National Football League

Flynn fuels epic rally, Packers top Cowboys 37-36

Published Dec. 16, 2013 3:21 a.m. ET

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Matt Flynn is ready to hand the starting job back to Aaron Rodgers.

While he's finished filling in for the injured former Super Bowl MVP, he has a spot in Green Bay lore, even if it's not quite on par with the franchise's many championship moments.

Flynn threw four touchdown passes in the second half, Eddie Lacy had the winning score on a 1-yard plunge after Tony Romo threw an interception to give the Packers one more chance, and Green Bay matched the biggest comeback in franchise history with a 37-36 win over the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday.

''Yeah, it's probably the biggest win of my career,'' said Flynn, who has won two straight starts after the Packers were winless for five straight without Rodgers, including the Chicago game when he broke his left collarbone.

The epic rally fueled by Flynn - and helped along by Romo - didn't change anything about the quarterback situation with the Packers (7-6-1) still in playoff contention heading into a home game against Pittsburgh.

Rodgers was close to medical clearance against the Cowboys, but missed his sixth straight game. He was wearing a headset on Green Bay's sideline.

''I don't anticipate being the guy going forward,'' said Flynn, who was released twice this year before the Packers picked him up after Rodgers got hurt. ''We all anticipate Aaron getting healthy.''

Romo tossed two interceptions in the final 3 minutes, the first set up Green Bay's go-ahead score with the Cowboys in position to run out the clock.

Lacy scored with 1:31 to go for Green Bay's first lead since the first quarter and after the Packers trailed 26-3 at halftime.

''It took me everything not to cry,'' Packers coach Mike McCarthy said. ''I'm just drained. Just the sheer emotion. It was incredible.''

Playing on the same field where Rodgers was the MVP when they won the 2011 Super Bowl, the Packers matched the 23-point rally by the 1982 team in a September game against the Los Angeles Rams.

Five things to consider after the Packers beat the Cowboys on the road for the first time in 10 games - a drought dating to 1989.

PICKS ARE POISON: With Dallas leading 36-31, Dez Bryant made lunged for a first down after a catch just before the 2-minute warning that looked like would be enough for the Cowboys to hold on.

But Romo threw behind Miles Austin after escaping a sack and Sam Shields intercepted at midfield. The Packers steadily moved downfield before Lacy's score.

Behind for the first time since the first quarter, Romo threw a ball too far in front of Cole Beasley, and Tramon Williams made a diving grab that was initially called incomplete. When the video review overturned the call, Flynn ended the game with kneel-downs.

Williams had an earlier interception and return inside the Dallas 10 overturned on replay with the Cowboys clinging to a 29-24 lead.

DEVASTATED DEZ: Bryant walked off the field before the game ended and refused to talk to reporters in the locker room, simply shaking his head at them after finishing with 153 yards and a touchdown. He later tweeted that he went back to the locker room ''because I was emotional ... it had nothing to do with my teammates.''

The Cowboys (7-7) still control their playoff fate despite blowing a great chance to pull even in the NFC East with the Eagles, who lost to Minnesota.

They finish with Washington and Philadelphia after wasting five field goals from Dan Bailey, including two from 50 yards, and DeMarco Murray's second straight 100-yard game (134 with a touchdown).

''We still control what we feel like we can get done,'' said Romo, who threw for 358 yards and two touchdowns. ''It just doesn't feel like it right now because we let it slip away.''

LACY'S BIG RUN: Lacy might have jump-started the Green Bay offense with a 60-yard run on the first play of the second half. The Packers scored touchdowns on their first five drives after halftime against a Dallas defense that gave up eight straight scoring possessions in a loss to Chicago last week. ''We just didn't give up,'' said Lacy, who finished with 141 yards.

MORE COACH TALK: Cowboys owner Jerry Jones emphatically repeated that there will be no coaching change after a collapse that moved Jason Garrett a step closer to his third straight 8-8 season, which would likely mean a fourth straight year without a playoff berth for the Cowboys. ''We have to rebound,'' Jones said. ''We've got a ball game coming up, and by the way, Garrett will coach that game against the Redskins. Book that. Write about that.''

INJURY UPDATE: Packers defensive end Johnny Jolly left the game with a shoulder injury, and tight end Brandon Bostick came out with a foot injury. The Cowboys ended up without their top four linebackers after Justin Durant (hamstring) and Ernie Sims (hip) were knocked out. They were already playing without Sean Lee and Bruce Carter.

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AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org

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