Dallas Cowboys vs. Green Bay Packers: Full Report Card Grades for Green Bay

Have you caught your breath yet? 

In one of the most thrilling comeback victories in recent postseason history, the Green Bay Packers (13-4) overcame a fourth-quarter deficit to defeat the Dallas Cowboys (13-5) by a 26-21 score at Lambeau Field Sunday. 

Aaron Rodgers and his injured calf started slowly but came on strong in the second half. Green Bay’s last three drives included two touchdowns and a clock-killing drive to ice the game and send the Packers to the NFC Championship Game next Sunday. 

The game featured another controversial call, with Dez Bryant’s 31-yard fourth-quarter catch on 4th-and-2 reversed to an incomplete pass after Mike McCarthy’s challenge was successful. The referees ruled that the ball hit the ground and came loose when Bryant hit the ground, thus not completing the process of the catch. The NFL vice president of officiating agreed with the reversal:

"

Bryant going to the ground. By rule he must hold onto it throughout entire process of contacting the ground. He didn't so it is incomplete.

— Dean Blandino (@DeanBlandino) January 11, 2015"

Regardless of the call, this was a statement win for the Green Bay Packers. Dallas was moving the ball at will with a potent running attack and DeMarco Murray. But the defense stepped up, and Rodgers played his finest when it mattered most. The result was a victory for the good guys. 

Quarterback

Al Bello/Getty Images

Rodgers started 2-of-3 with a touchdown on the Packers’ opening possession, but he was not his normal self. His calf was clearly bothering him, affecting his footwork and accuracy on throws he normally makes in his sleep. And a lost fumble resulted in seven points the other way, seven points that ultimately could have cost Green Bay the game. He completed five of 11 passes for just 30 yards on his first three series. 

But something clicked on the Packers’ drive before the half, with Green Bay getting the ball at its own 40 with just 29 seconds remaining. Rodgers hit Randall Cobb for gains of 12 and 31 yards then went to Davante Adams for five to set up a makable field-goal attempt. 

In the game’s final two quarters, Rodgers looked more mobile and comfortable in the pocket, and he was a more decisive thrower. 

"

Aaron Rodgers' last 10 pass attempts on Sunday: 10-for-10, 163 yards, 2 TD, 8 1st downs

— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) January 11, 2015"

After his 5-of-11 start for 30 yards and a touchdown (82.8 passer rating), Rodgers and the passing game were nearly unstoppable, with the probable MVP completing 18 of 24 passes for 286 yards and two touchdowns (142.0 rating). 

And his game-winning touchdown throw to Richard Rodgers was a thing of legend. 

"

“This is the best throw of the year.” - @jamiedukes on @AaronRodgers12's 4th quarter touchdown pass to Richard Rodgers

— NFL Media PR (@InsideNFLMedia) January 11, 2015"

Grade: A

Running Back

Mike McGinnis/Getty Images

There’s not a better running game in the league than the Packers on their opening possession. 

Eddie Lacy rushed for 45 yards on seven carries as Green Bay marched to an opening score, but Coach McCarthy curiously went away from him for the rest of the first half. 

Thankfully it didn’t last too long, and Lacy finished with his second straight game over 100 yards rushing (101) on 19 carries, a 5.3 yards-per-carry clip. 

"

It's too damn cold to try to tackle Eddie Lacy running at full speed.

— Matt Miller (@nfldraftscout) January 11, 2015"

James Starks spelled Lacy suitably, though I’m sure the defense breathes a sigh of relief when No. 27 leaves the field. 

John Kuhn blocked well for Lacy and had a nice first-down carry, though he did register one drop. 

Grade: A-

Wide Receiver and Tight End

Al Bello/Getty Images

With Aaron Rodgers struggling to begin this game, he needed his weapons to step up. But it looked to be a redux of past playoff games, with receivers dropping balls and not playing to their usual standard. 

Rodgers targeted Jordy Nelson on a 3rd-and-8 near the second half with a back-shoulder throw up the seam, but Nelson could not haul in the catchable pass. 

Things changed in the second half, with Randall Cobb and Davante Adams taking charge as Rodgers’ go-to receivers. Adams led the game in receiving (117 yards) and tied Cobb in targets (11), and his 46-yard touchdown catch near the end of the third quarter got Lambeau Field rocking again. 

"

Davante Adams 1st TD reception since Week 11--46 yards, longest TD pass of Aaron Rodgers' postseason career

— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) January 11, 2015"

Richard Rodgers got in on the action in the fourth quarter, catching the game-winning score with 9:10 remaining. Fellow tight end Andrew Quarless had himself a game as well, catching all four of his targets for 31 yards and a touchdown. Quarless did have two false-start penalties, though, which is inexcusable for a skill player. 

Cobb had a game-high eight catches, including the game-clincher on 3rd-and-11 coming out of the two-minute warning. He seems to have one of those every week. 

Grade: A-

Offensive Line

Al Bello/Getty Images

Coming into the game, much was said of the Packers' offensive line and the onus put on it to protect its hobbled quarterback, Aaron Rodgers. 

It rose to the challenge and more. 

"

While @tae15adams, @rcobb18 and friends rack up receptions, the #Packers offensive line is doing impressive work right now. #analysis

— Drew Olson (@DrewOlsonMKE) January 11, 2015"

Rodgers was hit twice and sacked once, impressive numbers considering how many times the Packers dropped back to pass. And the line opened enough holes for Lacy and Co., with Packers running backs going for 121 yards on 24 carries (4.8 yards per carry). 

But my favorite play was one that ended up hurting the Packers. When the Cowboys were a little too rough in their tackling of rookie wideout Davante Adams, T.J. Lang came out of nowhere to blow up the Dallas defenders off Adams, drawing an unnecessary roughness flag.

