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Green Bay Packers rally to thrilling victory over Dallas Cowboys

Quarterback Rodgers threw two touch- down passes in a row in comeback win

Davante Adams of the Green Bay Packers runs into the end-zone past Barry Church of the Dallas Cowboys for a touchdown. Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images
Davante Adams of the Green Bay Packers runs into the end-zone past Barry Church of the Dallas Cowboys for a touchdown. Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images
Mon Jan 12 2015 - 01:01

Aaron Rodgers rallied the Green Bay Packers to a thrilling 26-21 playoff victory over the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday, sending them to the NFC title game to face defending Super Bowl champions, the Seattle Seahawks.

Rodgers, despite struggling with a calf injury, threw two touchdown passes in a row as Green Bay fought back from a 21-13 third-quarter deficit. He passed for three touchdowns and 317 yards for the game.

The Cowboys were left fuming about a controversial incompletion ruling late in the fourth quarter where instead of being at the Packers one-yard line after a brilliant Dez Bryant leap for a Tony Romo pass, they were forced to give Green Bay the ball back on downs.

The Packers took the lead on their first drive. Rodgers looked to run with the ball but hobbling slightly, he spotted Andrew Quarless in the end zone with a four-yard pass.

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Dallas struck back quickly with a pass interference penalty giving the Cowboys the ball at the one-yard line and Romo found fullback Tyler Clutts for his first career score.

The Cowboys scored again when Romo connected with Terrance Williams and the receiver broke a tackle from Tramon Williams and raced into the end zone.

The Packers reduced the deficit to a point thanks to field goals either side of halftime from Mason Crosby.

But with Rodgers lacking mobility, Dallas extended their advantage with a one-yard touchdown run from DeMarco Murray who had shown his electrifying pace with a 26-yard rush earlier in the drive.

Curiously, as time went on, Rodgers began to move better and he looked like his usual self when he moved out of the pocket, connecting with Davante Adams for a 46-yard touchdown pass to pull within one point.

When the Packers quarterback then found Richard Rodgers with a 13-yard go-ahead touchdown pass, the Lambeau Field crowd sensed victory.

Brady record

Meanwhile, New England quarterback Tom Brady broke childhood favourite Joe Montana’s post-season touchdown record as he threw three TD passes in the Patriots’ comeback 35-31 win over the Baltimore Ravens on Saturday.

Meanwhile, the defending Super Bowl champions Seattle Seahawks beat the Carolina Panthers 31-17 on Saturday, putting them one win away from a return trip to the NFL’s championship game.

The Seahawks, trying to become the NFL’s first repeat champion in 10 years, used a suffocating defence and explosive fourth quarter to put what had been a close game out of reach.