Star-Telegram.com: Dallas Cowboys

Dallas Cowboys prove a point in Philly, take over first place

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 01:10 CST

By CLARENCE E. HILL JR.

PHILADELPHIA — It was billed as a battle for the first place in the NFC East.

But it was much more than that for the Dallas Cowboys.

They came to the City of Brotherly Love not only seeking redemption for the embarrassing 44-6 rout in the 2008 season finale, but also validation.

The Cowboys needed to know for themselves if they were for real ... if they had the character and mental toughness to get it done against a good team in a big game on the road?

Mission accomplished.

A fourth-down stand by the defense in the fourth quarter was followed by a 49-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Tony Romo to receiver Miles Austin, sending the Cowboys to a 20-16 victory before 69,144 disgruntled Philadelphia Eagles fans at Lincoln Financial Field.

"We had a lot of confidence going in," Cowboys coach Wade Phillips said. "I think we’re getting better."

It’s the team’s first four-game winning streak since 2007, putting Dallas all alone atop the NFC East with a 6-2 record at the midpoint of the season.

The Cowboys are one game ahead of the Eagles (5-3) and the free-falling New York Giants (5-4) are two games back in the loss column after a four-game losing streak.

Most importantly, it answered some questions about the Cowboys’ character and resolve as they prepare to embark on the second half of the season and a push to the playoffs.

It was a game in which the old Cowboys might have wilted in crunch time. But these Cowboys proved to be the better team when it mattered the most.

That they did it here in Philadelphia makes it that much sweeter considering their awful recent history against the Eagles and the bitter memories of their previous trip here.

The Eagles had won four of the past six meetings and had double-digit victories against the Cowboys 10 times since 2000.

Eight of those were by more than 20 points, capped by the 44-6 game with the playoffs on the line in last year’s regular-season final.

Those days are over and if the Cowboys can continue to build their success of the last month, maybe their streak of 13 years without a playoff win will end, too.

Austin will be remembered as the hero as he continued the hottest streak in NFL history for a receiver in his first four starts of his career. He was held without a catch by the Eagles until a double move and a pump fake on Sheldon Brown allowed him to haul in a perfect pass from Romo. He then split the defense and raced to the end zone to break a 13-13 tie with 8:04 remaining.

Austin is the only player in NFL history to have touchdown receptions in his first four starts and he became the first Cowboys player to do it in four consecutive games since Terrell Owens did it in seven straight in 2007.

Romo exorcised his own demons with the touchdown throw. It was following the loss in Philadelphia last year that he uttered the infamous and regrettable quote: "If this was the worst thing to happen to me, I’ve lived a pretty good life."

It only fueled criticisms about Romo’s care-free attitude and the notion that he did not perform well in big games.

He has made amends with his play and words for much of the season. He continued to shine Sunday despite ending a career-long streak of three games without an interception and being under pressure for most of the night. Romo completed 21 of 34 passes for 307 yards.

Quarter-by-quarter look at Cowboys-Eagles game

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 01:10 CST

The Cowboys spent all off-season trying to get over the no-show performance in the 44-6 loss at Philadelphia to end 2008. They opened the game looking like a team bent on atonement. The defense was simply dominating against the Eagles’ explosive attack, limiting them to one first down. Gerald Sensabaugh’s interception off a tipped pass put the Cowboys in scoring position early. On their second possession of the game, Dallas drove 37 yards in nine plays for a touchdown. They converted two third downs and got a big play from rookie Kevin Ogletree, who gained 21 yards on a flanker screen on a third-and-9 play. The Cowboys broke out the Razorback offense, with running back Tashard Choice taking a direct snap from center and running 2 yards for a touchdown.

Time

of possession

DAL PHI 10:11

4:49

Total yards

DAL PHI 103

Rushing yards

DAL PHI 16

Passing yards

DAL PHI 87

SECOND QUARTER

The Cowboys continued to do a solid job on defense as they gave up no big plays and took advantage of good field position to force the Eagles to drive the field. The Eagles made a few plays, but didn’t get anything done consistently against the Cowboys’ defense and had to settle for 45- and 48-yard field goals by David Akers. The Cowboys offense wasn’t much better, rushing for 10 yards in the second quarter. They were hit and miss in the passing game as well, typified by the final drive. A 64-yard pass to Patrick Crayton gave the Cowboys a first down at the 17. A screen to Kevin Ogletree gave the Cowboys a first-and-goal at the 4. But quarterback Tony Romo twiced missed Roy Williams on slants in the end zone. He then threw incomplete to Jason Witten, forcing the Cowboys to settle for 22-yard field goal by Nick Folk and a 10-6 lead.

Time

of possession

DAL PHI 5:26

Game balls for Dallas Cowboys

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 00:19 CST

Miles Austin and Roy Williams

The wide receivers combined for only six catches, but they were big. Austin’s only catch was a game-winning 49-yard TD in the fourth quarter. Williams broke out of a slump with five catches for 75 yards, including a long of 22.

Tony Romo

Romo passed for 307 yards and the clutch 49-yard touchdown to Miles Austin. He also had a 64-yard completion to Patrick Crayton that set up a field goal right before halftime.

Cowboys’ defensive line

The Cowboys’ interior line, led by Jay Ratliff, provided a game-saving stand at the Dallas 45-yard line early in the fourth quarter. Donovan McNabb was stacked up on a fourth-and-1 play. For the game, Ratliff had five tackles, two sacks and two tackles for loss.

