Green Bay Packers 34, Dallas Cowboys 24
1. "This is my house," Packers running back Aaron Jones screamed to the FOX camera after scoring a first-half touchdown. Jones owned the Cowboys' shrine Sunday, demolishing the Dallas D on the ground and in the passing game. The bulldozing running back bowled through tackle after tackle, making Cowboys defenders look silly in space. Jones' combination of power and elusiveness clown-suited Dallas linebackers, leaving Leighton Vander Esch grasping for air more than we've ever seen. The RB compiled 107 rushing yards on 19 attempts, with a career-high four rushing TDs (tying a franchise record). Jones is the first player to rush for four TDs in a single game versus the Cowboys. The RB led the Pack in both rushing and receiving, adding seven catches for 75 yards. Jones compiled 182 of the Packers' 335 yards on the day. When the third-year back has been given a chance to be the workhorse, he's proven he can be a game-changer. Without Davante Adams on Sunday, the Green Bay offense leaned on Jones, and he carried them.
2. The Packers defense once again swarmed the quarterback. Taking advantage of Cowboys left tackle Tyron Smith missing the tilt, and right tackle La'el Collins getting injured, Green Bay's pass rush bamboozled Dak Prescott, repeatedly forcing the QB into poor decisions. Za'Darius Smith gobbled up two sacks and four QB hits, frequently destroying replacement left tackle Cameron Fleming, and Preston Smith added a sack and two QB hits. The free-agent additions have completely rejuvenated the Packers' defensive front. The back end, meanwhile, intercepted Prescott three times, smothering receivers not named Amari Cooper in the first half. With the scoreboard lopsided early, Dallas couldn't eat away at a suspect Green Bay run defense with Ezekiel Elliott. It's the type of game-script that plays to the Packers' strength on D. With injuries mounting, the secondary gave up yards as the Cowboys fought back into the contest. The forced turnovers made the difference, however, giving Green Bay enough of a cushion to withstand a comeback.
3. For the second straight week, the Cowboys' offense looked addled early, unable to get into a flow and repeatedly shooting itself in the foot. In the first half, Dallas got into Green Bay territory on four of six possessions, yet scored zero points, including two interceptions and a missed field goal. The offense woke up in the second half with more deep shots, as we saw through the first three games of the season. Amari Cooper beat corner Jaire Alexander with some sublime route-running, compiling a whopping 226 yards on 11 receptions with a TD. Cooper was the Cowboys' best player Sunday but didn't get enough help for long stretches. The Cowboys generated 563 total yards on the day, consistently moving between the 20s, but far too many errors early, and questionable game-management late, ultimately doomed Dallas. The comeback bid getting snuffed out on a missed field-goal attempt by Brett Maher following a false start was an apropos ending for the Cowboys on Sunday.
Kevin Patra wrote: