There may not have been any quarterback in the NFL who finished the regular season on a better streak than Jordan Love, and he and the Green Bay Packers continued their hot streak in their wild-card weekend game against the Dallas Cowboys . As 7-point road favorites, the Packers dominated for most of the game, finishing with a 48-32 victory in a game that was not as close as the final score indicated.
Packers complete second-biggest playoff upset in team history
The Packers’ biggest surprises in the playoffs:
+10 – 1996 at 49ers (QB: Brett Favre)
+?
+5.5 – 2017 at Cowboys (QB: Aaron Rodgers)
(via @EvanHAbrams) pic.twitter.com/0lOjQWJMRW
– Action Network (@ActionNetworkHQ) January 15, 2024
Love and running back Aaron Jones were the stories of the game. The latter ran for 118 yards and three touchdowns that day, and Love showed that his hot streak to finish the regular season was no fluke. The first-year starter was in control throughout the game, throwing for a total of 272 yards and also three touchdowns, an impressive feat on a night when the offensive attack focused primarily on the running game.
Love spread the ball evenly among his receivers, with 16 of his passes completed to 7 different targets and each of his touchdowns being caught by someone different.
The Packers opened a 32-point lead in the fourth quarter before the Cowboys added two late touchdowns and two-point conversions to reduce the blowout.
+7 points this week, +9.5 against the 49ers
Odds for the Packers on the 49ers Divisional Round game are now available at @FDSportsbook. Niners -9.5, 49.5 O/U. pic.twitter.com/TYwCwPdU3T
– Jason Logan (@CoversJLo) January 14, 2024
Green Bay certainly did its part to cover the spread. They came into the game as the second biggest underdog of the weekend with a fate of +7, and were obviously able to win outright to advance.
The victory marked the second-biggest upset in playoff history for the Packers franchise. It was the biggest since 1997, when Brett Favre led the way for the team to defeat the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC Championship game despite being 10-point underdogs. The most recent was when Aaron Rodgers and company overcame a 5.5-point designation to defeat the Cowboys outright in 2017.
As a reward for their victory, Love and the Packers will travel to San Francisco to take on the Super Bowl favorite for the right to play in the NFC Championship.
The 49ers will present a whole new challenge to Jordan Love with their top-ranked defense. This time they will have to overcome even longer odds if they hope to advance, as San Francisco opened as a heavy 9.5-point favorite.
