Packers top Cowboys, advance to NFC title game

(AP) — Slowed by injury but perfect in the clutch, Aaron Rodgers used his accurate arm to help the Packers move one step closer to the Super Bowl.
An officiating call that went Green Bay’s way also helped in a 26-21 win Sunday over the Dallas Cowboys.
Rodgers went 9 of 9 in the fourth quarter, including and a laser-like 13-yard touchdown pass to Richard Rodgers for the go-ahead score with 9:10 left of the fourth quarter. The final period also featured the officials overturning what was initially a brilliant catch by Dallas’ Dez Bryant.
Bryant jumped high for the 31-yard grab to the Packers 1 over cornerback Sam Shields, who had solid coverage on fourth-and-2 with 4:42 left in the game. But the play was ruled incomplete on replay review after Packers coach Mike McCarthy challenged the call.
The NFL rule states the receiver must maintain control all the way to the ground. Replays showed Bryant bobbled the ball as he rolled into the end zone, with part of it touching the field.
“Some people think throwing the red flag is fun,” Packers coach Mike McCarthy said. “It was such an impactful play, you had to challenge. It was a confident challenge. And a hopeful one, too.”
Hours after the game, Bryant tweeted: “as I went to the ground I rolled over and I tipped the ball to gain better control. We lost and I accept it but please change that rule.”
The Cowboys were stunned. After going 8-0 away from home in the regular season, Dallas’ road winning streak came to a stunning end.
“This is really, seriously one of the more disappointing times I’ve had on a personal basis,” owner Jerry Jones said.
All wasn’t lost after the overturned call. The Cowboys could have seized another chance with the ball if their defense had stopped the Packers on two third-down plays with less than 3 minutes left.
The Packers (13-4) converted both times and the Cowboys (13-5) started their offseason.
While almost every Cowboys fan will remember this game for the reversed call, coach Jason Garrett said the loss didn’t come down to officiating.
“We had 60 minutes,” Garrett said. “That play was big in the game, but there were plenty of other plays in the ballgame an unfortunately we didn’t do things necessary to win the ballgame in the end.”