In the span of two games, Eddie Lacy went from coach Mike McCarthy's doghouse for a curfew violation to being a focal point again for the Green Bay Packers.

At just the right time, too, since Lacy's bullish running style seems well suited for bad weather in December.

Lacy ran for 124 yards and a touchdown and fellow running back James Starks added two scores in the Packers' 28-7 win on Sunday over the Dallas Cowboys.

Green Bay (9-4) has a one-game lead in the NFC North over Minnesota after its second straight victory following a 1-4 slide.

"We all make a couple bad decisions along the way and that doesn't change my opinion of Eddie," McCarthy said. "So he needed to refocus and he did that."

Lacy hoped this was a springboard for the stretch run.

With 435 yards and 29 first downs, the Packers got better balance and production out of an offense that still struggled at times with penalties and short-yardage situations. The defense and running game came up with big plays in the fourth quarter.

Aaron Rodgers threw for 218 yards and two scores, though all the Packers really needed from their star quarterback late in the game was to hand off the ball. Lacy and Starks each had touchdown runs in the fourth quarter on a rainy night.

"He's a big, strong, powerful runner," Rodgers said about Lacy. "The ball's a little slick at times and we need him to keep the chains moving."

With the loss, the potential for a .500 record slipped away from the Cowboys (4-9). Their chances in the mediocre NFC East took a hit, too.

Dallas fell two games back of divisional leaders Washington and Philadelphia, who both won on Sunday.