Lone Star Letdown: Controversial Touchdown Call Sends Packers to NFC Title Game

Pump YOU up!: Arron Rodgers' (middle) training  sessions with Hans and
Franz appeared to help his injured calf Sunday (Google Images)

After a game against the Lions that saw one blatant penalty call reversed and another unflagged, the Dallas Cowboys scored the winning touchdown to punch their ticket to Lambeau Field and the next round of the NFL Playoffs. However, at the end of Sunday's game against a stout Packers team, there was another controversial call that didn't go Dallas' way and sent them "Pack"-ing.

Unlike their game against Detroit last weekend, the Cowboys actually led this one 14-10 at half time, looking like the dominant team they were at the start of the regular season. Quarterback Tony Romo, who oddly enough is from Wisconsin, threw for 191 yards and completed 15 of 19 passes for two touchdowns. But while those numbers are stout, Aaron Rodgers looked just as impressive playing with a torn calf.

Rodgers hobbled, but still connected with tight end Andrew Quarless on a crucial 3rd and 4 from Dallas' 4 to draw first blood. But on their next drive, the Cowboys answered right back as fullback Tyler Clutts caught a pass from Romo on 1st and goal from the Green Bay's 1 to tie the game at 7-all. After that, it looked as if Rodgers' earlier scoring drive might have been a fluke.

In the second quarter, the Cowboy's defense managed to get to Rodgers, sack him and force a fumble that was recovered by defensive end Jeremey Mincey. Romo and his offense promptly went to work and made the most of this little gift on the ensuing possession and in just five plays, Terrance Williams caught a pass from Romo that put Dallas up 14-7. The Packers could only muster a field goal at the end of the quarter, making the halftime score 14-10.

But once the second half started, it appeared Rodgers got a pep talk from his buddies Hans and Franz because, while we know they want to "pump YOU up!", it looked like Rodgers wanted to pump up the Lambeau crowd as well.

On the Cowboys first position of the half, Packers defensive end Julius Peppers forced a fumble from Romo that was recovered by another Green Bay defensive end, Datone Jones. On the following drive, the Pack scored a field goal to pull within one point of Dallas' lead. But Dallas answered right back when star running back DeMarco Murray ran in a touchdown that put his team up by two scores.

Down 21-13, wouldn't you know that scoring twice is exactly what the Packers did? Their first score saw Rodgers connect with wideout Davante Adams, once again bringing his team within one point of Dallas. Clay Matthews and the Packers' defense then managed to keep Romo from scoring, something that was beginning to seem a Herculean task. This allowed the Packers' offense to take the field again and, at the end of the drive, Rodgers threw a pass to Rodgers (Richard, that is) and Green Bay was back on top 26-21.



Dez Bryant (88) hits the ground in what appeared to be the game winning
catch for Dallas (Google Images)

That's where the score would stay because, after Romo aired a pass to Dez Bryant, what appeared to be the potential game winning score was reversed because the officials deemed Bryant didn't maintain control of the ball on his way to the ground. As the Dallas Cowboys have found out the last two weeks, the refs giveth and the refs taketh away.

After the game, Dallas' head coach Jason Garrett told reporters he "thought Tony made a great throw, Dez made a great catch on the ball," Garrett said. "Obviously it was ruled a catch at the outset. It looked like to me he had three feet down. What they describe to us all the time is 'a move common to the game,' and Dez reached out for the goal line like he's done so many times. It's a signature play for him. He maintained possession of it throughout, in my opinion.

"But let me make it really clear: This game wasn't about the officiating. We had 60 minutes. We had an opportunity to come up here and win a football game, and at the end of the day we didn't get that job done. That play was big in the game, but there were other plays in the game and unfortunately we didn't do the things necessary to win the ballgame."

Signature play or not, the NFL's head of officials, Dean Blandino took to the Twitterverse to explain why the officials reversed the call tweeting "Bryant going to the ground. By rule he must hold onto it throughout the entire process of contacting the ground. He didn't, so it is incomplete." Bryant also took to social media, tweeting, "as I went to the ground I rolled over and tipped the ball to gain better control. We lost and I accept it but please change that rule."

For those who missed this crucial call, you can watch it here on NFL.com. Unlike the cut and dry pass interference call from last weekend's Lions-Cowboys game, this one is very much debatable and, at first it does appear Bryant makes the catch. But because of how he held the ball, one side of it does hit the ground when he lands inside the Green Bay 1 yard line. The call gave Rodgers the ball at the Packers 33 and allowed Green Bay to run the clock out the rest of the way, ensuring a trip to the NFC Championship game in Seattle and a shot at Russell Wilson and the Seahawks on Sunday at 3 pm. Cheeseheads rejoice!

With just two games left before the Superbowl (the other being the AFC Title game where the Colts will take on the Patriots in New England at 6:30 Sunday night), this Rodgers-Wilson matchup will definitely be the one to keep a close eye on. Sorry Colts fans... he's Tom Brady.