ARLINGTON, Texas – For the first time since 1969, a Cowboys game ended in a tie with a 40-40 finish against the Green Bay Packers.
In a game that many had Dallas struggling in after a rough outing in Week 3, the Cowboys came out swinging and stayed in the game throughout the whole night. Ultimately, it wasn't enough to come away in the win column. Which begs the question: How are players supposed to feel after a tie?
"Never happy with tying, but it's much better than losing." Says Cowboys QB Dak Prescott.
Let's get into the notebook from a unique Week 4 at AT&T Stadium:
Houston, we have a problem (for opposing offenses)
The Cowboys have struggled to get a consistent pass rush going in 2025. When they have, however, James Houston has usually been involved in some fashion. That was the case again on Sunday night, and he made the biggest play of the game for Dallas.
With time ticking down in the second half, Houston forced a strip sack on Jordan Love and recovered his own fumble at the Green Bay 15-yard line. On the next play, Dak Prescott hit George Pickens up the seam for a touchdown to give the Cowboys their first lead of the game heading to the halftime break.
Houston, who was signed by the Cowboys one the day of their first training camp practice, now leads the team in sacks with two, none bigger than the one at the end of the first half.
Make it Rayne
After an overall rough outing entirely last week against the Bears for Dallas' offense, Dak Prescott led the bounce back effort in a big way for the Cowboys. He completed 31 of his 40 passing attempts for 319 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions.
And that wasn't all: Prescott only had one carry for two yards, but it was a touchdown run with 41 seconds left in the first half to bring the Cowboys to within four points. Thirty two seconds later, Prescott threw his first touchdown pass to George Pickens after a James Houston strip sack.
Overall, Prescott of course wants to come out of Sunday night with a victory. That said, he played very well and in owner/GM Jerry Jones' mind, was one of his best performances as a Cowboys and was "unbelievable" to not come away with a win behind it.
Next men up
With CeeDee Lamb sidelined on Sunday night with a high ankle sprain, the Cowboys needed the rest of their skill players to step up in his place, and they did.
The first player that everyone had their eyes on going into Sunday night was George Pickens. The Cowboys traded for him because they felt he was another number one option to pair with CeeDee Lamb. He proved to them why, catching two touchdowns including the go-ahead score late in the fourth quarter, finishing with 134 yards on eight catches alongside it.
And at long last, Jake Ferguson found the end zone again after not scoring at all in 2024. The last time Ferguson did score was against the Packers in Dallas' infamous postseason loss to Green Bay back in 2023. He finished the night with 7 catches for 40 yards and the score, and as Dak Prescott said postgame, with a massive weight off his back.
Still big things to fix
For the second time in the last three weeks, the Cowboys have given up more than 450 yards of total offense and 40 points. The Packers put up 489 yards on Dallas Sunday night, and scored on their final five drives in the second half and overtime to counter every Cowboys score.
Jordan Love threw three touchdown passes, all of which went to Romeo Doubs as part of Love's 337-yard outing. Josh Jacobs led the Packers on the ground with 86 yards and two touchdowns on 22 carries. Clearly, there are still things to figure out for Dallas defensively.
Penalties were also a big issue for the Cowboys. They ended the game with 11 of them for 95 yards, a few of which kept crucial Green Bay drives alive and stalled offensive possessions earlier in the first half.
Special teams, special plays
For as under looked as special teams is from the outside, the third phase of the game can make or break the outcome. Dallas' unit certainly helped play a big part in their Week 4 tie.
To start, Juanyeh Thomas came up with a big block on the extra point following Green Bay's second touchdown in the first half. Markquese Bell scooped the ball up and ran it all the way back for two points to get the Cowboys on the board. It was the first defensive two-point conversion in franchise history.
And don't forget about the big play that set up the Cowboys' go-ahead touchdown late in the fourth quarter: KaVontae Turpin's 45-yard return to give Dallas starting field position at their own 46-yard line. Four plays later, George Pickens spun away from a defender and tip-toed into the end zone for the score. The special teams unit very much played a part in Dallas not losing this game.
Keep it Movin'
Javonte Williams continued his strong start to the season for the Cowboys, finishing Sunday night's outing with 85 yards on 20 carries and a touchdown.
It was really in the second half when Williams began to wear on the Packers defense, when he ran for 56 yards on 11 carries to average 5.1 yards per carry. The Cowboys offense was in need of a back like Williams who could help them close and wear down a defense, and so far he's been that.
As a unit, the Cowboys ran for 117 yards and two touchdowns, with Miles Sanders only tallying two carries before leaving the game early with an ankle injury.
