Photo: Sporting News
Big Drama in the Big D
The AT&T Stadium scoreboard told a story that seemed impossible in modern NFL football: 40-40. In a game that had everything—dramatic lead changes, clutch performances, and emotional storylines—the Green Bay Packers and Dallas Cowboys played to a rare overtime tie on Sunday night, marking the first such deadlock in the league this season.
Some actually view the tie as a “win” for the Cowboys and a “loss” for the Packers.
The Homecoming
The most compelling narrative of the evening belonged to Micah Parsons, the former Cowboys star who returned to Dallas wearing the green and gold of Green Bay. Traded to the Packers before the season, Parsons made his presence felt throughout the night on the defensive side of the ball, recording a crucial sack that epitomized his impact on his former home field. The crowd’s reaction was mixed—a blend of appreciation for past heroics and frustration at seeing him now hunting their own quarterback, Dak Prescott.
“You could feel the emotion in the building,” said one observer. Parsons’ return added a layer of intensity to an already charged atmosphere, as the defender who once anchored Dallas’s defense now sought to dismantle it.
Offensive Fireworks
The offensive explosion that led to the unprecedented 40-40 final score showcased both teams at their most potent. Dallas wide receiver George Pickens delivered a performance for the ages, hauling in 134 receiving yards and two touchdowns. His ability to create separation and make contested catches kept the Cowboys’ offense humming throughout the game, providing the aerial assault that kept Dallas in contention.
On the ground and through the air, both offenses found rhythm when they needed it most.
Historic Stalemate
The 40-40 tie joins an extremely exclusive club. Overtime ties have become increasingly rare in the NFL’s modern era, making this deadlock all the more remarkable.
The NFL introduced regular season overtime rules in 1974. Since then, there have been 30 tied games.
The NFL changed its regular season overtime rules for the 2025 season to match the postseason format, allowing both teams to have possession even if the first team scores a touchdown.
This was the first tie in the NFL in 45 regular season weeks, ending the longest streak of no tie games since 2008-2012, which ended at 67 weeks.
With 80 combined points on the board, this wasn’t a defensive struggle that ground to a stalemate—it was an offensive showcase where neither team could land the knockout blow.
For the Packers, it was a successful homecoming for Parsons even without the victory. For the Cowboys, it was a chance to prove they could hang with a playoff-caliber opponent, even if they couldn’t quite seal the deal.
In a league that increasingly values decisive outcomes, Sunday night’s drama in Dallas reminded everyone that sometimes the most memorable games are the ones that refuse to crown a winner.
MORE ON LAST NIGHT’S GAME CAN BE FOUND FURTHER DOWN THIS POST IN “SPORTS”
A multi-vehicle crash last night east of the city killed one person and injured five others, one seriously.
Roberto Lopez Falcon, a fifth-grade ESL teacher at Hart Elementary School in North Austin, was arrested by ICE during a routine check-in appointment in San Antonio on September 3rd and has been detained for three weeks at a federal immigration facility in Karnes County.
The Cuban immigrant entered the US without authorization in 2022, was arrested at that time and released, but ICE officials said he had only “conditional status” and was released “without proper vetting.”
School staff told students Lopez Falcon was sick, but parents who discovered the truth say the district has not communicated openly about what happened. (Austin American-Statesman)
PODCAST
Texas leads the country in the number of immigration detentions.
Here in Austin, where immigrants represent about 15% of the population, life under President Donald Trump’s immigration policies looks very different than it did last year. Law enforcement presence has ramped up in certain parts of town and soon, the Travis County Sheriff’s Office will also have to participate in immigration enforcement, a change from the past. Appointments in San Antonio that used to be low-risk are now terrifying experiences, as arrests at check-ins have been more common.
Emiliano Tahui Gómez, Latino communities reporter for the Austin American-Statesman talks to City Cast Austin to break it all down.
Robert Eugene Brashers, now identified as the suspect in the 1991 “Yogurt Shop Murders” of four young women in Austin, has had his DNA is connected to the death of a woman in South Carolina in 1990, the rape of a 14-year-old girl in Memphis, Tenn., in 1997, and the murder of a mother and her 12-year-old daughter in Portageville, Mo., in 1998. Brashers died by suicide during a police standoff in 1999.
How Austin police helped solve the case.
Later today, Austin police will hold a news conference about the case.
34 years later, Austinites are still paying their respects to and remembering the four young people whose lives were tragically cut short.
Local students participated in a Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) training event over the weekend in Travis County.
A community in the City of Taylor is filing a lawsuit to stop the development of a 135,000 square foot data center on land that was originally deeded to be a park.
FOUR DAYS UNTIL 2025 ACL FESTIVAL
Zilker Park‘s great lawn is now officially closed to the public as ACL Festival preparations begin. The rugby field will also close at midnight on October 1. Both the field and the lawn will reopen on October 20.
Some Zilker Park amenities will remain open during the ACL load in, loud out and festival weekends. Those include the Barton Springs Pool, via the South Gate Entrance, Barton Springs Pool parking lot (for pool visitors only; festival drop-offs and parking are prohibited), Barton Creek Greenbelt and some park concessionaires. The city’s Parks and Recreation Department recommends using alternative Greenbelt trailheads, such as Gus Fruh, Spyglass and Hill of Life.
