowboys are poised to finally stop the Packers.

But they realize they have 12 men on the field and are forced to take their second timeout.

Michael P:

Subject: Romo time

At what point does Mr. Jones’s boy start warmin’ up?

I think Dez Bryant just made that question moot for the moment.

Touchdown (Cowboys) Packers 21-10 Cowboys

Packers 21-10 Cowboys, 6:10, 2nd quarter

Elliott picks up 9 yards. That’s good. Then Prescott throws to Dez Bryant, who DEFINITELY makes this catch, putting them at the Green Bay 40!

And in the very next play, Prescott finds Bryant again, who takes it in for a 40 yard touchdown! WE MAY HAVE A GAME! Bailey’s extra point attempt is good.

Updated

Packers 21-3 Cowboys, 7:37, 2nd quarter

Cowboys will start at their own 25 after a touchback. They really,really, really need to score on this possession. That’s my expert analysis.

Prescott finds Jason Witten, oh hey almost forgot about him, for 5 yards.

This might end up being conservative.

Touchdown (Packers)! Packers 21-3 Cowboys

Packers 21-3 Cowboys, 7:37, 2nd quarter

Rodgers throws to Adams who almost scores right then. He gets the stop at the 1 yard line. Doesn’t matter though, on the next play Montgomery takes it in for his second touchdown of the game. Crosby’s extra point is good.

But the Packers’ offensive lineman David Bakhtiari was injured during the play.

Updated

Packers 14-3 Cowboys, 9:02, 2nd quarter

Packers, still in shotgun, go to work. Rodgers passes deep to Allison who gets to the Dallas 33. Cobb gets the Packers 2 more yards and Ripkowski goes off and gets the Packers all the way to the 11.

Packers 14-3 Cowboys, 10:33, 2nd quarter

On 2nd and 10, Rodgers throws to Cobb who puts up 4 yards. Can the Cowboys finally get a third down stop here?

Rodgers gets hit while throwing to Adams…. BUT there’s a penalty on Morris Claiborne. Illegal use of hands. That’s a 5 yard play and automatic first down and Dallas can’t even get a stop when they get a stop.

Packers 14-3 Cowboys, 11:09, 2nd quarter

So, it’s 2nd and 9 for the Packers. No biggie, Rodgers and the wonderfully named Geronimo Allison connect for 11 yards and it’s yet another Green Bay first down.

But the Cowboys defense does get to Rodgers on the next play, forcing a rare incompletion intended for Adams. The Packers take a timeout

Packers 14-3 Cowboys, 13:00, 2nd quarter

Aaron Rodgers is back on the field and he immediately starts making completions. His pass to Cook is good for 6 yards.

But, finally a break for Dallas, a false start penalty pushes the Packers back five yards.

Packers 14-3 Cowboys, 13:09, 2nd quarter

Elliott picks up just a hard-earned 2 yards. On 3rd down, the Packers’ defense get to Prescott, whose throw is incomplete. That’s the end of that. Chris Jones comes in to punt, pinning the Packers back at their own 20.

Packers 14-3 Cowboys, 14:05, 2nd quarter

Crosby’s kickoff goes to the end zone. So, the Cowboys will start at their own 25. They’re gonna need to get some points on this drive just to stay afloat it seems.

Prescott’s first throw is… almost picked off by Gunter. Yikes.

Aaron Rodgers is apparently not very big on the idea of this being a good, competitive game.

Touchdown (Packers) Packers 14-3 Cowboys

Packers 14-3 Cowboys, 14:18, 2nd quarter

The Packers start the second quarter in shotgun formation. He throws to Montgomery who gets to the Dallas 3 yard time.

Byron Jones breaks up Rodgers’ pass to Jared Cook, a nifty defensive play, but it’s for naught. On 2nd and 3, Montgomery runs the ball in for a touchdown…

We think. They are reviewing it. It is good, as is Crosby’s extra point attempt, although Dallas almost blocked it.

The Brice Butler unsportsmanlike penalty:

Packers 7-3 Cowboys, end of the 1st quarter

It’s 2nd and 2 on the Dallas 49, Rodgers throws incomplete. Once again it’s a 3rd down situation for Green Bay and once again Rodgers is just picking apart the Cowboys defense. He finds Davante Adams deep in Dallas territory, a 32 yard gain. They’re at the Dallas 17, but only briefly. Rodgers finds Cobb and they take it to the 9 yard line as the first quarter ends.

Packers 7-3 Cowboys, 1:50, 1st quarter

Rodgers’s next pass is incomplete and it’s 3rd and 3, and the Cowboys have another shot at stopping this Green Bay drive but...

But Aaron Rodgers. He finds Geronimo Allison, who picks up 9 yards. He then finds Cobb, who gets the Packers into Dallas territory.

