Packers vs. Cowboys score, takeaways: Aaron Rodgers, Christian Watson explode in comeback to upset Dallas

Green Bay scored 17 unanswered to knock off the Cowboys

The Packers were not expected to win on Sunday, even while hosting the Cowboys on their own turf at Lambeau Field. They certainly were not expected to win in the fourth quarter, when they trailed by 14 points to a Dallas team enjoying a CeeDee Lamb breakout. But don't tell that to Aaron Rodgers, who came alive while connecting with rookie Christian Watson to lead Green Bay to 17 unanswered points and a 31-28 overtime upset, snapping the Packers' five-game losing streak.

Former Packers coach Mike McCarthy wasn't just on the other sideline to witness the Cowboys' defeat; he had a hand in the affair, opting to go for it on fourth down during Dallas' lone OT possession, rather than trying a 53-yard field goal to get ahead. But it was Watson who really damaged America's Team on Sunday, scoring three touchdowns and hauling in multiple deep shots to give the Packers the home-run threat they've sorely been lacking.

Here are additional takeaways from Sunday's Packers win, which improved Green Bay to 4-6 and dropped Dallas to 6-3:

Why the Packers won

Somebody finally decided to play catch with Aaron Rodgers! Turns out, Christian Watson didn't just do that; he easily burned almost every Cowboys cornerback who attempted to contain him. The rookie wideout wasn't perfect, but he was darn close, finishing with 107 yards and three touchdowns on four catches, giving Green Bay its first true home-run threat of the year. His emergence enabled Matt LaFleur's squad to actually put up a fight while down 14 in the fourth, though Aaron Jones was reliable as usual carrying the offensive load early. The defense remained vulnerable in every facet, but Jaire Alexander had a couple of clutch breakups working on CeeDee Lamb. The biggest props belong to A-Rod's unit, however, which finally, in the waning minutes and then in OT, showed some of the charisma and confidence befitting a true contender.

Why the Cowboys lost

No. 1: Dak Prescott, though resilient enough to give Dallas a two-score lead in the third, was generally off the mark, firing two picks right into the Packers' hands out of the gate -- miscommunications or not, they were ugly -- and struggling to establish any rhythm in the fourth. No. 2: Dan Quinn's vaunted "D" barely affected Rodgers; Micah Parsons was a virtual nonfactor by his standards, and as a result, no one in their secondary could keep up with Watson, even though he was literally the only Packers receiver to serve a steady threat. Mike McCarthy also hurt himself by gambling in OT, choosing to go for it on fourth down instead of trying a 53-yard field goal -- a decision that allowed Green Bay to win it with a field goal of its own.

Turning point

It's gotta be the fourth-down call from McCarthy. Tied 28-28 and driving inside the Packers' 40 on the first possession of OT, Dallas would've claimed the "W" with a touchdown. A field goal, meanwhile, would've at least guaranteed they'd be alive if the Packers could only get three. On fourth-and-3, rather than let Brett Maher try a kick from 53, McCarthy called a short pass, but Dak Prescott couldn't connect with Tony Pollard while facing pressure, and Green Bay quickly seized on the opportunity, moving all the way to the Cowboys' 20 when Rodgers found Allen Lazard for a 36-yard strike three plays later.

Play of the game

Give it to the rookie Watson, whose first TD just instilled a different kind of energy in these Packers on maybe their biggest night of the season:

What's next

The Packers (4-6) will stay at home for Thursday night's quick turnaround against the Titans (6-3), who edged the Broncos on Sunday. The Cowboys (6-3), meanwhile, will travel to Minnesota for a matchup with the Vikings (8-1), who upset the Bills in Week 10's wildest back-and-forth.

[Nov 13, 2022 at 6:00 pm ET · Cody Benjamin]

Cowboys avoid a scare, nearly losing the ball on the kick return following Aaron Jones' TD. They then proceed to march 66 yards in eight plays, tying the contest again with a dump-off from Dak Prescott to Dalton Schultz, who gets around Quay Walker for six. Afterward, Walker and teammates have a discussion about the failed coverage. We go into halftime at 14-14, and frankly, Green Bay has been the more impressive team, picking off Prescott twice and flashing big plays both on the ground and (!) through the air.

[Nov 13, 2022 at 5:49 pm ET · Cody Benjamin]

Aaron Jones' TD run, capped with a memorable entrance into the end zone to put Green Bay up by a score:

[Nov 13, 2022 at 5:49 pm ET · Cody Benjamin]

Driving after Rudy Ford's second pick of the day, the Packers officially take the lead on Aaron Jones' 12-yard scamper for a basically untouched score. And it's officially one of those days for Jones, who's already up to 11 carries for 66 yards as halftime approaches. He's also got one catch on the day. Matt LaFleur doing a good job keeping the ball in his hands. 14-7, Green Bay.

[Nov 13, 2022 at 5:42 pm ET · Cody Benjamin]

Mike McCarthy could be seen in exasperation on the sideline after Prescott's latest pick: "Dak!" he hollered to no one in particular. Seems as if the QB really was expecting CeeDee Lamb to be in a different position when he threw it. Either way, it's been an off night for America's Team's signal-caller. He's now 10 of 18 for 58 yards and two picks with halftime fast approaching.

