Through three seasons of the new NFL playoff format, No. 7 seeds — the seed added to the playoff field in 2020 — were 0-6 against No. 2 seeds.
The Green Bay Packers just needed to crash the party to make history.
The Packers rocked the Dallas Cowboys 48-32 on Sunday, becoming the first No. 7 seed in NFL history to win a playoff game. On the flipside, the Cowboys became the first No. 2 seed to lose in the wildcard round.
This season was the first time the Packers had been a No. 7 seed in the NFC field.
Not only had no No. 7 seed won before Sunday, but most of the No. 2 vs. No. 7 matchups were one-sided. The average margin of victory for No. 2 seeds in the previous six games was 12.2 points, including four victories of two scores or more.
The Packers — a touchdown underdogs at most sportsbooks — flipped the script at AT&T Stadium, racing out to a 27-0 lead in the first half, sealing the win with a 41-16 advantage in the fourth quarter and cruising to a 16-point win.
“These guys, they went for it, and that’s exciting to see,” coach Matt LaFleur said.
Before the playoff expansion, No. 7 seeds missed the playoffs and No. 2 seeds got a first-round bye. Not now. More games are important down the stretch, and teams like the Packers — who were 2-5 at one point midseason — can get hot and make the dance. LaFleur’s team won three straight games — including a win over the Chicago Bears in the regular season finale — to clinch the No. 7 seed at 9-8.
The Cowboys won the NFC East title at 12-5 and had the NFL’s second-best point differential. Dak Prescott led the NFL in touchdown passes and was a top MVP candidate. Mike McCarthy’s team had nine All-Pros. None of it mattered. The red-hot quarterback (Jordan Love), red-hot running back (Aaron Jones) and a suddenly disruptive Packers defense marched into AT&T Stadium and stunned the Cowboys.
The win sends the Packers to San Francisco for the NFL’s first-ever matchup between a No. 1 seed and a No. 7 seed.
Time will tell how rare the Packers’ win Sunday truly was. The Pittsburgh Steelers get a chance to run the win streak to two games for No. 7 seeds on Monday when they face the AFC East champion Buffalo Bills in snowy upstate New York.
