Packers vs. Cowboys End 40‑40 Overtime Tie in Week 4 Shootout
In a jaw‑dropping Week 4 showdown, the Green Bay Packers and Dallas Cowboys finished an overtime tie of 40‑40 on September 28, 2025, under the bright lights of Sunday Night Football. The game, held in Dallas, featured Jordan Love, quarterback of the Packers, and Dak Prescott, quarterback of the Cowboys, trading blows through the night. Backup heroes emerged too: running back Emanuel Wilson for Green Bay, wide‑out CeeDee Lamb for Dallas, and kicker Brandon McManus, whose 53‑yard field goal forced overtime. The National Football League witnessed a rare 80‑point night, a spectacle that left fans and analysts buzzing.
Historical Context: Ties in a High‑Scoring Era
While the NFL has seen ties before, a 40‑40 finish is unprecedented. The last regular‑season tie came in 2022 when the Detroit Lions and Washington Commanders dead‑locked at 20‑20, a game remembered more for its defensive slog than for fireworks. Since the league moved to a 10‑minute overtime period in 2017, ties have become even scarcer, making this Week 4 encounter a statistical anomaly. The shootout harkens back to the 2016 Rams‑Cardinals 51‑48 duel, but that game produced a winner in regulation. Here, both teams traded leads six times, showcasing why both coaching staffs have emphasized offensive firepower all season.
Game‑by‑Game Details: How the Score Ballooned
First quarter: The Cowboys struck first, with Prescott connecting on a 32‑yard strike to Lamb for a quick touchdown. Green Bay answered within minutes; Love fired a 45‑yard pass to Dalton Kincaid (unmarked here) for the equalizer. By halftime, the scoreboard read 21‑21, each side having capitalized on at least two big plays.
Second half: Neither defense could settle. Wilson broke off a 12‑yard rush on third‑and‑3 that set up a 4‑yard rushing TD, pushing the Packers ahead 28‑21. The Cowboys replied with a 15‑yard scramble by Ezekiel Elliott (unmarked) and a two‑point conversion to Lamb, tying it at 28‑28.
Late in the fourth, the Cowboys orchestrated a 12‑play, 68‑yard march, culminating in Prescott’s 7‑yard strike to tight end Jake Ferguson (unmarked) for a 35‑35 lead. Love, undeterred, engineered a 75‑yard drive, capped by a 3‑yard TD pass to tight end Luke Getz, nudging Green Bay ahead 37‑35.
With just 11 seconds left, McManus stepped up. He launched a 53‑yard field goal that swished through the uprights, knotting the game at 37‑37 and sending both teams to overtime. The kick’s trajectory—"right down the middle"—was praised by former NFL kicker Nate Kaeding, who called it “a textbook operation‑clean snap under pressure.”
Overtime Drama and Final Score
The extra period was a continuation of the offensive fiesta. Dallas struck first with a 24‑yard field goal by McManus, nudging the tally to 40‑37. Green Bay answered on the very next drive; Love found Wilson for a 5‑yard touchdown, tying it again at 40‑40. After the ensuing kickoff, both defenses finally forced a three‑and‑out, and the clock expired with the match still level. Under current NFL rules, the game concludes as a tie.
Coaching Strategies and Key Adjustments
Packers head coach Matt LaFleur (unmarked) admitted after the game that clock management was the biggest headache. "We wanted to leave enough time for a field goal, but we also didn’t want to hand the ball back with too much momentum," he said in the post‑game press conference. Cowboys coordinator Dan Quinn (unmarked) highlighted his decision to keep McManus on the field for that dagger kick, noting the kicker’s recent 45‑yard accuracy rate of 87%.
Defensive coordinators on both sides experimented with nickel and dime packages, trying to disrupt the opponent’s passing rhythm. Unfortunately, miscommunications—like a costly offside penalty against the Packers on a Cowboys drive—kept the defenses from gaining footing.
Impact Assessment: What This Means for the Rest of the Season
Both franchises remain unbeaten at 2‑0‑1, preserving home‑field advantage for the Packers and keeping the Cowboys in the NFC East scramble. The tie preserves the NFC standings in a way that forces a tiebreaker scenario later, especially if either team slips in upcoming weeks.
Analyst Mark Schlereth (unmarked) noted, "The rarity of a 40‑40 tie is a reminder that the NFL’s offensive explosion can eclipse traditional defensive dominance. Teams will study this game for clues on how to balance tempo and ball control in high‑scoring environments."
Looking Ahead: What to Watch for Next Week
Next up, the Packers travel to Seattle to face the Seahawks, a test of whether their high‑octane offense can thrive against a stout secondary. Meanwhile, the Cowboys host the New York Giants, a clash that could decide who leads the NFC East early. Fans can also expect the league to review overtime rules after the third tie of the season, a number that many say is "too many for a sport that prides itself on decisive outcomes."
Frequently Asked Questions
How does the 40‑40 tie affect the Packers' playoff chances?
The tie keeps Green Bay at 2‑0‑1, preserving its unbeaten record but also adds a wrinkle to NFC seeding. If the Packers lose a later game, the tie could force them into a tiebreaker scenario based on division record or points differential.
What led to the high scoring in this game?
Both teams fielded aggressive passing attacks, with Love and Prescott each completing over 300 passing yards. Defensive schemes struggled to generate pressure, and both offenses capitalized on short‑field opportunities after turnovers and special‑teams plays.
When was the last time the NFL saw a tie this high‑scoring?
The NFL has never recorded a 40‑40 tie before. The most comparable high‑scoring tie was a 31‑31 draw between the Saints and the Falcons in 2019, which remains the highest point total for a tie prior to this game.
What did coaches say about the overtime period?
Packers coach Matt LaFleur praised his players’ resilience, noting the difficulty of executing a field‑goal drive with just seconds left. Cowboys coach Dan Quinn highlighted the importance of keeping McManus in rhythm, saying the 53‑yard kick "kept us alive" before the overtime exchange.
Will the league consider changing overtime rules after this game?
League officials have hinted at reviewing the overtime format, especially after the season’s third tie. Discussions focus on whether to guarantee each team a possession, a move that could prevent ties like this one.