Three Cowboys got in Lang’s face, but Lang was not backing down. Unfortunately, it backed the Pack up from 3rd-and-1 to 3rd-and-16, and Green Bay had to settle for a field goal.

But it was a good play in the long run. 

"

Lang penalty and ensuing scuffle seemed to pump some life into Packers. They appeared to be sleepwalking up until that point in game.

— Michael Rodney (@PackerUpdate) January 11, 2015"

Grade: A+

Defensive Line

Mike McGinnis/Getty Images

If I’ve said it once, I’ve said it a hundred times: Mike Daniels is fun to watch. 

The Packers’ best defensive lineman was pumped up beyond words at the beginning to the game, and he did an admirable job of pushing the pocket for the duration of the game. 

Datone Jones played more than he probably has in any game of his career, and he was a big part of the Packers’ ability to limit DeMarco Murray’s effectiveness early. He and Daniels shared a sack, and each recorded one quarterback hit. 

"

A lot of Datone Jones today with Josh Boyd slowed

— Wes Hodkiewicz (@WesHod) January 11, 2015"

Boyd was injured on Dallas’ second offensive series and did not show up in the stat sheet afterward; I don’t believe he made his way back on the field. 

Grade: B+

Linebacker

Al Bello/Getty Images

Ted Thompson, thank you so much for Julius Peppers. 

The best free-agent signing nobody talks about made his presence felt early in Sunday’s game, strip-sacking Tony Romo on the Cowboys’ third play from scrimmage. 

But that wasn’t close to his most impactful play. 

DeMarco Murray took a handoff from Romo on Dallas’ first possession of the third quarter, and in front of him off right guard was nothing but green grass and the end zone. But, Peppers made a phenomenal play to just get his hand on the ball, poking it out for Datone Jones to recover. 

"

That's Julius Peppers side-stepping an All-Pro right guard to the outside, then getting back to the inside to strip the ball.

— Rich Campbell (@Rich_Campbell) January 11, 2015"

Nick Perry had 1.5 sacks, though none came as a result of a dominating pass rush. 

Clay Matthews recorded a quarterback hit but did not make his usual impact on the game. He should have been flagged for a late hit on Romo in the first quarter. 

I’m running out of terrible things to say about Brad Jones, who had yet another terrible penalty to extend a drive that ultimately ended up in a touchdown. And he had a special teams penalty.

But it was his open-field tackle on Dallas wide receiver Cole Beasley that set up the 4th-and-2, and we all know how that went. 

"

i won't say much good about Brad Jones, but that was a nice tackle to prevent the 1st down. #Packers

— Jeremy Brade (@bradez11) January 11, 2015"

Grade: B+

Secondary

Al Bello/Getty Images

I’d have to watch the All-22 before I say anything outrageous, but the four sacks the Packers tallied were largely a product of outstanding coverage from the secondary. 

"

Third coverage sack in the last 10 minutes. Those are the guys who are holding it down right now.

— Brandon Veale (@redveale) January 11, 2015"

But what will stand out on the stat sheet are two pass-interference penalties on Tramon Williams, though one was a ticky-tack call. Tramon got burnt pretty badly on Terrance Williams’ 38-yard touchdown catch-and-run. 

Sam Shields got schooled by Dez Bryant on the catch that wasn’t, but that’s no fault of Shields—Dez is just that big and athletic. 

Morgan Burnett wasn’t as great against the run as I thought he would be. 

Grade: B

Special Teams

Joe Robbins/Getty Images

Hey, I guess it’s not against the rules for the Packers to return a kick past the 30-yard line. Who knew? 

Tim Masthay punted only twice, but he’s really leaving me wanting more from the punting game—a 37.5-yard gross average is not going to cut it. 

Field goals are never a gimmie at Lambeau in January, so credit goes to Mason Crosby for making his attempts from 40 and 30 yards out. Also, no blocked kicks is a plus. 

Datone Jones was able to graze the football on a Dan Bailey attempt. 

Grade: B

Coaching

Joe Robbins/Getty Images

Mike McCarthy had been at zero for the season on his challenges. 

Until this game. 

McCarthy smartly threw the challenge flag on the Dez Bryant no-catch, and people aren't giving him enough credit for that. 

"

That was Mike McCarthy's first challenge win this season. He was 0-5 before then (via @ESPNStatsInfo)

— NFL on ESPN (@ESPNNFL) January 11, 2015"

I agreed with McCarthy’s decision to just kick the point after touchdown (PAT) in the third quarter and then go for two in the fourth quarter. 

Dom Capers obviously had a good game plan early to limit Dez Bryant. The All-Pro receiver saw just one target in the first half. You never want to let a great receiver get hot (see: Julio Jones). 

Grade: A

Overall Grades

Al Bello/Getty Images

Positional Unit	Grade
Quarterback	A
Running Back	A-
Wide Receiver and Tight End	A-
Offensive Line	A+
Defensive Line	B+
Linebacker	B+
Secondary	B
Special Teams	B
Coaching	A
Cumulative Grade	A-

This was a great win. And it’s damn hard to win in the postseason, but I’m sure of one thing after watching Sunday’s game: The Packers have no shot in Seattle if they play like they did vs. Dallas.

Aaron Rodgers can’t fumble, receivers can’t drop passes and Masthay can’t average fewer than 40 yards per punt; Green Bay needs to play a perfect game. Can the Packers do it? It’s possible, but having a less than 100 percent Rodgers doesn’t help things.

But I do love Rodgers’ confidence:

"

Rodgers on calf: I think I've got 120 minutes left in me.

— Green Bay Packers (@packers) January 11, 2015"

Peter Sowards covers the Green Bay Packers for Bleacher Report.

Follow @PeterSowards on Twitter.