By: Jeremy T. Ballreich
Packers and Cowboys Duel to an Electric 40-40 Tie
Last night’s Sunday Night Football clash between the Green Bay Packers and the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium was billed as a must-watch affair, driven by the narrative of Packers star pass-rusher Micah Parsons returning to face his former team, the Cowboys. What transpired over 70 minutes was a thrilling, chaotic, and offensively charged heavyweight battle that defied expectation and ended in a historic, 40-40 overtime tie—the second-highest scoring tie in NFL history and a “Scorigami,” marking the first time the league has seen that final score.
The game had everything you could want in a prime-time matchup: explosive plays, stunning momentum swings, dramatic finishes to both halves, and high-stakes kicker drama. Early on, it looked like the Packers, who jumped out to a 13-0 lead in the second quarter, might run away with it. Jordan Love, undeterred by missing two starting linemen, was surgical. He capped the opening drive with a touchdown to wide receiver Romeo Doubs, establishing a connection that would prove to be Dallas’s greatest headache all night. Doubs finished with a career-high three touchdown receptions, showcasing his emerging status as Love’s top target.
However, the game’s first truly bizarre moment flipped the script. Following Doubs’ second score, the Cowboys blocked the extra point attempt, and Markquese Bell returned it for a defensive two-point conversion, making the score an utterly strange 13-2. This unexpected spark ignited the Dallas offense. Dak Prescott, playing without the injured CeeDee Lamb, orchestrated two scoring drives in the final minute of the first half, including a quick strike following a Packers turnover. A George Pickens grab and Dak Prescott’s short touchdown run gave the Cowboys a sudden 16-13 lead heading into the locker room, completely erasing Green Bay’s early dominance.
The second half devolved into an old-school shootout, the kind of defensive struggle that gives coordinators migraines and viewers whiplash. The two teams traded the lead six times, and between the end of the third quarter and the end of regulation, they exchanged a remarkable seven consecutive lead-changing touchdowns. Josh Jacobs was crucial for the Packers, punching in two rushing scores as part of his 157 total yards. For the Cowboys, Dak Prescott was sharp and composed, throwing for three touchdowns and spreading the ball around to compensate for Lamb’s absence, with Pickens stepping up in a big way.
The finish to the fourth quarter was pure pandemonium. With 1:45 left, Love and Doubs connected for their third touchdown, putting Green Bay up 34-30. The lead lasted barely a minute, as Prescott hit Pickens for a go-ahead 28-yard touchdown with 43 seconds remaining. Down 37-34, Love led a frantic drive into Cowboys territory, setting up veteran kicker Brandon McManus to drill a massive 53-yard field goal as time expired, tying the game at 37-37 and forcing overtime.
Overtime provided its own blend of heroics and head-scratching moments. Dallas won the toss and drove deep, thanks in part to an incredible, sprawling catch by Jalen Tolbert. The drive stalled after Parsons, the focus of much of the pre-game hype, came up with his lone, but critical, sack against his old mentor, forcing the Cowboys to settle for a Brandon Aubrey field goal and a 40-37 lead.
The stage was set for Love to lead the game-winning drive. He was clutch on a 4th-and-6 conversion that kept the drive alive, moving the Packers into field goal range. However, a sequence of clock mismanagement, including a final incompletion that left just one second on the clock, meant Green Bay had to rely on McManus again. He delivered, hitting a 34-yard field goal to secure the 40-40 draw.
While the ending felt anticlimactic for both sides—neither celebrating after 70 minutes of all-out war—the game will be remembered as an offensive masterpiece and a thrilling spectacle. Jordan Love (337 yards, 3 TDs) and Dak Prescott (319 yards, 3 TDs) traded blows all night, proving that even a tie can deliver the best drama the NFL has to offer. The 40-40 final score is a testament to the sheer firepower on the field, even if neither team will be happy about leaving an all-time classic without a win.
