Here are several stats you may not know from the Packers 28-7 victory over the Dallas Cowboys on December 13 (the stats all reflect regular season games unless otherwise noted).
- Sam Shields had the only interception in the contest. It was the 18th pick of his career with the Pack. He still does not have a “Pick-6” and now ranks third on the Packers all-time list with the most interceptions without returning one for a TD. Mark Lee had 31 interceptions without a TD return and Dave Robinson had 21.
- The game was tied 0-0 at the end of the first quarter. It was the first game with a scoreless first quarter for both teams for the Packers since Nov. 28, 2013 against the Lions. Green Bay is now 22-13 in such games since 2000.
- Green Bay had a 15-play drive that ended on fourth down when they could not score from the one-yardline. It was only the second 15-play drive that did not result in a score for the Packers since 2010. They had scored on 14 of 15 15-play drives since then.
- The Packers had a 14-0 lead at halftime. Since 2006, the Packers have now won 11 straight when they score 14 or more points by halftime. They are now 18-1 since 2006 when they hold the opponents scoreless in the first half, and they are now 27-1 since 2006 when they have a 14-point (or more) lead at halftime.
- The Cowboys rushed for 171 yards in the game. The Packers are 21-33-1 when their opponents have 150 or more yards rushing in a game.
- Eddie Lacy had 124 yards rushing on 24 carries and James Starks had 71 yards rushing on 11 carries. Since 2000 the Packers are 7-0 when they have two players each rush for 70 yards or more.
- Green Bay had 230 yards total rushing for the game on 44 carries. It was their first game with 200-plus yards rushing since 2009 and the first home game with 200-plus yards rushing since 2008. The team is now 45-3-2 in the Super Bowl era (since 1966) in games with 200 or more rushing yards.
- The Pack had over 37 minutes time of possession in the game and are now 20-2 in non-overtime games since 2000 when they have over 37 minutes T.O.P. in a contest.
- Dom Capers’ defense held the Cowboys to only seven points for the game. Green Bay is 97-4 since 1966 when they hold the opposition to seven points or less in a regular season game.
- The Packers “D” also did a great job on Dallas’ wide receiver Dez Bryant who had only one catch for eight yards. It was his seventh game in his 83-game career that he had one or no catches in a game and the eight yards were the third lowest of his career.
- Coming into this season, the Packers were 14-6 since 2010 in the final four games of a season (Games 13 through 16). That record tied them with the Carolina Panthers for the best record in the NFC. The New England Patriots were 17-3 in the last four games of the year since 2010, tops in the league. All three of the teams mentioned above won yesterday in Game #13 of the 2015 season.
- Green Bay had two rushing TDs in the game; they are now 36-9-1 since 2000 when they score two or more TDs via the run in a game.
- The Pack is now 35-13-1 when Clay Matthews has a sack.
- The defense allowed the Cowboys to get a first down on a third down play only once in yesterday’s contest. When the Packers allow zero or one third-down conversion in a game since 2000 they are 31-19.
- Dallas was only able to gain 99 yards passing in the game. Since 2000 the Packers are 24-8 when they allow fewer than 120 yards passing in a game and they are 14-5 since 2000 when they hold the opponents under 100 yards passing in a contest.
- The Packers are now 53-14 since 2000 when they intercept at least one pass in a game.
- Yesterday’s game was only the eighth time since the 2004 season that the Packers had more rushing yards than passing yards in a game (they are 6-2 in those games). With over 200 yards rushing and 200 yards passing in the same game, it was the first time since 2009 that they reached the 200-yard mark in both in the same game. They are 8-0 in such games since 2000 and 19-1 when they have done it since 1966.
(Jerry Tapp is the author of the recently-published book, “250 Stats Every Packers Fan Needs to Know”)