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Rodgers, Packers dominate Cowboys

Nov 8, 2010 - 6:59 AM Green Bay, WI (Sports Network) - Aaron Rodgers threw three touchdowns while Brandon Jackson scored once on the ground and once through the air, as the Green Bay Packers routed the struggling Dallas Cowboys, 45-7.

Rodgers was 27-of-34 passing for 289 yards while James Jones finished with eight catches for 123 yards and a score for the Packers (6-3), who have won three straight to move into first place in the NFC North heading into their bye week.

"We had a good plan and got into a flow out there," said Rodgers. "It was a combination of a number things, but I felt like I got into a rhythm early and we had some good runs that helped set things up."

Greg Jennings caught seven passes for 80 yards and a score for Green Bay, which got a touchdown from Nick Collins on a fumble return and an interception return for a score from Clay Matthews.

"You always strive to play a complete game and we accomplished that tonight," said Green Bay head coach Mike McCarthy. "I'm very pleased with the special team, the defense swarmed all over and the offense got into a good rhythm. We played a complete football game tonight and that's how you want to go into the bye week.

Jon Kitna, making his second straight start in place of an injured Tony Romo, was 19-for-30 with 183 yards, one score and two interceptions for the Cowboys (1-7), who have dropped five in a row -- including the last two by double- digits. Dez Bryant caught the lone touchdown, the sixth of his rookie campaign, which leads all freshmen in the NFL.

This was the most lopsided loss for the Cowboys since the last week of the 2008 season, when they were handed a 44-6 defeat by the Philadelphia Eagles.

"They ripped us about every way you can rip somebody," said Dallas head coach Wade Phillips. "They're a good football team and they play hard. They played well and we didn't play well at all. It looked like we were fighting early, but once it caved-in we didn't respond."

Cowboys owner Jerry Jones did not directly discuss Phillips' job security after the game, but said he has a lot of decisions to make, adding that "a lot" of people are going to suffer the consequences of the team's poor start.

After a scoreless first quarter -- in which the Cowboys blocked a 54-yard Mason Crosby field goal attempt -- the Packers dominated in the second.

The first of four consecutive scores came early in the second on a drive that began in the opening quarter, as Rodgers found Jackson over the middle for a nine-yard score.

After a three-and-out from Dallas, the Packers moved 80 yards in seven plays. Jackson leaned over the goal line on a two-yard score, which withstood a Dallas challenge, for a 14-0 lead with 8:26 left in the half.

The Cowboys again punted after one series and appeared to have the Packers contained near midfield, but Rodgers and Jennings connected for 33 yards on third down. Two plays later, Jennings caught an eight-yard score in the back of the end zone for a 21-0 lead with 2:13 left in the half.

On the ensuing kickoff, Bryan McCann was stripped of the ball and Collins took it into the end zone on a 26-yard score. It appeared that McCann's knee hit the ground before he lost control, but Dallas didn't have any timeouts remaining and was unable to call for a replay.

The Cowboys were finally able to stanch the bleeding on their next touch as Bryant made a leaping catch over a defender in the left corner of the end zone with 16 seconds left in the half, making it a 28-7 game at the break.

After an exchange of punts to start the second half, the Packers made it a 35-7 game when Rodgers threw a screen pass out to the left side and Jones took it in from 10 yards out. The play finished the eight-play, 63-yard drive with 8:38 to play in the third.

Green Bay got a 26-yard field goal from Crosby and a 62-yard interception return from Matthews in the fourth to complete the blowout.

Game Notes

The Packers play in Minnesota after their week off...The Cowboys play in New York against the Giants next Sunday...Dallas came into the game having won 11 of the last 14 against Green Bay, but the Packers have taken the past two contests...Bryant finished the game with nine catches for 86 yards...Over the past three games, the Cowboys have given up 121 points...The Packers have held the opposition to just seven points over the past two games...Dallas managed just 39 yards on the ground...Green Bay controlled the ball for almost 38 minutes and ran 71 plays, compared to just 48 for the Cowboys. Also, the Packers outgained the Cowboys, 415-205.