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Cowboys run game won last time at Lambeau, now is time to find it again

The Dallas Cowboys enter Sunday’s primetime showdown at Lambeau Field in desperate need of a statement victory, especially after a dismal stretch that includes a lackluster loss to the winless Tampa Bay Buccaneers—a game Al Michaels dismissed as a ‘can’t lose’ contest before the Cowboys fell flat. This marks the first time in nearly a decade the Cowboys have faced the Green Bay Packers without a win, having lost 10 of their last 11 meetings (including playoffs) since a 30-16 road triumph in Dak Prescott’s rookie season.

That 2016 win was part of a five-game winning streak in Green Bay, but the Cowboys’ playoff hopes were dashed in a rematch the following year, setting off a three-year playoff drought that continues after back-to-back Wild Card losses to the Packers in 2023 and 2024. The stakes couldn’t be higher this season, as another defeat would all but eliminate Dallas from playoff contention for a third straight year.

Offensively, the Cowboys’ struggles against Green Bay last season were glaring, starting with three straight punts and a third-down conversion rate of just 4-11, while the Packers dominated late with 10 of their 14 third-down attempts succeeding. Despite narrowing a 13-0 deficit to a 16-13 halftime lead, Dallas sealed its fate in overtime after Jordan Love’s game-tying drive was stifled by Jack Sanborn’s interception.

The Packers then capitalized with a last-second field goal, handing Dallas its second-highest-scoring defeat of the season (40 points allowed). Meanwhile, the Cowboys’ defensive transition under new coordinator Christian Parker has yet to yield meaningful improvement, as the unit remains mired in inefficiency after allowing 40 points in last year’s loss—a figure only topped twice all season (44 points to the Broncos and Lions).

With the Packers’ offense clicking on third downs even in recent losses, Dallas must find its run game and defensive discipline to avoid another humiliating result in Wisconsin.

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