ARLINGTON, Texas -- A heavy dose of Aaron Jones, who capped the opening drive with a 3-yard touchdown run, gave the Green Bay Packers the first score in Sunday's NFC wild-card game against the Dallas Cowboys.
Jones, who had three straight 100-yard rushing games to end the regular season, carried seven times for 25 yards on the drive. It was Jones' seventh career touchdown in four games against the Cowboys.
It also tied Edgar Bennett for the most playoff rushing touchdowns in Packers history with five. Bennett's came in 10 career playoff games; this was Jones' sixth.
TD for @Showtyme_33 on the opening drive! 🙌#GBvsDAL | #GoPackGo
— Green Bay Packers (@packers) January 14, 2024
📺: FOX pic.twitter.com/qbUiLtCdF1
The Packers held the ball for seven minutes and 52 seconds, the longest opening drive in a playoff game since the New England Patriots (8:05) in the 2018 AFC Championship Game against the Kansas City Chiefs, according to ESPN Stats & Information.
The Cowboys allowed points on the first possession 10 times in the regular season.
Aaron Jones threw his TD ball to his twin brother Alvin in the stands 🏈 @My_Tyme10 @Showtyme_33
— NFL (@NFL) January 14, 2024
📺: #GBvsDAL on FOX
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus https://t.co/Ut3BRhC2CE pic.twitter.com/9vtCL4EZyk
Jones wasn't done. Thanks to an interception by Jaire Alexander, who went without one in limited action this season, the Packers had a short field and Jones scored again -- this time from 1 yard to give Green Bay a 14-0 lead 45 seconds into the second quarter.
.@JaireAlexander WITH THE INT!#GBvsDAL | #GoPackGo
— Green Bay Packers (@packers) January 14, 2024
📺: FOX pic.twitter.com/wvDyLZwBRo
TD No. 2 for @Showtyme_33! 💪#GBvsDAL | #GoPackGo
— Green Bay Packers (@packers) January 14, 2024
📺: FOX pic.twitter.com/bkYizEZRXQ
Jordan Love and Dontayvion Wicks made it 20-0 (Anders Carlson missed the extra point) with 3:23 before halftime with a 20-yard touchdown throw and catch. It came on third-and-7. In the regular season, Love threw 14 touchdown passes on third down, one short of Patrick Mahomes for the most in the league.
.@jordan3love finds @WicksDontayvion with a beauty of a pass! 🏈
— Green Bay Packers (@packers) January 14, 2024
TOUCHDOWN! 🙌#GBvsDAL | #GoPackGo
📺: FOX pic.twitter.com/aAxUZpmSiU
Less than two minutes after Wicks' touchdown catch, Packers safety Darnell Savage came up with a 64-yard pick-six of Dak Prescott that made it 27-0 with 1:50 to play in the first half. At that point, the Packers had more interception return yards (64) than Prescott had passing yards (61).
.@darnellsavage_ TO THE HOUSE! 🏠
— Green Bay Packers (@packers) January 14, 2024
Pick-six! 🙌 #GBvsDAL | #GoPackGo
📺: FOX pic.twitter.com/w0tPy1a68U
