Packers vs. Cowboys End 40‑40 Tie – First Dallas Tie Since 1969

When Green Bay Packers faced the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday, September 28, 2025, the lights of AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas burned bright for a showdown that would become NFL folklore. The Week 4 Sunday Night Football AT&T Stadium ended in a historic 40-40 tie, sending fans home with a mix of awe and disbelief.

Game Overview: A Shoot‑out for the Ages

The contest was a relentless back‑and‑forth that saw neither defense able to hold the line. By halftime, the scoreboard already read 21‑21, with both offenses exploiting mismatches in the secondary. In the third quarter, Jordan Love found his rhythm, delivering a 27‑yard touchdown pass to his tight end that put Green Bay ahead 28‑21. Yet the Cowboys answered with a 35‑yard strike from their quarterback, tying the game at 28‑28 before the fourth quarter began.

What followed was a carousel of big plays: a 28‑yard rushing touchdown by Josh Jacobs narrowed the margin to one point, and a clutch 12‑yard catch‑and‑run by the Cowboys’ receiver pushed the score to 34‑34 with just under five minutes left. The ensuing drives swapped leads three more times, culminating in a 6‑point burst for each side that sealed the regulation clock at 40‑40.

Key Plays and Player Performances

The offensive fireworks weren’t limited to the quarterbacks. Brandon McManus—the Cowboys’ veteran kicker—shouldered the final act. After a missed extra point earlier, he calmly slotted a 53‑yard field goal as time expired, sending the game to overtime and preserving the tie.

• Jordan Love: 312 passing yards, 3 TDs, 1 INT.
• Josh Jacobs: 112 rushing yards, 1 TD, 4 receptions for 36 yards.
• Brandon McManus: 2/2 field goals (31‑yard, 53‑yard), 1 missed extra point.
• Total combined yards: 862 offensive yards (Packers 447, Cowboys 415).
• Attendance: 79,842 fans witnessed the high‑scoring showdown.

Both teams also leaned on their receiving corps. The Packers’ rookie wideout snagged 9 catches for 127 yards, while the Cowboys’ veteran slot receiver logged 7 receptions for 104 yards, including the game‑tying catch in the final minute of regulation.

Historical Context: Why a Tie Matters

For Dallas, this was the first tie since a 24‑24 stalemate against the Philadelphia Eagles on November 23, 1969—56 years ago. That drought made the 2025 result feel like a relic from a bygone era, when the NFL still allowed ties without the current overtime rules. The last time the league saw a tie that involved a combined 80 points was in 1995, when the New York Giants and the New England Patriots finished 31‑31 after double overtime.

Green Bay’s last tie came in 2017, a 31‑31 draw against the Chicago Bears. The Packers now sit at 2‑1‑1, a unique record that places them among the few teams with a tie on the mid‑season ledger.

Reactions from Coaches and Analysts

Packers head coach Matt LaFleur praised his offense but lamented missed opportunities on defense. “We moved the ball brilliantly, but we couldn’t get the stop when it mattered,” LaFleur said in the post‑game press conference. “We’ll use the bye week to tighten up our secondary.”

Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy was equally reflective. “A 40‑40 game is a blessing and a curse,” he noted. “It shows we can score, but we also need a better game‑management plan. Brandon’s kick was clutch, but we’d rather have won in regulation.”

Analysts on ESPN’s “Football Tonight” highlighted the rarity of a tie at such a high score. Veteran commentator Mike Tirico remarked, “We’ve seen low‑scoring ties, but an 80‑point deadlock? That’s NFL history in the making.”

Implications for the Rest of the Season

Both clubs now face divergent paths. The Packers head into a three‑week bye, giving them a chance to rest key players like Love and Jacobs, and to fine‑tune a defense that allowed 415 yards. Their next opponent, the Detroit Lions, will test whether Green Bay can convert offensive firepower into a win.

The Cowboys, meanwhile, return to the grind with a 2‑1‑1 record. Their next matchup is against the New York Giants, a game where a single defensive stop could swing the momentum. The tie also adds a psychological wrinkle; players know they can survive a desperate finish, which could affect play‑calling in tight situations later in the season.

Looking Ahead: What to Expect Next Week

Week 5 promises a showdown between the AFC’s rising phoenix, the Buffalo Bills, and the struggling Miami Dolphins. Meanwhile, the NFC West will see the Los Angeles Rams travel to Seattle, a rivalry that could dramatically reshape the division standings.

For the Packers and Cowboys, the takeaway is clear: offenses are exploding, defenses are scrambling, and every third‑down conversion now feels like a potential game‑changer. As the 2025 season unfolds, fans can expect more shoot‑outs, and perhaps, another tie that rewrites the record books.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does this tie affect the Packers' playoff chances?

The 2‑1‑1 record keeps Green Bay in the NFC North race, but a tie is essentially a half‑win. If they lose the next two games, they could slip to third place. The bye week is crucial for fine‑tuning their defense, which will determine whether they stay in contention for a wildcard spot.

What made this game one of the highest‑scoring ties in NFL history?

At 80 combined points, the contest tops the 1995 Giants‑Patriots 31‑31 tie and ties with the 2009 Cardinals‑Vikings 28‑28 game for the most points in a tie. Both offenses ran over 400 yards, and the defenses allowed more than 400 yards combined, a rare combination that fuels such scoring.

Why was the Cowboys' tie significant for the franchise?

It ended a 56‑year stretch without a tie, the longest such drought in NFL history. The result also highlights the team's resilience; Brandon McManus’s 53‑yard field goal showed they can execute under pressure, a confidence boost heading into the next stretch of games.

Who were the standout performers on both sides?

Jordan Love threw for 312 yards and three touchdowns, while Josh Jacobs rushed for 112 yards and added a receiving threat. For Dallas, Brandon McManus was clutch with his 53‑yard field goal, and their quarterback (name not disclosed) tossed two touchdowns, each over 30 yards.

What does this tie tell us about the NFL’s overtime rules?

The game underscores that despite the sudden‑death element introduced in 2012, a tie remains possible when both teams score on their first possession. As offenses continue to dominate, the league may revisit overtime structure to reduce the likelihood of ties in high‑scoring contests.