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WEEK 6
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Jordan Love shrugs off missed chances as Packers handle Cowboys for third straight win

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Love accounted for both Green Bay touchdowns in a 23-13 Sunday night win and said dropped passes cannot change how the offense plays the next snap.

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WhyNFL Sports DeskPublished
Jordan Love in a 2019 archive photograph.
Jordan Love in 2019 (archive photo). Photo by Tennessee Titans, CC-BY-3.0, resized.

Jordan Love scored both of the Green Bay Packers’ touchdowns in a 23-13 win over the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday night at Lambeau Field, then spent his postgame news conference explaining why a handful of near-misses did not shake him.

The quarterback finished 23 of 41 for 276 yards with a touchdown pass and an interception, and he added a one-yard sneak for a score. The result was a third consecutive victory, lifting the Packers to 4-2 and dropping the Cowboys to 2-4.

Love on the drops

The scoreline could have been far wider. Rookie Matthew Golden let two potential touchdowns slip away, one of 43 yards and one of 23, and another deep ball worth 26 yards went through Christian Watson’s hands. Green Bay came away with field goals from Trey Smack on two of those drives instead of seven points.

Love did not dwell on it. “I want to make every throw,” he said, adding that he holds his receivers to the same standard on every catch. He called drops part of the game and insisted the group is good enough to make those plays. “For me, it’s got to be the next play mindset,” Love said.

Golden carried the same message. He admitted he wanted those snaps back on a big Sunday night stage, but said he would not let them weigh on him because he expects to make them every time. He still finished with six receptions for 104 yards and the game’s first touchdown.

How Love built the lead

Love set the tone on the opening possession, going 6 of 8 for 109 yards on a 14-play, 90-yard march that ended with a nine-yard touchdown throw to Golden. Green Bay never trailed again.

His interception came on the next series, but the defense picked him up. Evan Williams intercepted Dak Prescott at the Green Bay 3, and rookie cornerback Brandon Cisse later made the first interception of his career. With 23 seconds left before halftime, Love finished a 77-yard drive by sneaking in from one yard out, and the Packers went to the locker room ahead 17-0. It was the first time since November 7, 2021, that Dallas had been held scoreless in a first half.

After Javonte Williams cut the margin to 17-7, Love kept a third-quarter drive alive with a 14-yard completion to Tucker Kraft on fourth-and-3, and Smack’s 44-yard kick restored a two-score cushion. Smack added a 29-yarder, and Dallas did not reach the end zone again until Ryan Flournoy’s six-yard catch with 44 seconds to play.

A hot stretch

The win extends Love’s strongest run of the season: he has thrown for 643 yards across his last two games. He has done it largely without help from the ground game, as Green Bay managed only 57 rushing yards against Dallas, while running back Josh Jacobs has yet to play this season. The defense has carried its share, allowing 14, 7 and 13 points during the three-game winning streak.

The night was also heavy on flags: 22 penalties, 11 on each side. Green Bay was flagged for 96 yards and Dallas for 108.

What comes next

The Packers visit the Detroit Lions on Sunday, October 25, at 4:25 p.m. EDT. The Cowboys travel to face the Philadelphia Eagles on Monday, October 26, at 8:15 p.m. EDT. Full numbers from Sunday night are in the Game Center.

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