IRVING, Texas – The last time Aaron Rodgers threw an interception at Lambeau Field, Johnny Manziel hadn't even won the Heisman Trophy, let alone been considered as a potential Cowboys draft pick.
It was a trick play. Rodgers threw a toss sweep to Randall Cobb, who lined up in the backfield. Running to his left, Cobb lateraled back to Rodgers, who gunned it downfield toward Greg Jennings – and was intercepted by Minnesota's Harrison Smith.
That happened on Dec. 2, 2012, and in Rodgers' 15 home games since, he's thrown 451 passes without another pick.
"When he's at home, it's as high-level football as you can play," said Tony Romo. "You look at what he's done this year, it's not that he hasn't thrown interceptions this year – it's been years since he's thrown an interception at home. That's an incredible statistic."
That's high praise coming from Romo, who has put up some amazing stats of his own this season. The sixth-best passer rating in NFL history of 113.2 is well-documented. But Romo put on a show of his own in leading the Cowboys to an 8-0 road record.
From the time his pick-six to Janoris Jenkins put the Cowboys in a 21-0 hole in St. Louis in Week 3, up until his underthrown interception to Jackson Jeffcoat in the fourth quarter of Week 17, Romo was essentially flawless on the road. In that timespan, he threw 190 passes in hostile territory without an interception.
"He had a phenomenal year this year with the touchdown-to-interception rate, passer rating, QBR and all the stats and stuff," Rodgers said of Romo. "But most importantly, 12 wins and a playoff win there against Detroit, a good football team so it'll be a fun matchup."
There's plenty of intrigue all over the matchup – famously, the first Cowboys-Packers playoff game at Lambeau Field since the infamous Ice Bowl of 1967.
Back in 2014, however, it's hard to stray too far past the headliners. Combining Tony Romo's road resume with Aaron Rodgers' statline from Lambeau Field, it's a combination of some of the finest quarterbacking in league history.
In his eight road starts this year, Romo is completing an average of 71.2 percent of his passes with an average passer rating of 121.2. He's thrown 20 touchdowns to just two interceptions on the road.
In Green Bay, Rodgers is equally flawless. In eight home games in 2014, he's competing an average of 68.9 percent for an average passer rating. He has thrown 25 touchdowns, and of course, that streak of no interceptions dates back almost to the last Presidential election.
"What Aaron has done has been really exceptional," Romo said. "We always want to create turnovers – that's a big mantra for our defense. But you have to understand that he doesn't turn the ball over, especially at home – but really anywhere. You're going to have to find different avenues to create turnovers and put yourself in position to have a chance."
Interestingly enough, the Cowboys actually have a better turnover margin on the road than the Packers do at home – albeit it's a negligible difference. Green Bay is plus-9 in turnovers this season at home, while the Cowboys have managed an astounding plus-10 differential.
"That's tough to do, especially some of the places they went," Rodgers said. "It's always tough to win division games on the road. Those are extremely difficult. But then to go to Seattle and get a big win, which is a tough place to play. Those guys obviously know how to win on the road."
It all leads to the obvious upshot: something has to give. Neither team has experienced a setback in this situation – the Cowboys on the road, the Packers at home. Within those win streaks, Rodgers and Romo have played near-flawless football.
It's not to say anyone will play poorly, so to speak. Tom Brady chalked up a passer rating of 102.7, throwing for 245 yards and two touchdowns this year at Lambeau Field. Romo said hot streaks or past experiences won't be the answer, so much as continuing the high level of play the Cowboys have enjoyed away from home.
"I don't think anything that happened before this necessarily is going to help you when you're on the field on Sunday. I think what matters is if you do the things you've done before, but you've got to still go do it," he said. "We feel confident when we step on the football field, whether it's at home or on the road that we're going to give ourselves a chance to win the football game."
