Jordan Love, Packers Defense Beat Cowboys 23-13 for Third Straight Win/ TezzBuzz/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Jordan Love threw a touchdown pass and ran for another as the Green Bay Packers defeated the Dallas Cowboys 23-13 on Sunday night. Green Bay intercepted Dak Prescott twice and held a third consecutive opponent to 14 points or fewer. The Packers improved to 4-2 despite missed scoring opportunities, while the Cowboys fell to 2-4.
Quick Look
- Love leads: Jordan Love completed 23 of 41 passes for 276 yards, one touchdown and one interception, adding a rushing score.
- Defensive streak: Green Bay has allowed no more than 14 points in each of its three straight victories.
- Costly turnovers: Evan Williams and Brandon Cisse intercepted Prescott with Dallas threatening to score.
- Golden contributes: Matthew Golden caught six passes for 104 yards and a touchdown.
- Penalty problems: Each team committed 11 penalties, totaling 204 yards.
- Next games: Dallas visits Philadelphia on Oct. 26; Green Bay travels to Detroit next Sunday.
Deep Look
Jordan Love Leads Packers to Third Consecutive Victory
Jordan Love accounted for two touchdowns and Green Bay’s defense frustrated Dallas throughout a 23-13 Packers victory Sunday night at Lambeau Field.
Love completed 23 of 41 passes for 276 yards, with one touchdown and one interception. He also scored on a 1-yard quarterback keeper as Green Bay improved to 4-2.
The Packers took a lead they never surrendered when Love found Matthew Golden for a 9-yard touchdown on their opening possession.
Green Bay is now 11-1-1 in its past 13 meetings with Dallas, including last season’s tie in Arlington, Texas.
Missed Touchdown Opportunities Leave Room for Improvement
Love’s production could have been greater, but three potential touchdown passes fell incomplete after receivers failed to secure the ball.
“I want to make every throw,” Love said. “I want these guys to make every catch. That’s the expectation. Stuff happens. Drops happen. Obviously, I want those guys to make those plays, and we’re capable of making those plays. But for me, it’s got to be the next play mindset. You’ve got to move on.”
Golden dropped a potential 43-yard touchdown and failed to complete a catch on a possible 23-yard score during the second quarter.
In the third quarter, a potential 26-yard touchdown slipped through Christian Watson’s hands after Dallas defender Malachi Lawrence deflected the pass in the end zone.
Fireworks briefly went off at Lambeau Field after Golden’s incomplete 23-yard opportunity, even as officials signaled that the catch had not been completed.
The Packers eventually scored a touchdown following one of those missed chances and settled for Trey Smack field goals after the other two.
Matthew Golden Tops 100 Receiving Yards
Golden finished with six receptions for 104 yards and Green Bay’s opening touchdown, while acknowledging the opportunities he missed.
“Those are plays that you want back, especially just knowing the type of game – Sunday night, how important it was for us to come out with this win,” Golden said. “For me, I’m not going to be too down about it because I know 10 times out of 10 I’m going to make those plays.”
Despite those missed chances, Green Bay built a 17-0 halftime advantage.
Dallas had not been held scoreless in a first half since Nov. 7, 2021, when Denver led the Cowboys 16-0 at halftime before winning 30-16.
Packers Defense Continues Strong Run
Green Bay has held opponents to 14 points or fewer in each game of its three-game winning streak.
The Packers last accomplished that over three consecutive games in 2016.
Safety Javon Bullard said the defense can continue improving if players maintain their preparation and confidence in one another.
“If we continue to work, continue to come in with the right mindset, continue to trust in each other, continue to trust in the coaches, continue to trust in this game plan, I think the sky’s the limit for us,” Bullard said. “And if we continue to just attack each of our opponents, take it one game at a time, one snap at a time, I think we can be the best defense in the league.”
Prescott Interceptions End Dallas Scoring Threats
Dak Prescott completed 34 of 54 passes for 258 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions.
Both interceptions came during the second quarter, with Dallas inside Green Bay’s 30-yard line on consecutive possessions. Evan Williams and Brandon Cisse made the picks to stop those scoring opportunities.
Prescott connected with Ryan Flournoy for a 6-yard touchdown with 44 seconds remainingbut his subsequent 2-point conversion pass to CeeDee Lamb fell incomplete.
The Cowboys dropped to 2-4.
“We need some good momentum,” Prescott said. “And the only way to do it is to get a win.”
Dallas coach Brian Schottenheimer said the team must correct the mistakes behind its difficult start.
“We’re in a hole,” Schottenheimer said. “(We) put ourselves there. There’s one way out of it. That’s what I told the guys, I said, ‘You know, got to work. Got to find solutions. Can’t repeat mistakes.’ They understand that.”
Cowboys Defense Shows Improvement Despite Defeat
Dallas entered Sunday allowing an NFL-worst 6.4 yards per play, but its defense delivered a more encouraging performance against Green Bay.
Dee Winters recorded the Cowboys’ first interception of the season with a diving catch late in the opening quarter.
He got up and ran more than 40 yards for what initially appeared to be a touchdown. Replay showed that Golden had touched Winters while he was on the ground, canceling the return.
Penalties remained an issue for both teams. Dallas committed 11 for 108 yards, while Green Bay’s 11 penalties cost 96 yards.
Packers Await Josh Jacobs’ Return
Green Bay’s winning streak has come without three-time Pro Bowl running back Josh Jacobs, who has not played this season.
Jacobs comes off the commissioner’s exempt list Monday.
Last month, he pleaded no contest to two misdemeanor charges arising from a May altercation with his then-girlfriend.
Injuries and Upcoming Schedule
Dallas receiver KaVontae Turpin left during the first quarter with a rib injury. Winters strained his Achilles in the second quarter, according to Schottenheimer’s postgame update.
Green Bay’s Cisse exited with a stinger in the second half.
The Cowboys visit Philadelphia on Oct. 26, while the Packers play at Detroit next Sunday.
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