Matt LaFleur has never been one to pile on, but the Green Bay Packers’ 23-13 Sunday night win over the Dallas Cowboys at Lambeau Field came with a quiet reminder of why familiarity can be an advantage.
The Cowboys arrived with a defense stocked with former Packers, including edge rusher Rashan Gary, defensive tackle Kenny Clark, and coordinator Christian Parker, a onetime Green Bay assistant.
That shared history did not prevent the Packers from building a 17-0 halftime lead and converting 11 of 18 third downs, an efficient performance that kept Dallas on its heels for most of the evening.
After the game, LaFleur was asked whether the staff had targeted anyone in particular on a Jordan Love zone-read that produced a first-down gain.
The coach laughed and replied, “I know what you’re trying to do to me. No, not specifically, but when I saw him there, I was like, ‘Oh, okay.’ Real ones know.”
The implication was clear to anyone who had watched both sides of the recent trade that sent Gary to Dallas for a 2027 fourth-round pick.
Love’s pre-snap reads repeatedly found the open side of the formation, and the former Packers edge rusher’s reaction on that play left little doubt about who the quarterback had noticed.
Before the matchup, LaFleur had spoken warmly of the returning players. “I got a lot of love for those guys, and they did a lot of great things here for our organization,” he said.
The respect did not extend to soft coverage.
Green Bay’s defense limited Dak Prescott to 258 yards and two interceptions while the offense methodically moved the chains. Love finished 23 of 41 for 276 yards with a touchdown pass and a short rushing score of his own. The Packers improved to 4-2 and extended their winning streak to three games, a needed recovery after an uneven 1-2 start.
Gary, for his part, generated pressure and was not a non-factor, yet the overall picture favored the team that still knew his tendencies. The Packers did not need a blowout; they needed control, and they maintained it after the early surge.
In a league where former teammates often create awkward reunions, LaFleur’s understated response suggested the staff had prepared for exactly that scenario.
The result was a methodical victory that reinforced the value of continuity and preparation, even against players who once wore green and gold.
For Green Bay, the win was another step toward stability, with the knowledge of old habits proving useful once again on Sunday night.
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