How Packers’ Aaron Rodgers ended Cowboys’ 2016 season

FRISCO, Texas — Within the 2016 season, Dak Prescott was a rookie quarterback main the Dallas Cowboys to an NFC-best 13-3 report and home-field benefit within the divisional spherical of the playoffs when he first skilled postseason heartbreak.

On the opposite sideline that day have been the Inexperienced Bay Packers, coached by present Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy and quarterbacked by Aaron Rodgers. After an underwhelming begin, Prescott rallied the Cowboys to a 31-31 tie with 35 seconds left.

Then third-and-20 occurred.

The Cowboys host the Packers Sunday at AT&T Stadium (4:30 p.m. ET, Fox) for the ninth time within the playoffs, bringing again fond recollections for Dallas followers of three straight playoff wins over Inexperienced Bay from 1993 to 1995.

However these video games are sandwiched by Packers postseason victories over the Cowboys: Bart Starr’s landing to win the 1967 NFL Championship Sport, higher generally known as the Ice Bowl; the 2014 divisional spherical, when Dez Bryant’s fourth-down catch was overturned by replay — and the 2016 divisional spherical, when Mason Crosby turned Rodgers’ third-and-20 heroics right into a game-winning area aim with no time left on the clock.

“I imply as a rookie, thought we have been simply going to go and wipe them off the sphere, and that did not occur,” mentioned Prescott, who’s making his fifth playoff look Sunday. “Began off down 21-3, capable of come again and make a play, after which simply considering … ‘Oh, that was only a fortunate play [by Rodgers].'”

All of the Cowboys wanted to do was cease the Packers on third-and-20 and run the ultimate 12 seconds off the clock to drive additional time. As an alternative, rolling to his left, Rodgers discovered tight finish Jared Cook dinner for a 35-yard catch that pushed them to the Dallas 33 and arrange Crosby’s successful kick.

Prescott known as it “the Michael Jackson catch” with how Cook dinner went up on his toes to make the seize, however he not calls it a fortunate play.

“Eight years later, having Mike as my coach, understanding that was a play that they practiced time and time once more — as a result of we have practiced these conditions time and time once more. It simply exhibits the significance of observe, of the small print, of the communication, being on the identical web page, what to anticipate in these essential moments.”

The Cowboys have 4 gamers remaining from that sport on their 53-man roster: Prescott, Tyron Smith, Zack Martin and DeMarcus Lawrence. The Packers have one: Kenny Clark. In addition they have three coaches. Along with McCarthy, the Cowboys have 4 assistant coaches who have been then on the Packers’ employees.

Third-and-20 shall be among the many backdrops of this week’s wild-card matchup. Right here is an oral historical past, from these concerned, that was initially printed in 2017:

The scenario: With 12 seconds left in regulation, the Packers face third-and-20 at their 32 after Jeff Heath sacked Rodgers for a 10-yard loss on first down. Additional time appears virtually sure.

Rodgers: “Quite a bit went into that play and it is one that you will look again on for a very long time and be ok with.”

Besides it wasn’t actually even a play.

Packers receiver Randall Cobb: “He gave Jared and Davante [Adams] routes, after which he was operating out of time, so he informed me and [Trevor Davis] simply to expire left. It is not the primary time it is occurred. It is the primary time it is occurred in that sort of second.”

Cook dinner: “We knew it was crunch time and this was most likely our final play to get into area aim place. Aaron simply sort of will get within the huddle and simply just about calls up a play out of the air. It was a play we had designed, however he mentioned everyone simply find yourself on the left facet of the sphere.”

One of many primary tenets of the Cowboys’ sport plan was to maintain Rodgers contained in the pocket. They don’t seem to be profitable on this play. On the snap, proper defensive finish DeMarcus Lawrence jumps inside, which permits left sort out David Bakhtiari to push him farther inside.

Cowboys defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli: “We’ve got what we name a ‘shark’ on him. It could’ve helped if [Lawrence is] there however we had a ‘shark’ [linebacker Justin Durant] and so they did an awesome job of pulling a lineman on the dash out. They adjusted as a result of we have been having some success with that package deal. When he extends a play laterally, it is onerous.”

By means of the course of the season, the Cowboys’ protection had confronted third-and-20 or extra solely two different occasions. They allowed a dump cross to Cincinnati on third-and-27 in Week 5 and a run on third-and-21 towards Philadelphia in Week 17. Each led to punts.

Utilizing their “Deacon” package deal with three defensive linemen, Durant works as a spy on the quarterback. As quickly as Rodgers spins to his left, Durant fees up the sphere with left guard Lane Taylor between him and Rodgers.