[Nov 13, 2022 at 5:41 pm ET · Cody Benjamin]

Dak and Lamb clearly not on the same page during the QB's second pick of the night:

[Nov 13, 2022 at 5:40 pm ET · Cody Benjamin]

After much deliberation, the Cowboys go for it on fourth-and-1 from their own 41, and Dak Prescott gets just enough to move the sticks on the sneak. Immediately afterward, he's off-target on back-to-back-to-back throws, first to Tony Pollard in the flat, then to Michael Gallup to his left, and then on an awful over-the-middle target to CeeDee Lamb, picked off by Rudy Ford for the second time of the night. Once again, it's unclear if Dak is expecting a different route -- CeeDee was looking up-field as Prescott threw over the middle -- but Ford is there to steal it, giving the Packers possession just outside the red zone.

[Nov 13, 2022 at 5:23 pm ET · Cody Benjamin]

This is the kind of deep speed Aaron Rodgers has been lacking all year:

[Nov 13, 2022 at 5:23 pm ET · Cody Benjamin]

Don't look now, but we've got an explosive play in Green Bay! Aaron Rodgers does a little play-action, then lofts a perfect deep strike down the right side to Christian Watson, who outraces Anthony Brown to haul in the 58-yard touchdown. Watson has flashed the speed to be a difference-maker for this team, but that was the real deal. Tie ballgame at Lambeau, 7-7.

[Nov 13, 2022 at 5:17 pm ET · Cody Benjamin]

Rudy Ford's pick to keep the Packers in it, offsetting DeMarcus Lawrence's strip-sack of A-Rod:

[Nov 13, 2022 at 5:16 pm ET · Cody Benjamin]

Don't write off the Packers yet! Three plays after the Cowboys swipe the ball on the strip-sack, Dak Prescott makes a bad throw into the end zone toward Dalton Schultz, and it's easily picked by Rudy Ford. Not sure if Dak was expecting a different route, but the pass was into traffic; Schultz didn't come close to touching it. Green Bay suddenly avoids a two-score deficit.

[Nov 13, 2022 at 5:15 pm ET · Cody Benjamin]

DeMarcus Lawrence's hit that knocks the ball loose and gives the Cowboys a bonus possession:

[Nov 13, 2022 at 5:14 pm ET · Cody Benjamin]

Oh no. Bad news for the Packers on two accounts: Aaron Rodgers is hit while moving up in the pocket to avoid a sack, gets sacked anyway by DeMarcus Lawrence, and then the ball pops out and into Lawrence's hands. If Green Bay is going to contend in this game, it cannot afford to have its best player turning the ball over when the rest of the offense is already so scattershot. The other issue: Rodgers appeared to hurt his already-banged-up thumb on the play. Trainer tending to it on the sideline.

[Nov 13, 2022 at 5:07 pm ET · Cody Benjamin]

CeeDee Lamb's score to put the Cowboys in front almost halfway through the second quarter:

[Nov 13, 2022 at 5:06 pm ET · Cody Benjamin]

Lack of discipline on the Packers' part helps Dallas extend its longest drive of the day, first on an offsides and then with 12 men on the field. Cowboys get to milk more than eight minutes off the clock as a result, capping their run with a short TD pass from Dak Prescott to CeeDee Lamb. And there are the first points of the day; it's 7-0 Cowboys, Mike McCarthy on top of his old team.

[Nov 13, 2022 at 5:03 pm ET · Cody Benjamin]

Packers once again reach enemy territory but come up short, this time due to a stuffed third-down run and subsequent delay-of-game penalty on fourth to force a punt. Matt LaFleur certainly leaning on the run out of the gate a week after Aaron Rodgers' three-pick day. Aaron Jones and AJ Dillon have already combined for 13 carries early in the second. No points to show for it yet.

[Nov 13, 2022 at 4:42 pm ET · Cody Benjamin]

Mason Crosby is no good from 54 yards on the Packers' first series after two straight incompletions to Christian Watson, who will have a bigger role today with Romeo Doubs sidelined. AJ Dillon gets four carries as the early lead back. Fortunately for them, Dallas goes three-and-out right afterward. Tony Pollard should be a focal point for the Cowboys with Ezekiel Elliott inactive.

[Nov 13, 2022 at 4:31 pm ET · Cody Benjamin]

All eyes on the other Fox broadcast right now as Bills-Vikings wraps up: that game is headed to overtime at 30-30, after Buffalo and Minnesota traded miraculous last-minute possessions -- Kirk Cousins hitting Justin Jefferson for a wild one-handed catch on fourth-and-long, then failing to get in on a QB sneak, only for the Vikings defense to score on the Bills' ensuing sneak from their own 1-yard line. Obviously the results have implications for the NFC North, where the Packers are desperate to make up ground.

[Nov 13, 2022 at 2:57 pm ET · Cody Benjamin]

It is officially Tony Pollard's day. Ezekiel Elliott will not suit up while recovering from a knee injury. Look for a heavy dose of Pollard in Dallas' offense, with backups Malik Davis and Qadree Ollison also available. Green Bay's run "D" has been vulnerable.