Cowboys countdown to kickoff: Top 100 iconic games – Day 35

It is Day 35 of our 100-day countdown to kickoff. We are looking back at the 100 most iconic games in Dallas Cowboys history. The countdown will leads us right up to the opening game of 2026. Our look back doesn’t depend on just one criteria for our rankings. We take into consideration things like how big the game was for the organization, how memorable the game was, games that had unusual events take place, games that are a part of NFL lore, Cowboys firsts, and games where the Cowboys just plain dominated. Variety is the spice of life and we have all different kind of Cowboys games to review. At the bottom, we’ll link each day of the countdown so you can go back and check out any you missed.

Welcome in for Day 35 of our 100-day countdown to kickoff, when we revisit a playoff victory that rarely receives the attention given to the championship games surrounding it. Dallas entered as the defending Super Bowl champion and the NFC’s second seed, while Green Bay arrived as an emerging contender behind Brett Favre.

The matchup showcased two franchises at different stages of their development. Dallas, already the league’s dominant young team, sought to defend its title with Troy Aikman, Emmitt Smith, and Michael Irvin. Meanwhile, Green Bay, under the guidance of Mike Holmgren and Brett Favre, was beginning its return to relevance. Despite a Wild Card round victory over Detroit, securing their first postseason win in 11 years, the Packers faced a much steeper test at Texas Stadium.  

The game opened with mistakes from both teams. Smith lost a fumble that LeRoy Butler recovered at the Dallas 43-yard line, giving Green Bay an immediate opportunity. The advantage disappeared on the next snap when Tony Tolbert sacked Favre and forced a fumble, which Leon Lett recovered for the Cowboys. Before either offense had established anything, the defending champions had already answered one turnover with another.  

Dallas attempted to build momentum with a fake punt, but Green Bay intercepted it and took possession at the Cowboys’ 28-yard line. Despite the interception, the Cowboys’ defense prevented the mistake from turning into a touchdown, holding the Packers to a 30-yard field goal by Chris Jacke. Green Bay led 3-0, but the Cowboys had managed to limit the damage from two early failures to just three points.

In the second quarter, the Cowboys’ offense settled down. Aikman completed four consecutive passes during a 65-yard drive, navigating through Green Bay’s coverage until Alvin Harper broke free for a 25-yard touchdown. This touchdown secured the Cowboys’ lead, putting them ahead 7-3. Although Dallas had played unevenly in the opening quarter, a controlled possession proved decisive in securing their victory.  

Favre immediately demonstrated why the Packers believed they had found their franchise quarterback. He connected with Sterling Sharpe for 48 yards, moving Green Bay into Dallas territory. However, the Cowboys tightened near the edge of field-goal range, and Jacke’s 49-yard attempt struck the upright. Instead of reclaiming the lead, Green Bay left Aikman enough time to create the sequence that would change the afternoon.  

Dallas drove 45 yards in 10 plays, with Aikman using Smith and Irvin to move the chains against a defense that was beginning to struggle with the Cowboys’ precision. Eddie Murray made a 41-yard field goal with 23 seconds left in the half, extending the lead to 10-3. It looked like a useful but unspectacular finish to the quarter. Then the Cowboys’ special teams transformed it into something much bigger.  

Kenneth Gant forced Corey Harris to fumble the ensuing kickoff, which Joe Fishback recovered for Dallas. Aikman immediately capitalized on the short field, finding Jay Novacek for a six-yard touchdown. In just 23 seconds, the Cowboys had scored 10 points, turning a competitive 7-3 game into a 17-3 halftime advantage. This burst of momentum became the separation Green Bay struggled to overcome throughout the rest of the day.  

The Cowboys then delivered their best drive of the second half. Aikman completed a pass to Irvin for 18 yards, with a facemask penalty adding another 15. Irvin finished the six-play, 65-yard march with a 19-yard touchdown reception, giving Dallas a 24-3 lead. Green Bay had focused much of its attention on stopping Smith, but that left Aikman and Irvin with enough room to control the game through the air.  

The Cowboys’ pass rush and secondary ensured the comeback never became serious. Early in the fourth quarter, Jim Jeffcoat deflected a Favre pass that Charles Haley intercepted. Dallas converted the takeaway into a 38-yard Murray field goal, pushing the lead to 27-10. The Packers later drove from their own 15 to the Dallas 15, but Darren Woodson intercepted Favre and ended their last realistic chance to turn the game.  

This game belongs on the countdown because repeat championships are rarely built entirely from famous moments. Before Dallas could win another NFC Championship showdown with San Francisco or return to the Super Bowl against Buffalo, it had to remove an ambitious Packers team that was beginning to understand its own potential.

Aikman’s three touchdown passes went to Harper, Novacek, and Irvin, showcasedg his control over the game. This victory was more of an Aikman-led triumph than an Emmitt Smith rushing showcase, with 302 passing yards. 

Countdown to kickoff 

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