Cowboys defense laments slip-ups against Aaron Rodgers

ARLINGTON, Tex. – The Dallas Cowboys defense prepared for all the quirks of playing Aaron Rodgers all week, from defending the Hail Mary to properly substituting players in and out of the defensive huddle.

Rodgers still won.

“We practiced it all week. He caught us,” safety Barry Church said.

Twice, actually. On the Packers’ first offensive possession, Rodgers quick-snapped the ball with 31 seconds on the play clock to catch the Cowboys with 12 men on the field. That penalty gave the Packers a first down. Several plays later, Rodgers drew the Cowboys offsides. It was a free play, and Rodgers made Dallas pay by launching a 34-yard touchdown to tight end Richard Rodgers.

“You can ask 31 other teams how to defend that quarterback,” cornerback Brandon Carr said.

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Around the Cowboys’ locker room Sunday night, many defensive players sounded like Carr. Frustrated after the 34-31 loss to the Packers, and in awe of Rodgers, who threw for 356 yards, with two touchdowns and one interception.

“When you play a team like that, with a Hall of Fame quarterback, you don’t have any room for error,” linebacker Sean Lee said. “We gave him way too much early.”

It was of little comfort that by the second half, the Cowboys defense had settled and found ways to slow Rodgers. But with every big play, like a 10-yard sack by safety Jeff Heath with 18 seconds remaining, came a breakdown, like Rodgers’ 35-yard throw to Jared Cook to set up the game-winning field goal.

“Thirteen wins don't mean nothing if you don't make it to the championship," Church said. "You can wash those down the drain and start fresh next year."

Follow Lindsay H. Jones on Twitter @bylindsayhjones.

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