The city of Austin is no longer considering using artificial intelligence to help catch people breaking into cars and committing other crimes at parks and greenbelts, at least for the time being. (KUT 90.5)
A roadway in northwest Austin is back open after a water main break over the weekend.
A mixed-use project with 525 residential units planned for South Lamar has been given the OK to build taller.
The corridor is undergoing a transition from primarily low-density commercial uses to four-to eight-story mixed-use buildings.
The first building at 2700 S. Lamar Blvd. will be eight stories and consist of 525 apartment units totaling 97,215 square feet. The second building at 2800 S. Lamar Blvd will be six stories and consist of 19,640 square feet of office space and 4,480 square feet of retail. (Austin Business Journal)
WEATHER
SUNDAY’S HIGH / LOW TEMPERATURES
AUSTIN-BERGSTRO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
CAMP MABRY
5-DAY FORECAST / AUSTIN, TEXAS
Austin’s rainiest season, climate versus weather and how wind blows.
In-depth answers to viewer submitted questions on Weather Answers with Rich via KXAN-TV:
Tropical Storm Imelda is slowly getting its act together, and the system is expected to strengthen into a hurricane off the southeastern U.S. coast on Tuesday.
The Electric Reliability Council of Texas announced the creation of the Grid Research, Innovation and Transformation (GRIT) initiative this week, a new effort to develop technologies and foster collaboration on the state’s electric grid. (ERCOT)
Two people were killed when a small plane crashed and erupted into flames at Hooks Airport in north Harris County on Sunday. The two were the only ones on board.
Police have arrested a man suspected of killing two people and injuring six others in a shooting at the Kickapoo Lucky Eagle Casino in Eagle Pass early Sunday morning.
A Dallas ICE office remains closed today following a deadly shooting involving detainees.
Democratic Texas Rep. James Talarico visited McAllen during a recent campaign event.
Meanwhile, Texas state Rep. Gina Hinojosa, an Austin Democrat, has told at least one donor that she’s running for governor next year. (Axios via MSN)
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton worked the drive-thru and french fry station at a McDonald’s in Plano on Friday. He posted videos of the event on X, where he also indicated that the appearance was part of his campaign to challenge U.S. Senator John Cornyn.
He is taking heat for the stunt, however, online.
Someone wrote in a Texas Reddit thread, ‘Look at ME! I’m just like Trump!’ (My San Antonio)
The Texas Tribune is reporting today that Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller, a vocal critic of DEI policies, wrote a letter urging university leaders to reconsider admitting a student whom he described as a “biracial Latina,” who was also the daughter of his political associate. (Texas Tribune)
A deadly attack in Dallas raises calls to tone down political rhetoric. Some of the messages from some state leaders transcend politics, some do not.
New age restrictions take effect for sales of products containing THC. The requirements have widespread support, but they could be just the beginning of new regulations for the products.
Texas Democrats have not won a statewide election in more than 30 years. Now the state party leader is implementing a new plan to end the losing streak. Adam Schwager interviews Democratic Party chair Kendall Scudder about the move and at why some are skeptical of the plan.
An invasive pest that could wreak havoc on the cattle industry is spreading closer to Texas. Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller s pushing a new way to fight back, but he says not everyone is on board.
(Episode from September 28, 2025)
This week, a trio of federal judges will consider whether Texas can use its new congressional map in the 2026 election, marking the first legal test for the districts produced by a summer of intense partisan clashing. (Texas Tribune)
A Texas man accused of threatening to commit a shooting at a local pride event has been arrested by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, according to court documents obtained by CBS News. (CBS News via MSN)
Wilson County authorities have launched an investigation into a fatal shooting at a Wills Point home, with no motive or suspects identified yet.
SPORTS
NFL: Brandon Aubrey and Brandon McManus traded short field goals in overtime, and Micah Parsons’ only sack played a role in keeping the Dallas Cowboys out of the end zone in the extra period of a 40-40 tie with the Green Bay Packers last night. (Yahoo! Sports)
Dak Prescott and Jordan Love had three touchdown passes apiece in regulation, which included seven consecutive lead-changing TDs before McManus’ tying 53-yard field goal as time expired.
Meanwhile, the Houston Texans are winless no more.
Houston’s defense got its first shutout in almost 15 years and the offense did the rest Sunday against the Tennessee Titans to give the Texans their first win of the season, 26-0. (Yahoo! Sports)
NFL STANDINGS
ON THE SCHEDULE
MLB: The Houston Astros are done for the season. They defeated the Los Angeles Angels yesterday, 6-1, in their final game, finishing 87-75 on the year and missing the playoffs for first time since 2016. (Yahoo! Sports)
The Texas Rangers also finished a disappointing season Sunday with a loss. (Yahoo! Sports)
The Rangers finished 81-81 on the season.
For the teams that made it, the schedule is set.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL: The Texas Longhorns, although idle this past weekend, move up a bit the latest AP Top 25 College Football Poll.
Texas A&M is 6th while Texas Tech checks in 11th.
Texas Football Gets Set for SEC Tilt @ Florida | LIVE | 9/29/25 | NFL | CFB | Austin Sports Talk
Today were visiting the “Disney of Tex-Mex” in Lampasas.