Packers 7-3 Cowboys, 3:27, 1st quarter

Cobb makes a fair catch on the pun at the Green Bay 10. Ripkowski picks up 3 yards. Rodgers’s next pass is incomplete.There’s a chance at a 3 and out here but…

But Aaron Rodgers. He throws a pass to Jared Cook for 14 yards and a first down. On their own 27, Montgomery picks up 7 yards.

Packers 7-3 Cowboys, 5:01, 1st quarter

And the Cowboys take a hit after an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty on Brice Butler. It should be a 15 yard penalty, but it’s first marked as a 5 yard penalty. The fans in the stands aren’t really happy about any of this.

So instead of 2nd & 5 at the Green Bay 37, it’s 2nd and 20 back in the Dallas 48. Prescott throws a dangerous pass to Butler, it’s incomplete. It could have been picked off. His next pass is incomplete, and here comes the punting unit.

A potentially great drive there undone by an ill-timed penalty.

Packers 7-3 Cowboys, 6:35, 1st quarter

Prescott throws to Williams for 12 yards and the Cowboys are already creeping into Packers territory.

1st down once again, Elliott gets the ball to the Green Bay 37.

Packers 7-3 Cowboys, 7:46, 1st quarter

Elliott shows what he’s capable of on the next down. Going off for nine yards on a first down carry. The Cowboys get the first down on the next play with Elliott picking up 2 yards to the Dallas 46 yard line.

Packers 7-3 Cowboys, 8:22, 1st quarter

On the next play, Prescott throws incomplete, but Dez Bryant was held on the play. That’s a gift first down for Dallas.

Packers 7-3 Cowboys, 8:58, 1st quarter

Cowboys will start at their own 25 after a touchback. Elliot, it looks like the Cowboys are going to feed him early and often today, picks up five yards.

Touchdown (Packers)! Packers 7-3 Cowboys

Packers 7-3 Cowboys, 9:06, 1st quarter

The Cowboys took that timeout because after the 12 man call, they only had 10 men on the field. That’s… that’s not a great start for this defense.

It’s 1st and 10 for the packers at their 35 after all that. Montgomery picks up 15 yards. On the next play, Rodgers makes a quick short pass to Randall Cobb, who did a lot of the damage against the Giants last week. Cobb picks up 16 yards to the Dallas 34.

1st and 10, there’s a flag on the defense. It’s a free play for Rodgers, who throws it deep to Richard Rodgers who gets it into the endzone for a touchdown.

There’s a penalty on Dallas but Green Bay decide to decline that, wisely enough. Mason Crosby’s extra point is good and the Packers have the lead.

Updated

Michael P with a prediction:

Thank the lords, today we have two awesome games of football!

I see a very high scoring game, hundreds of air yards for Rodgers and 150 for Elliot on the ground… 32-31 Green Bay!

I would approve of this kind of game.

Packers 0-3 Cowboys, 10:19, 1st quarter

Bailey’s kickoff is into the end zone. The Packers will start at their own 25. Rodgers throws a pass to Ty Montgomery who picks up five yards. On the next play, running back Aaron Ripkowski gets stuffed for no gain.

On 3rd and 5, Rodgers throws incomplete, but there’s a 12 men on field call against the Cowboys. That’s a five yard penalty.

Dallas takes their first timeout to get on the same page.

Field goal (Cowboys)

Packers 0-3 Cowboys, 11:28, 1st quarter

The Cowboys decide to go for the field goal. Dan Bailey’s 50 yard attempt is good and they’re on the board.

Packers 0-0 Cowboys, 12:15, 1st quarter

Micah Hyde sacks Prescott for a 6 yard loss. It’s 2 and 16, Prescott connects with Cole Beasley for… 14 yards. Not enough for a first down.Big decision early here.

And they get some extra time because there’s an injury to Packers defensive back LaDarius Gunter.

Packers 0-0 Cowboys, 13:22, 1st quarter

Terrance Williams picks up 13 yards, Elliot picks up 7. Dez Bryant in his first catch gets them to the Green Bay 40.

Kickoff

Packers 0-0 Cowboys, 15:00, 1st quarter

And we’re off. Cowboys start at their 25 after the kickoff goes into the end zone for a touchback. Elliott gets the first carry of the games, he gets two yards.

Coin toss

Packers win the toss and they defer. The Cowboys will have the ball to start the first half.

We’re minutes to kickoff. Are you excited? I’m excited.

That might be because I’m on my second afternoon coffee. But still!

A somewhat ambiguous email from Ms. D with the subject “My boys”:

GO BOYS!

Later today, the Pittsburgh Steelers and Kansas City Chiefs will battle for the right to play the Patriots in the AFC Championship Game. As a Boston resident I’m rooting for.... well, good players getting knocked out for the season to be honest.

Well, I mean, we’re due...

