Packers-Cowboys and the Fallacy of “Sports Narratives”

We just got done with one of the best NFL playoff games in recent memory. It was certainly the best game of what had been, up to that moment, a rather lackluster first six games of the NFL postseason.

The Packers and Cowboys made up for all those pedestrian games by competing in a back-and-forth affair that included more narrative twists and turns than the last page of a Charles Dickens chapter.

Or at least that’s what us sports writers want you to think.

The idea of “sports narratives” is one that I have always been skeptical of. As a history major, I am more than familiar with the idea that “History is always written by the winners.” But that’s not true in sports, sports history is written by the desperate beat writer on a tight deadline. And what that means is that there needs to be a convenient narrative, and there needs to be one NOW.

Writers and announcers and even fans now often think in this manner when we think about sports. As we watch a game, we create sets of narratives in our head to explain what is happening on the field. Of course, this is entirely bullshit, because we don’t really know what’s going on, especially within the moment itself, and especially without the perspective of time and added information.

Just use the recently completed Packers-Cowboys game.

The Cowboys received the opening kickoff and made their way into Packers territory before their drive stalled out and they kicked a field goal, taking an opening 3–0 lead.

Sports Narrative I: The Cowboys put Rodgers and the Cowboys behind, something that has rarely happened during the team’s seven-game win streak. They’re going to be able to keep Rodgers and company on the sideline and work the clock all game.

Of course, this narrative didn’t last long, as Rodgers and his troops found the endzone quickly with a five-play, 75-yard opening salvo for the Packer offense. After the Packer defense forced a Cowboy punt on Dallas’ second drive, the Packers marched down the field once again, this time going 90 yards in 13 plays to take a 14–3 lead on Dallas.

Sports Narrative II: This is what you get when a veteran quarterback matches up with a rookie quarterback in the playoffs. Dak Prescott is overwhelmed, while Aaron Rodgers has BEEN HERE BEFORE.

This narrative only seemed emboldened when the Packers forced a three-and-out and subsequently completed their third straight drive of 75+ yards for a touchdown. This time it was Ty Montgomery who slipped into the endzone to give the Packers a dominant 21–3 lead at the 7:37 mark of the second quarter.

We already had Troy Aikman talking about whether Tony Romo would offer the Cowboys more of a downfield threat, and Packer fans were googling flights from Austin Straubel International Airport to Houston.

Just four plays later, however, it was Dak Prescott and Dez Bryant who were feeling themselves after connecting on back-to-back throws for a combined 61 yards, the second of which cut the Packer lead to 21–10 with just over six minutes to go in the second quarter — suddenly there seemed to be a lot of game to be played.

Sports Narrative III: Dez Bryant’s sideline antics have matured into sideline motivation, as a cooler-headed Bryant was seen patrolling the Cowboys sideline before their first touchdown drive, and then the former-diva went out and produced on top of that. Watch out Packers.

Another Cowboys field goal, combined with a few stops sent the game into the break with a 21–13 lead in favor of Green Bay, but with the all-important (but really non-existent) MOMENTUM on the side of Dallas.

Cut to: Six-play, 75-yard drive from Rodgers and the Packers to start the second half.

Sports Narrative IIII: No, no, no. Now the MOMENTUM is with Green Bay. Couldn’t you see that all along? This is Mr. R-E-L-A-X, this is just what he does in big games.

The Cowboys began to return the favor, moving the ball into the redzone before a costly interception from Dak Prescott gave the ball back to the Packers with a 15-point lead.

Sports Narrative V: This is the last place the Cowboys want to be. Rodgers NEVER turns the ball over, and he now has a 15-point lead with which to work. Add on top of that the fact that he only has to deal with this rookie quarterback. That may as well be curtains, folks.

So did Rodgers and crew take advantage of Prescott’s interception? No. Rodgers threw one of his own, his first interception since the Regan administration, and we saw the vaunted MOMENTUM swing yet again. The Cowboys, led by that “not-to-be-trusted” rookie quarterback (and rookie running back), marched down the field for an impressive 10-play touchdown drive, cutting the lead to 28–20, as Jason Witten hauled in the score.

Sports Narrative VI: That’s just what the Cowboys needed, the veteran presence of Jason Witten leading them back in this game. Sure Prescott and Elliot have contributed 90 percent of the offensive attack, but it’s really Witten who is the key man in a game like this.

Jason Witten (probably) forced a Packers three-and-out (from the sideline), and once the Cowboys got the ball back, it was go-time once again. Ezekiel Elliot rushed for 34 yards, while Prescott and Bryant connected three times for 24 yards and a touchdown. Prescott darted in for the two-point conversion, and now it’s all tied up at 28–28 with just 4:08 to go in the game.

Sports Narrative VII: This is Dak Prescott’s Moment of Arrival. Forget all the things we said about him an hour ago (seriously, please forget them), because this kid is the real deal. He’s gonna win the Cowboys another five rings, and the first is coming in just a few weeks.

Of course, 4:08 was plenty of time for Aaron Rodgers and his band of misfits to make a push of their own. After three first downs, the Packers settled for a 56-yard Mason Crosby field goal to go up 31–28 with just 1:33 remaining.

But we were far from done. Prescott and the Cowboys managed to go 42 yards in just 58 seconds, and Dan Bailey made his 52-yard field goal look like child’s play. Tied up at 31–31 with 0:35 left in the game.

Sports Narrative VIII: THEY LEFT TOO MUCH TIME ON THE CLOCK!!!

Quite possibly the lone Sports Narrative that was proven right on the evening (and not coincidentally, the Sports Narrative that came last in the evening), the Packers went 43 yards in just 32 seconds, and Mason Crosby hit a 51–yard field goal not once, but twice, as the Cowboys tried to freeze him on his first attempt and it didn’t even matter. Rodgers and the Packers now move on to the NFC Championship where they’re going to be riding A LOT of that bona fide MOMENTUM.

This recap was obviously done in an over-the-top snarky fashion, but it’s hard not to approach the Sports Narrative ideology this way when it’s so obvious that these narrative simply aren’t going to last. They are a great way to make us feel like we know what’s going on in the moment, but the God’s Honest Truth is that if any one of us had even the slightest clue of what to make out of sports, we’d be billionaires from having won all of our bets in Vegas over the past ten years.

These narratives are fun, and they provide many a sports writer a decent idea when writing his/her game recap, but let’s not put any more faith in these Sports Narratives than we really need to, and let’s certainly not use them when talking about sports in an intelligent manner. It’s time for the Sports Narratives to be laid to rest, once and for all.