ARLINGTON, Texas – With the season on the line, Jaire Alexander wasn't about to miss this game.

While a true game-time decision due to an ankle injury he suffered during a Wednesday jog-through, Alexander practically lived in the Packers' training room this week in order to be ready for Sunday's NFC Wild Card game in Dallas.

And it's a good thing he did. The two-time All-Pro cornerback's first-quarter interception of Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott served a crucial moment in the seventh-seeded Packers' 48-32 upending of No. 2 Dallas at AT&T Stadium.

Alexander's INT on a slant intended for receiver Brandin Cooks gave Green Bay's offense the ball at the Dallas 19. A few minutes later, Aaron Jones punched in a 1-yard touchdown run to stake the Packers to a 14-0 lead a minute in the second quarter.

When asked afterwards what his week was like in preparation for this game, Alexander provided the full rundown.

"All week. Probably about five hours (a day) in the training room," Alexander said. "It's a testament to also the training staff. Man, the training staff got me out there. They knew the importance of this game and I wanted to play so bad. So I was in treatment about 5-6 hours every day and then at night more treatment. So it's just a testament to God."

Injuries have unfortunately played a significant role in Alexander's sixth NFL season. He suffered a back injury in practice that hampered him early on before developing a shoulder injury against the Los Angeles Rams that sidelined him for a month.

It wasn't until last week that Alexander finally was able to be a full participant in practice. He chalked up his ankle injury to adversity and a personal challenge "to come out on top." Facing a dangerous Dallas team, Alexander's INT seemed to have a domino effect on the rest of Green Bay's defense.

Later in the half, safety Darnell Savage picked off Prescott and returned it 64 yards for a touchdown to give the Packers a commanding 27-0 lead with less than two minutes remaining in the first half.

"Ja is elite. Ja is one of the best corners in this game," defensive lineman Kenny Clark said. "The story ain't changed with him. Every time he's out there, he's making an impact and helping our team get better. We love him. We love having him out there for the team."

Unfortunately, Alexander aggravated the ankle injury with a little more than five minutes left in the third quarter and did not return to the game. He said he was feeling OK afterwards, with Head Coach Matt LaFleur telling reporters at his postgame news conference that it will require additional treatment this week.

On Sunday, Alexander stepped up in a big way for a Green Bay defense that has played some of its best football during the final stretch of the season. While the win came first, Alexander acknowledged the INT was personally gratifying after a season filled with adversity.

"It was lit, honestly. There was no better feeling," Alexander said. "There's a few quarterbacks who've thrown me multiple picks in my career and Dak is now one of them. So he's among my top QBs."

Savage statement: Like Alexander, Savage has battled through a few injuries of his own to make it back on the field during the Packers' playoff run.

Coincidentally, Savage's pick-six off Prescott was his first interception since returning a 75-yard INT off Kirk Cousins for a touchdown in Green Bay's 41-17 win over Minnesota late last season.

The fifth-year safety said he took a little grief from teammates after the play because he didn't have an elaborate end-zone celebration, but Savage's focus was on making sure the Packers kept their foot on the pedal.

"We were all excited about it," said Savage, whose INT was one of six Green Bay passes defensed. "They can give me all the crap that they want to but they were thinking the same thing I was thinking – stay locked in. Because anything could happen in these games. Those guys are very talented, too, (but) anytime you score on defense, it's a tone-setter. Because it doesn't happen often."

Doubs' career day: Following the recent trend of Packers receivers stepping up in a major way, Romeo Doubs caught six passes for 151 yards and a touchdown against the Cowboys.

The second-year receiver was responsible for four of Green Bay's five longest passing plays, including a career-long 46-yard reception in the third quarter that set up an Aaron Jones' 9-yard TD run.

"He made a lot of big-time plays," said rookie receiver Dontayvion Wicks, who also had a 20-yard TD catch vs. Dallas. "Big-time plays, getting off his momentum to go down and score. We all knew what Rome could do. It's no surprise to us. It was just when his time came for him to keep getting the ball, he just did what he had to do with it."

Doubs, who was Green Bay's second-leading receiver in the regular season, injured his chest during last Sunday's win over Chicago but practiced all week. He put an exclamation point on the victory with a 3-yard TD on fourth-and-2 at the start of the fourth quarter for the Packers' final score.

"Just playing ball and knowing just spatial awareness," said Doubs of the play. "The play wasn't designed for me to score. I just did my part, and the play was extended and I was able to get space."

Musgrave comes free: In a play that looked eerily similar to his 37-yard catch in the opener against Chicago, tight end Luke Musgrave found himself completely open for a 38-yard touchdown near the end of the third quarter.

The rookie second-round pick couldn't say whether it's the most open he's ever found himself on the football field but agreed he was pretty wide open. The score put Green Bay up 41-16 at the time.

"Those are kind of tough because the ball's in the air for so long," Musgrave said. "I'm trying to make the catch and anything after that and try to score."

With Musgrave's and Wicks' touchdowns, the Packers became only the second team since the 1970 NFL-AFL merger to have two or more rookies catch a TD pass in their debut, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. The first? Davante Adams and Richard Rodgers in the Packers' win over Dallas in the NFC Divisional playoffs on Jan. 11, 2015, at Lambeau Field.

Onto the next one: With the win, the Packers became the first No. 7 seed to knock off a No. 2 seed since the NFL pivoted to a 14-team playoff in 2020.

Green Bay will now travel to face the top-seeded San Francisco 49ers in an NFC Divisional playoff game this Saturday in Santa Clara, Calif. As good as the win felt Sunday, linebacker Rashan Gary already had one eye turned to the 49ers.

"We're not done yet," Gary said. "If you seen my face, of course I'm happy with the win but we're not done. We're gonna enjoy it for 24 hours and we're onto the next.

"Short turnaround, we just gotta keep pushing. There ain't nothing to be too excited about. We're doing what we need to do, but we're not done yet."