Predictions

How does this end? At this point, I’m not counting out Aaron Rodgers until his team is officially eliminated from the playoffs, which may not actually happen.

I will make one prediction: this game ends on with a potential game-winning Cowboys ending in a Prescott interception, leading up to months of quarterback controversy in Dallas because that would be the most tiresome possible result and tiresome story lines are one of the defining traits of the NFL’s Goodell Era.

You have a prediction? Send it to us, either email Hunter.Felt.Freelance@theguardian.com or tweet @HunterFelt.

.

This is the meanest thing I’ve seen anybody do on Twitter today:

Moral: always check the dates on RTs, everybody.

Updated

Aaron Rodgers has thrown 285 pass attempts, including 22 touchdowns, without an interception, so that’s something to look into. Mainly, because the more the announcers highlight how long it’s been since he’s thrown a pick, the more likely it is that Rodgers will immediately throw a ridiculously bone-headed pick.

Do you remember where you were the last time the Cowboys were in a playoff game? I certainly remember! I was right here! And they were playing the Packers.

If that doesn’t jog your memory, maybe this does:

Yes it was Dez Bryant’s Greatest Catch That Never Was. I was going to have a big debate about whether it should have counted but after rewatching it now I’m even more stunned that it was overturned. Even the biggest Packers fans must know, somewhere deep in their hearts, that Dez caught that ball.

In case you missed it

Yesterday the New England Patriots beat the Houston Texans 34-16, which was a misleading final score. It was actually a bafflingly competitive game until the Patriots finally put away the Texans in the fourth quarter.

As we said earlier, the Atlanta Falcons actually won a playoff game, defeating the Seattle Seahawks 36-20. This was also a misleading final score as it was somehow even less eventful than that line indicates.

Preamble

Welcome to what is, unexpectedly, the first NFL game today. Steelers/Chiefs was moved into prime time because of weather concerns. This afternoon’s game, however, is the marquee game of the weekend as the Green Bay Packers, fresh from their victory over the New York Giants, head to AT&T Stadium to take on the Dallas Cowboys, who were arguably the NFL’s best team during the regular season. The winner gets to take on the Atlanta Falcons, who put away the Seattle Seahawks yesterday, in the NFC Championship Game.

You would think that the Cowboys would be heavy favorites for this game, especially since they also have home stadium advantage and that extra bye week, but this feels like a very evenly matched game. A lot of that is due to how ridiculously good Aaron Rodgers has been playing in the second half of the season. When he lost his favorite receiver Jordy Nelson to injury during the Giants game last week, he not only wasn’t rattled, he seemed to get better. Oh, yeah, and he threw his third successful Hail Mary, right before halftime during a playoff game. The Packers have been on a seven game win streak that has taken them from the edge of postseason elimination to the doorstep of a championship game appearance and maybe more.

Meanwhile, the Cowboys’ Dak Prescott, one of the biggest stories of the offseason, will be making his first postseason start, with Tony Romo on the sidelines acting as this postseason’s Chekhov’s Gun. Today’s game could either cement his future or throw his future, and that of the entire franchise, in doubt.

So, um, no pressure? Of course, Prescott’s not even the team’s best rookie, that honor has to go to young Ezekiel Elliott who might already be the best running back in the league.

So there’s a lot going on in today’s game is what I’m getting at, so this should be fun. If you wish to contribute to today’s liveblog, send us your thoughts, criticisms, witticisms, questions, answers and general tomfoolery either via email (to Hunter.Felt.Freelance@theguardian.com) or Twitter (to @HunterFelt). We’ll feature them throughout today’s liveblog.

The Green Bay Packers vs the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium is next! The game’s scheduled to start at 4:40pm EST, but you’ll be hearing from me well before then (yes, I know that sounds like a threat). The Green Bay Packers vs the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium is next!

Hunter will be here shortly, in the meantime here’s Paolo Bandini’s prediction for today’s game:

As a rule, I try to resist narratives that reduce a team down to an individual. Right now, though, Aaron Rodgers is performing to such a level that I am starting to believe he might just drag Green Bay into the Super Bowl single-handed. Over the past eight games he has thrown for 22 touchdowns and zero interceptions. Not even the loss of Jordy Nelson to injury could slow him down on Wild Card weekend, with all four of his scores coming after the receiver had departed the game.

Nelson will not make it back for Sunday, which is a significant blow against opponents who have already beaten Green Bay once this season. Dak Prescott outplayed Rodgers at Lambeau Field in October, while Ezekiel Elliott trampled what was then the league’s No1 rushing defense for 157 yards. The Cowboys clearly boast enough firepower to keep up with Rodgers and company, and are looking healthy off the bye week, but somehow I just can’t shake the feeling that this will not be their day. Maybe it’s the fact that 10 out of 15 rookie quarterbacks making playoff debuts since the merger have lost. Or maybe it really is just all about Aaron Rodgers.

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