Irish punter Daniel Whelan helped the Green Bay Packers defeat the Dallas Cowboys in the first round of the NFL playoffs.
The Packers defeated the Cowboys 48-32 in their wildcard encounter, led by running back Aaron Jones and quarterback Jordan Love.
Whelan, who was born in Enniskerry, Wicklow, traveled to America when he was 13 years old and secured a spot with the historic NFL team for the 2023/24 season.
The 24-year-old punted three times for a total of 113 yards, averaging 37.7 yards per kick.
Whelan became the first Irishman to participate in the NFL playoffs since Dublin’s Neil O’Donoghue for the St Louis Cardinals in 1983.
In his postseason debut, quarterback Love passed for three touchdowns and 272 yards, while running back Jones rushed for 118 yards and three scores.
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The Packers surged out to a 27-point lead in the first quarter, silenced the Dallas crowd, and scored three more in the second quarter, including a 64-yard interception from Darnell Savage.
Dallas quarterback Dak Prescott was intercepted twice while passing for three touchdowns and 403 yards, but Green Bay won the game with three more touchdowns in the second half.
The Cowboys staged a late comeback, scoring twice on tight end Jake Ferguson, but the Packers’ margin was insurmountable.
In the NFC divisional round, they will meet the top-seeded San Francisco 49ers.
The Detroit Lions won their first playoff game in 32 years, defeating the Los Angeles Rams 24-23 at home.
Detroit had a 14-3 lead after two touchdowns in the first quarter, but the Rams answered with two of their own in the second quarter.
In the third quarter, Michael Badgley’s 54-yard field goal proved pivotal, as the Rams could only muster two three-pointers from Brett Maher.
Jared Goff of the Lions threw for 277 yards and one touchdown, while Matthew Stafford of the Rams tossed for 367 yards and two touchdowns.
The winner of Monday night’s game between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Philadelphia Eagles will face the Lions.
