The Dallas Cowboys have suffered yet another embarrassing playoff defeat after a 48-32 loss to the Green Bay Packers in their wild card clash.
The Cowboys, who finished the season as the NFC’s second seed, were rated 7.5 point favourites to defeat the Packers and continue their streak of 16 straight home wins, however Green Bay and their emerging quarterback Jordan Love had other ideas.
The Packers went out to a 27-0 lead before the Cowboys scored a touchdown late in the first half to add some respectability to the scoreboard.
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Dallas weren’t able to bounce back in the second half, with the Packers extending their lead to as much as 32 when an Aaron Jones touchdown made it 48-16.
The Cowboys added two late touchdowns but it was all in vain.
Love (16/21, 272 yards, three touchdowns) was prolific in his playoff debut while running back Jones set the tone on the ground, recording 118 yards and three touchdowns on a vaunted Dallas defence.
The Cowboys have a horror postseason record dating back to 1996 – the season after they won their most recent Super Bowl.
Since then, Dallas have won just five from their last 18 playoff games and have failed to progress past the Divisional Round (second week of the postseason).
Finishing with an 12-5 record this season, the number one ranked offence and the fifth-ranked defence, many expected the Cowboys to make some noise this postseason.
And while the team have plenty who want to see them fail, no one envisaged this.
Polarising US sports broadcaster Stephen A Smith has never hid his disdain for the Cowboys in the past, and his inevitable reaction video on social media site X didn’t disappoint.
Dallas QB Dak Prescott benefitted from some late game stat padding as the Packers played soft defensively to limit touchdowns. Prescott finished with 400 yards but threw two crucial first half interceptions, one which was returned by the Packers for a touchdown.
While Prescott has enjoyed arguably his best season in the NFL, the loss will only ask questions of the quarterback and his four year, $160 million ($239 million AUD) deal.
Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy is likely to find himself on the hot seat after the loss, despite leading Dallas to three straight 12 win seasons.
With names like Bill Belichick and Mike Vrabel without jobs for next season, there’s every chance levithan Cowboys owner Jerry Jones makes enquiries.
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