Packers win an ‘unbelievable effort’, says QB Rogers

(Reuters) – Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers, the MVP of Green Bay’s Super Bowl triumph six years ago, was left almost speechless after his team’s nailbiting 34-31 win over the Dallas Cowboys in a divisional playoff showdown on Sunday.

After squandering an 18-point lead they established during the second quarter, the Packers held off a thrilling Cowboys comeback with successive field goals by Mason Crosby, the last of which was set up by another bit of playoff magic by Rodgers.

Rodgers, taking over the ball with 44 seconds left and the score 31-31, connected on a stunning 35-yard completion to tight end Jared Cook, who nimbly tip-toed inbounds with just three seconds left on the clock.

Crosby then delivered for the final time, kicking the game-winner from 51 yards just inside the left upright after his first attempt had been waived off as Dallas called time out right before the snap.

“Unbelievable effort. What a game, what a game,” Rogers told Fox Sports, having briefly paused to gather his thoughts after the frenetic end to a playoff classic at AT&T Stadium.

“Jared just kept on coming and I tried to put it in a good spot and he made a hell of a catch. And then Mason, Mason kicked twice. Unbelievable. “It’s a different energy with this team, the guys are very hungry, there’s a stronger belief,” Rodgers said. “This one is special — more special than we’ve had in a while.”

Next Sunday, the Packers will take on the Atlanta Falcons in the NFC Championship game to decide which team reaches the Super Bowl but for the moment, Rogers wanted to savor the victory.

“We’re just going to enjoy this game,” the six-time Pro Bowl selection said after completing 28 of 43 passes for 356 yards and two touchdowns, with an interception. “We are going to celebrate this, then we are going to move on to Atlanta.”

Packers head coach Mike McCarthy applauded the sheer grit shown by his team.

“I can’t say enough about my football team’s resiliency,” McCarthy told reporters.

“Obviously a fantastic finish. The execution there, the throw by Aaron and the catch by Jared Cook and Mason Crosby being able to knock it through twice … a pretty good insight into who we are as a football team.”

(Reporting by Mark Lamport-Stokes in St. Augustine, Florida; Editing by Larry Fine)