Dallas 7, Green Bay 17

1 2 3 4 T
DAL (6-3) 0 0 0 7 7
GNB (5-4) 0 3 0 14 17

Final

4:15 PM ET
November 15, 2009
Lambeau Field,
Green Bay, WI

Packers force two fumbles, pick off Romo to beat Cowboys

ESPNDallas.com 
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Team Stat Comparison
 
1st Downs1720
Passing 1st downs
1011
Rushing 1st downs
45
1st downs from Penalties
34
3rd down efficiency
3-127-15
4th down efficiency
2-20-0
Total Plays5868
Total Yards278283
Passing217178
Comp-Att
24-3925-36
Yards per pass
5.64.9
Rushing61105
Rushing Attempts
1428
Yards per rush
4.43.8
Red Zone (Made-Att)1-32-2
Penalties10-6712-100
Turnovers30
Fumbles lost
20
Interceptions thrown
10
Defensive / Special Teams TDs00
Possession24:0235:58
Air/Ground Leaders
Dallas Passing
 C/ATTYDSTDINT
Romo24/3925111
Green Bay Passing
 C/ATTYDSTDINT
Rodgers25/3618910
Dallas Rushing
 CARYDSTDLG
Barber526013
Romo316014
Green Bay Rushing
 CARYDSTDLG
Grant1979013
Rodgers515111
Dallas Receiving
 RECYDSTDLG
Williams5105141
Crayton452016
Green Bay Receiving
 RECYDSTDLG
Driver450024
Jennings445014
Dallas Fumbles
 FUMLOSTREC
Romo210
Williams110
Green Bay Fumbles
 FUMLOSTREC
Rodgers310
Matthews002
Scoring Summary
SECOND QUARTERDALGNB
FG00:00Mason Crosby 48 Yd 03
FOURTH QUARTERDALGNB
TD13:14Aaron Rodgers 1 Yd Run (Mason Crosby Kick) 010
TD10:49Spencer Havner 2 Yd Pass From Aaron Rodgers (Mason Crosby Kick) 017
TD00:38Roy Williams 9 Yd Pass From Tony Romo (Nick Folk Kick) 717
Photo Wire
GREEN BAY, WI - NOVEMBER 15: Roy Williams #11 of the Dallas Cowboys catches a pass in front of Nick Collins #36 of...
(Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)
Associated Press

GREEN BAY, Wis. -- Charles Woodson wouldn't let the Green Bay Packers' season slip away.

The veteran cornerback forced two fumbles and picked off a pass by Tony Romo on the goal line as Green Bay's defense finally played up to its potential against a big-time opponent, beating the Dallas Cowboys 17-7 on Sunday.

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It wasn't a pretty win for the Packers (5-4), but it might have saved their season after back-to-back demoralizing losses.

"It seemed like guys had a lot of passion out there today for the game," Woodson said. "Where it came from, I don't know, but we were happy to have it and got a big win for this team. We've got to have that passion every week, and it's got to show up on the field."

The Packers sacked Romo five times and allowed the Cowboys to convert only three of 12 third-down chances. It was a momentum-killer for the Cowboys (6-3), who had won four straight.

Dallas also lost starting right tackle Marc Colombo to a broken left fibula.

"Their defense is good, they've got a good scheme," Romo said. "I don't know how they are normally, but today they definitely got good pressure on the quarterback, slowed our running game and they played good behind it. The secondary, they've got good players."

The defense's dominant performance bailed out an offense that looked lost in the first half.

Aaron Rodgers rallied the Packers after halftime, scoring on a quarterback sneak and throwing a touchdown pass to tight end Spencer Havner. Afterward, Rodgers acknowledged that players knew fans were writing them off after back-to-back losses to Minnesota and Tampa Bay.

Fast Facts

• After struggling to a 3-0 score at halftime, the offenses combined for 21 fourth-quarter points.

• Aaron Rodgers threw only one touchdown pass for the first time since Week 2, but recorded a rushing touchdown for the second straight week.

