Seven TDs Push Green Bay Past Dallas

 By Eric Goska

Darnell Savage (26) returned an interception
64 yards for a touchdown in Dallas.
(photo by Eric Goska)

Scoring seven touchdowns has always equated to victory in the NFL postseason.

The Packers became the latest team to demonstrate the validity of that statement as they pounded Dallas 48-32 in a wild-card playoff game Sunday at AT&T Stadium. Green Bay never trailed as it pierced the Cowboys’ end zone at least once in every quarter.

Coach Matt LaFleur’s youngsters continue to surprise. Not expected to contend for a playoff berth, his charges – an underdog in Dallas – buried the No. 2 seed in the NFC with an avalanche of points.

In doing so, they became the first in team in club annals to score seven touchdowns in a playoff game. The 48 points they tallied tied the franchise record set in 2011 when Aaron Rodgers and Co. dispatched the Falcons 48-21 at the Georgia Dome.

Green Bay reached pay dirt on six of its first seven drives. After punting to end its second possession, the team recorded touchdowns on five straight advances.

Jordan Love connected with Romeo Doubs from three yards out to cap the run of five. That throw, Love’s third touchdown pass of the afternoon, put the Packers ahead 48-16 with 10 minutes, 23 seconds remaining.

Four other Packers besides Doubs found the end zone: Aaron Jones (3 times), Dontayvion Wicks, Darnell Savage and Luke Musgrave. Savage got there on a 64-yard interception return late in the second quarter.

Savage’s return put Green Bay ahead 27-0.  At that time, the Packers (217 yards) had nearly doubled the output of the Cowboys (111).

Sunday’s game was the 62nd playoff contest for Green Bay dating to 1936. Only four times previously had the team scored four first-half touchdowns, none as quickly as LaFleur’s outfit did against Dallas.

Sunday’s game was the 67th playoff contest for Dallas dating to 1967. Only once before – in a 38-28 loss to San Francisco in 1995 – had it surrendered four touchdowns in the first half.

Green Bay is 5-0 when scoring four first-half TDs in the postseason.

For the record, fifteen teams have scored seven TDs in a playoff game according to Pro Football Reference. The Giants, Cowboys, Bills and 49ers each did it twice.

Four on the Floor
The five playoff games in which the Packers scored four first-half touchdowns and how much time (game clock) was needed to post them.

Time     Date                          Opponent               Result
28:10      Jan. 14, 2024             at Cowboys                GB won, 48-32
28:30     Jan. 8, 1983                Cardinals                    GB won, 41-16
29:11      Dec. 31, 1995              Falcons                        GB won, 37-20
29:34     Jan. 12, 2008              Seahawks                   GB won, 42-20
30:00     Jan. 15, 2011              at Falcons                   GB won, 48-21