Rodgers: “The truth that Lane Taylor did his job so effectively gave me a little bit further time.”

Cowboys linebacker Justin Durant: “It was an awesome design on the play. They knew, most likely, what we have been going to do as a result of we have been having success with that for just a few snaps. They rolled them out. I used to be like, ‘I’ve bought to attempt to get round him to make a play.’ I attempted. I simply noticed a step gradual. I could not get to him in time.”

Packers guard Lane Taylor: As soon as he rolled out left, I used to be like, ‘All proper, it is simply me out right here.’ Then I used to be like, ‘Right here comes the linebacker. Oh crap, right here we go, I’ve bought to make this block, that is for positive.’ I used to be capable of basketball him, keep in entrance of him, after which proper on the finish I used to be simply nervous about going over the road [of scrimmage], so I gave him one final shove and Aaron dropped a dime.”

As Rodgers rolls left, Cowboys linebacker Sean Lee passes Cook dinner beneath to security Byron Jones, with Cobb operating the identical route however a little bit deeper. Adams, who was the one receiver to Rodgers’ left, runs straight up the sphere whereas coated by cornerback Brandon Carr.

Jones hesitates ever so briefly as Rodgers rolls to the left. He throws it off the incorrect foot from the Packers’ 29, however the cross is nearly easy. Cook dinner is with Jones on the time of the throw, however 5 yards deeper.

Rodgers: “I feel I’ve made harder throws so far as physique angles and pace on the roll and prettier throws. That was correct, nevertheless it did not get there the prettiest method, spiral-wise.”

Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott: “No method. No method he caught the ball and no method Aaron Rodgers made that play.”

Cowboys security Jeff Heath: “It was similar to you may’t imagine he made the throw. I feel the throw was most likely probably the most spectacular half. Rolling to his left, he is a right-handed quarterback and throwing all the way in which throughout his physique and in a very tight window.”

Cook dinner: “I am operating my route, and I am getting depth, and the protection is sort of in a stop, guard the sidelines, guard deep, do not allow them to get too deep. I see there is a man within the beneath protection and there is room for Aaron to suit the ball in between, however I needed to wait. I used to be like, if I get on the opposite facet of this man, he is most likely going to throw it. He pumps it and the man beneath sat, and Aaron saved working to the sideline, so I saved working with him and he simply rips it proper down the sideline completely.”

Jones: “Disbelief the way in which he threw it, how he threw it, how lengthy he held onto the ball. And simply the catch and throw, you do not see that usually. That is only a nice participant making a big-time play. … I did not know [Cook] was there.”

At first, there’s confusion as as to if Cook dinner is in bounds. Nearly in unison, the Cowboys’ sideline waves off the reception. One official is about to sign an incomplete cross, however facet decide Rob Vernatchi emphatically declares it a catch.

After additional overview, the decision is confirmed.

Nelson: “You lookup and all their sideline is saying incomplete, after which they mentioned it was a catch and you continue to do not know till it goes by means of replay. Even when we watched it right now, it is nonetheless loopy to see that it truly labored. For him to run all the way in which throughout the sphere like that, for Aaron to place the ball on the spot and for him to have the ability to cease and nonetheless catch it, there’s a lot that goes on and to have the ability to set it up after which clearly end it off with a area aim, it is one for the ages, I assume.”

Carr: “As quickly as he caught it [I knew]. Instantly. I used to be about 10 yards away from it. It was a very good catch and throw. He put it on the cash.”

Cobb: “I could not inform from my angle, however I noticed that the ref known as it a catch, so it was a catch.”

Cowboys defensive finish Tyrone Crawford: “Positively thought he was out of bounds. I imply, it was an incredible catch, clearly, as a result of the man saved his toes in bounds, nevertheless it was positively heartbreaking to search out out his toes have been nonetheless in.”

With three seconds left, Crosby kicks a 51-yard area aim to win the sport and ship the Packers to the NFC Championship Sport and finish the Cowboys’ season. (The Packers went on to lose 44-21 to the Falcons within the NFC Championship Sport.)

Cook dinner: “I simply attempt to maintain on for so long as I can earlier than I hit the bottom so that they know it is a catch. The remainder is historical past, child.”

Carr: “We felt like we had the group. That was our 12 months to make our run and do our factor. That was the largest letdown that I felt in my profession so far. I knew we had every part we wanted to do what we needed to do.”

NFL Nation reporters Jamison Hensley and Paul Gutierrez contributed to this story.