• Tony Romo threw a touchdown and an interception after tossing just one interception over his previous four games combined.

• The Cowboys are limited to seven points after averaging over 30 in the previous four games.

• The loss snapped a four-game win streak for the Cowboys, while the Packers avoided a three-game losing streak.

• Rapid Reaction

-- ESPN Stats & Information

"I think a lot of people were thinking this was going to be the end of our road," Rodgers said.

Rodgers was 25 of 36 for 189 yards and a touchdown in another rough day, taking four sacks and spending much of the day under pressure.

But he took matters into his own hands to lead the Packers on a 15-play, 80-yard drive capped by a 1-yard sneak for a 10-0 lead early in the fourth quarter.

"I'm proud of the fact that when we needed a big drive in the third quarter, we came up with it," Rodgers said.

Rodgers converted two third-and-long situations against a thin secondary on the drive, as Cowboys coach Wade Phillips said Dallas lost cornerback Mike Jenkins to a left arm contusion, safety Ken Hamlin to an ankle injury and cornerback Alan Ball to a leg injury.

Cornerback Orlando Scandrick committed a pair of penalties on the drive.

"Most of our secondary went out in that one drive, which really hampered us," Phillips said. "We didn't have enough DBs to play even a nickel defense."

With the Cowboys pinned deep in their own territory on their next possession, Woodson burst through the line unblocked to sack Romo and strip the ball, allowing rookie outside linebacker Clay Matthews III to recover the ball at the 3.

Phillips tried to challenge the play, saying a Dallas player had recovered the fumble, but officials ruled that the play was not reviewable. That decision didn't sit well.

"They said because they ruled it a fumble all the way through, that I couldn't challenge it even though we recovered the ball and our guy was touched and he knew the guy was down," Phillips said.

Referee Jeff Triplette told a pool reporter recovery of a loose ball in the field of play is not reviewable by rule.

Facing third-and-goal after the turnover, Rodgers threw to Havner for a touchdown -- the fourth score of the season for Havner, a former linebacker who switched positions in training camp.

Romo then drove the Cowboys to the Packers 4, where Roy Williams drew a pass interference penalty on cornerback Tramon Williams in the end zone. But Woodson answered again, picking off Romo's pass on the next play to keep the Cowboys out of the end zone.

The Packers generated plenty of pressure despite playing without outside linebacker Aaron Kampman, who is recovering from a concussion. Even when they did allow a big play, Woodson was there, stripping the ball from Williams after a long completion in the first half.

"He's definitely one of our prime-time players," Packers coach Mike McCarthy said.

The Packers switched to a 3-4 alignment under new defensive coordinator Dom Capers in the offseason. So far, the new-look defense has dominated some weaker opponents but wilted against Cincinnati and in two games against Minnesota.

McCarthy comes from an offensive background, but said he prefers to win with defense.

"I love this kind of football," McCarthy said. "Maybe I was a defensive coach wannabe."

Game notes
Romo threw a touchdown pass to Williams with 38 seconds left, avoiding a shutout. ... Phillips said Colombo would likely have surgery Monday but wasn't necessarily out for the season. ... Packers LG Daryn Colledge left the game with an ankle injury but was able to return.


NFL Scores

Thursday, November 12th 2009
Chicago 6 Final
San Francisco 10
Sunday, November 15th 2009
Buffalo 17 Final
Tennessee 41
New Orleans 28 Final
St. Louis 23
Tampa Bay 23 Final
Miami 25
Detroit 10 Final
Minnesota 27
Jacksonville 24 Final
NY Jets 22
Cincinnati 18 Final
Pittsburgh 12
Denver 17 Final
Washington 27
Atlanta 19 Final
Carolina 28
Kansas City 16 Final
Oakland 10
Dallas 7 Final
Green Bay 17
Seattle 20 Final
Arizona 31
Philadelphia 23 Final
San Diego 31
New England 34 Final
Indianapolis 35
Monday, November 16th 2009
Baltimore 16 Final
Cleveland 0