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Cowboys blow 23-point lead as Packers prevail

Dec 16, 2013 - 5:36 AM Arlington, TX (SportsNetwork.com) - Eddie Lacy's 1-yard touchdown run with 1:31 to play completed an epic Green Bay comeback as the Packers got past the Dallas Cowboys, 37-36.

Trailing by 23 points to start the second half, Green Bay scored touchdowns on its first five possessions of the final 30 minutes, while Tony Romo had another meltdown in the fourth quarter.

The rally matched the biggest comeback in Green Bay history, as the 1982 team clawed its way from a 23-point hole to defeat the Los Angeles Rams.

With the victory, Green Bay (7-6-1) has managed to stay alive in the chase for the NFC North crown thanks to consecutive wins despite signal-caller Aaron Rodgers still on the sideline as he recovers from a fractured collarbone.

"This was an excellent team win today. I can't tell you how proud I am of every player, coach and person on the sideline. We all know what the score was at halftime. We just stayed the course," said Packers coach Mike McCarthy.

The Packers sit in third place in the NFC North, behind Chicago (8-6) and Detroit (7-6). Detroit hosts the Baltimore Ravens on Monday night.

Matt Flynn, Rodgers' replacement under center, threw for 299 yards and four touchdowns with an interception on 26-of-39 passing, with Lacy finishing the game with 141 yards on 21 carries and a score while adding four catches for 30 yards.

Dallas (7-7), meanwhile, stays a game back of Philadelphia for first place in the NFC East, as the Eagles lost to the Vikings on Sunday.

Romo looked strong for much of the game and went 29-for-48 for 358 yards and two touchdowns overall, but his final two possessions ended in interceptions. The first one led to Lacy's go-ahead score and his second sealed the victory for Green Bay.

"I think if you play long enough you'll have plenty of big wins and tough losses, this was one of the tough losses," said Romo. "We just didn't do enough in the second half to win this game."

DeMarco Murray had another strong game for Dallas, carrying the ball 18 times for 134 yards and a score along with four catches for 19 yards.

Dallas held a 12-point lead after Romo and Dez Bryant got together on a 5-yard score to finish off a 10-play, 80-yard drive with 7:55 to play. The drive saw an interception overturned early in the possession.

Green Bay, though, came right back with a 10-play, 80-yard march of its own. Flynn converted a 3rd-and-6 with a 14-yard pass to Andrew Quarless, and Jarrett Boykin catching another pass for 27 yards down to the Dallas 7. Two plays later, Flynn found James Jones in the end zone from three yards out to make it a 36-31 game with 4:17 to play.

The Cowboys converted a third down, but Romo's short pass to Miles Austin was a little behind and Sam Shields came up with the interception to give Green Bay the ball back at midfield.

An 18-yard catch from Quarless and a pass interference call got the ball into the red zone. After a 3-yard run by Lacy to the 1 to set up 1st-and-goal, Lacy again took the ball in to give Green Bay its first lead of the game, 37-36, with 1:31 to play after the 2-point conversion failed.

Two plays later, Romo threw another bad pass to his right, with Tramon Williams coming up with the diving catch. The play was initially ruled an incomplete pass, but a replay overturned the call and Green Bay went into the victory formation.

Dan Bailey kicked a pair of field goals from 47 and 23 yards out, sandwiched by a Mason Crosby 57-yard field goal, before Dallas found the end zone on its third touch.

Following another three-and-out from the Packers, Dallas took a 13-3 lead going into the second quarter as Romo hit Jason Witten in-stride near the 10 and he took it in for a 25-yard score.

Dallas' second touch of the second quarter bore fruit, as the team got a 43- yard field goal from Bailey. The eight-play, 48-yard drive saw Austin catch a pass for 20 yards on the first snap.

Flynn was then picked off by Sterling Moore, setting up a 50-yard field goal from Bailey for a 19-3 lead with 3:45 to play in the first half.

Getting the ball back right after the two-minute warning, the Cowboys got a 37-yard catch from Bryant to cross midfield. Catches of 15 yards from Austin, followed by a 16-yard grab by Bryant set up Murray's 1-yard bull rush into the end zone for a 26-3 lead going into the break.

The first snap of the second half saw Lacy take a handoff 60 yards to the Dallas 20. Three plays later, Flynn found Jordy Nelson in the end zone from 13 yards out to make it a 26-10 game.

Dallas answered with an 11-play drive that ate up 6 1/2 minutes, with Bailey hitting his fifth field goal of the game and second from 50 yards out for a 29-10 lead with 6 1/2 minutes left in the third.

Flynn guided the Packers on another successful drive, finishing the march with a 3-yard scoring toss to Quarless to make it a 29-17 game with 1:09 to play in the third. Green Bay converted a pair of third downs on the drive to keep it going.

After a short three-and-out, the Packers found the end zone for a third straight time as Flynn hit James Starks with a short pass in the middle, and he took it in on an 11-yard score to make it a 29-24 game with 12:47 left in the game.

Game Notes

Bryant finished the game with 153 yards and a score on 11 catches ... Boykin led the Green Bay receiving corps with six catches for 83 yards ... There was 899 yards of total offense, with Dallas supplying 466 yards and controlling the ball for 31:40 ... Dallas plays at Washington next week before finishing off the regular season at home against Philadelphia ... Green Bay hosts Pittsburgh next Sunday and finishes its regular season in Chicago ... Green Bay has won three straight against Dallas ... Each team was penalized seven times.