The Dallas Cowboys (11-1) beat the Green Bay Packers (10-2), 37-27, Thursday night and took control of the race for home field advantage throughout the playoffs in the NFC.

Tony Romo led the Cowboys on five straight scoring drives to open the game as they built a 27-10 lead in the second quarter. The Cowboys then held off a valiant effort from Aaron Rodgers and the Packers as they won their sixth consecutive game and clinch a playoff berth in the NFC. 

After Romo took a knee on the last play of the game, it sealed a record-setting victory against a team he grow up rooting for and the quarterback he has obviously patterned himself after. So when it was time for hugs and handshakes, the kid from Wisconsin went looking for Brett Favre.

He had to settle for Aaron Rodgers.

Favre was already in the locker room getting treated for a banged-up right elbow and a separated left shoulder. Besides, the graying icon already had seen enough from Romo and the Cowboys.

The win by the Cowboys all but guarantees them of having to travel to Lambeau Field should the two teams meet in the NFC Championship game.

The Packers ended a six-game winning streak and are now essentially two games behind Dallas in the chase for the conference’s top spot with only four games left. Dallas holds the tiebreaker with its win Thursday over the Packers.

The bigger concern is Favre’s health.

Favre was hurt on a hit by cornerback Nate Jones in the second quarter. His run of 249 consecutive starts — a record that’s about six seasons longer than the next-best by a quarterback — might be in jeopardy, although he has 10 days to heal before the Packers play again, Dec. 9 at home against Oakland.

Rodgers, who spent the week pretending he was Romo in Green Bay practices, provided the kind of rally Favre usually specializes in, even throwing the first touchdown pass of his three-year career. But he’s no Brett Favre, so this comeback came up short.

Romo was 19-of-30 for 309 yards. He’s up to 33 TD passes, smashing the club season record. He tied another club mark by throwing a touchdown in his 16th straight game.

Dallas also extended the best start in franchise history. With four games left, the Cowboys already have their most wins in a season since going 12-4 in 1995, their last Super Bowl season, and they’re two wins from matching the franchise record.

The Packers are still in great shape for at least the No. 2 seed and a first-round bye because their next three opponents have losing records. And the idea of starting Rodgers next week may no longer be as dreadful to fans who have wondered if he was a wasted draft pick. In the most extended action of his career, he was 18-of-26 for 201 yards and a touchdown with no turnovers.

The Cowboys totally dominated this game in every way, shape, and form but a couple of very questionable calls by the zebras where potential game changing calls. 

The Packers took the opening kickoff and march down the field but they had to settle for a 47-yard FG by Mason Crosby. The 3-0 lead would be the Packers only lead of the night.

On the second play of the Cowboys opening drive, Romo threw a pass that was completed to Terrell Owens at the Packers 42-yard line. Before Owens has shoved out of bounds, Packers cornerback Al Harris clearly stripped the ball from Owens.

The officials ruled that Owens’ forward progress had been stopped. It took Harris about a quarter of a second to strip the ball out from TO. The play is not reviewable because the officials blew the whistle and the Packers were left to challenge whether Owens had possession of the ball when he went out of bounds.

I have seen plenty of plays in the NFL where the defenses’ gang-tackle runners or receivers and push them into the parking lot before the referees blow the whistle to signal that forward progress has been stopped. I guess for games in Texas they must have a new set of rules.   

The Packers lost the challenge and a timeout. The Packers are screwed by the Zebra’s for the first time.

The second questionable call happened with less than nine minutes remaining and the Cowboys clinching to a 27-24 lead. The Cowboys had a first down at the Green Bay 47-yard line. Romo took a chance downfield as he launched a bomb intended for WR Miles Austin. Packers corner Tramon Williams has Austin covered like a blanket. Williams look back to play the ball which the rules states he has to and in the process Austin and Williams feet tangle and they both go tumbling.

The referee right on top of the play signals incompletion, incidental contact. Out of nowhere, another referee comes flying in, throwing a flag signaling pass interference. The officials apparently disagreed on whether or not it was a penalty or incidental contact. 

Of course the call that stood was by the referee who was holding the popcorn for Terrell Owens, not the one that was in the proper position to make the call. Dallas would end up scoring three plays later, essentially ending the game.

The Packers are screwed by the Zebra’s for the second time.

Even though nothing good comes out of a loss, the Packers had to be very encouraged with the play of backup QB Rodgers. If Rodgers can continue to improve and play like he did on Thursday night, the Cheeseheads will be dancing in Wisconsin for a long time.

The Packers main concern now is to get healthy and ready for the playoffs. They showed that they could be competitive despite being banged up. If the Packers are healthy and advance to Dallas for the NFC Championship game, this time hopefully they are only competing against the Cobwoys and not the Zebras as well.