Cowboys Fall to 2-4 After 23-13 Packers Loss as Prescott-Heavy Formula Unravels

Q: Despite building a massive early lead, what caused the Packers' offense to completely vanish during the second half?

Green Bay’s offense disappeared in the second half because it stopped cashing in on chances and Dallas adjusted enough defensively to force the Packers off schedule. The Packers did their damage early with explosive throws from Jordan Love and short fields created by the defense, but they also left points behind even before halftime. Broader coverage noted dropped touchdown opportunities by Matthew Golden and Christian Watson, and after Love’s late second-quarter scoring run, Green Bay never reached the end zone again. Trey Smack’s field goals accounted for the rest. Dallas was better after the break. The Cowboys held Green Bay scoreless in the second half, tightened up after the Packers’ early deep shots, and at least stabilized the game defensively even though the offense still struggled. With the big plays reduced, Green Bay no longer had the same easy scoring opportunities that built the 17-0 lead. Game flow also mattered. Once ahead by three scores, the Packers did not need to keep attacking aggressively, and their defense continued controlling Dak Prescott and the Dallas offense. That allowed Green Bay to play more conservatively, protect the lead, and avoid unnecessary risks, even if it made the offense look quiet. So the second-half shutdown was less about one single collapse and more about a combination of missed scoring chances, improved Cowboys defense, and a Packers team that had already built enough cushion to shift into game-management mode.

3 articles · Updated · NBC News · Oct 19

Dallas dropped to 2-4 — its worst six-game start since 2020 — after a 23-13 loss at Green Bay left playoff hopes resting on a shaky NFC East race.
Dak Prescott threw 54 passes as Dallas again failed to run consistently, and an offense that scored freely early has produced just 29 points over the last two games.
Prescott's form has also dipped: after eight touchdowns and one interception in his first four games, he has two touchdowns and four interceptions in the last two, with another pick Sunday wiped out by penalty.
Dallas' defense showed only partial progress, holding Green Bay to 23 points but still allowing repeated third-down conversions; the Cowboys entered Week 6 last in interceptions and near the bottom in yards and scoring defense.
The broader picture remains bleak despite division-wide struggles: since Dan Quinn's 2023 exit, Dallas has cycled through three coordinators in three years and is still searching for a playoff-caliber identity.