Dallas Cowboys’ go-to wideout makes his one catch count

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 01:10 CST

By CHAREAN WILLIAMS

PHILADELPHIA — Miles Austin’s first catch didn’t come until 8:04 remained in Sunday night’s game. As far as the Dallas Cowboys are concerned, it couldn’t have come at a better time.

Austin scored on a 49-yard touchdown pass from Tony Romo, breaking a 13-all tie and providing the deciding points in the Cowboys’ 20-16 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles.

It was Austin’s only reception, but it was the biggest play of the game.

Cornerback Sheldon Brown was faked out by Austin’s double move, biting on Romo’s pump fake. Austin caught the ball in stride before splitting safeties Quintin Mikell and Sean Jones and then outrunning them to the end zone.

It was the only time the Eagles went to sleep on Austin.

The Eagles played Austin as if were the Cowboys’ No. 1 receiver. He had earned that. His 482 yards and five touchdowns in his first three starts, after all, were the best in NFL history for a player in his first three starts.

Austin drew all the attention and all the coverage against the Eagles’ 10th-ranked pass defense. He had only four passes thrown his way.

That left Roy Williams to get on the same page with Tony Romo.

Williams had five catches, the most he has had in his 17-game Cowboys’ career, going for 75 yards. Romo attempted two passes to him in the end zone late in the first half with the ball on the Philadelphia 4. Williams appeared to be held by Asante Samuel on one of them, but officials didn’t throw a flag. The Cowboys settled for a field goal and a 10-6 halftime lead.

That left Austin to play the part of hero again, and he showed he has a little T.O. in him.

Austin has scored in four consecutive games, the most for a Cowboys receiver since Terrell Owens put together a scoring streak of seven games in 2007.

But Romo didn’t play favorites.

After completing passes to 10 receivers last week against the Seattle Seahawks, Romo’s 34 attempts went to nine targets Sunday. Seven of those caught passes.

Tight end Jason Witten had seven receptions for 43 yards, and No. 3 wide receiver Patrick Crayton had two catches for 74 yards.

But Austin’s only catch was the biggest.

Losing to Cowboys places Eagles in a familiar spot

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 01:10 CST

BY JON MARCKS

PHILADELPHIA — It’s like old times in the NFC East, as the NFL season reaches the midway point.

In other words, the Philadelphia Eagles are again looking up at the Dallas Cowboys.

In a city where they’re still feeling the sting of the Phillies’ near miss in winning back-to-back World Championships, folks here at Lincoln Financial Field were hoping Donovan McNabb & Co. could give them a shot of adrenaline.

But after scoring on the first possession of the second half to take a three-point lead, the Eagles couldn’t seal the deal.

And following a couple of spots by the officials that denied them apparent first downs — both upheld by replay — the Cowboys responded with 10 unanswered points, then held on for a 20-16 win that moves them into sole possession of first place in the East.

While the division has pretty much belonged to the Eagles — who’ve won it five times since the turn of the century — prior to that it seemed Philadelphia was always in pursuit of the Cowboys.

Now they are again, as the Giants’ free fall has flipped the balance of power.

The backbreaker for Philadelphia came with the score tied 13-13 midway through the fourth quarter when Tony Romo hooked up with Miles Austin — who had been shut out until then — on a 49-yard scoring strike.

The Eagles countered with a 52-yard David Akers field goal, his third of the night, leaving them just 4:26 to steal the win, but with no timeouts, having lost two critical ones on unsuccessful challenges.

But when they couldn’t prevent Dallas from getting two first downs, taking it down to the 2:00 mark, the game was essentially over.

Westbrook sits

The concussion that Brian Westbrook suffered against the Redskins two Monday nights ago has cost him two games, and counting.

After missing last week’s 40-17 romp over the Giants, Westbrook returned to practice early last week.

But once he began getting headaches late in the week — even though a series of tests did not indicate concussion symptoms — the Eagles decided to err on the side of caution and held him out against the Cowboys.

It’s the first time the 30-year-old Westbrook has missed a Dallas game in his eight seasons.

For his career, Westbrook had carried the ball 178 times for 734 and seven touchdowns against the Cowboys, a 4.1 average. He had also caught 3 passes for 517 yards and two scores. Only once — in 2006 at Texas Stadium — did he reach the century mark against the Cowboys.

In addition to Westbrook, outside linebacker Chris Gocong was held out because of a sore hamstring, bringing to six the number of Eagles’ prospective preseason starters sidelined.

Already out for the season are middle linebacker Stewart Bradley (knee) and former Pro Bowl guard Shawn Andrews (back).

Receiver Kevin Curtis (knee) and defensive end Victor Abiamiri (knee) were also inactive. While Curtis and Abiamiri have been out before, this was the first game Gocong missed. Rookie Moise Fokou, a seventh-round pick from Maryland, took his spot.

Top 2009 draft pick Jeremy Maclin, who’s caught 23 passes for 293 yards and three touchdowns, started in place of Curtis, while veteran Juqua Parker took Abiamiri’s spot, sacking Tony Romo on the Cowboys’ first possession.

Tony Romo delivers another complete performance in win over Eagles

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 01:10 CST

By JEFF CAPLAN

PHILADELPHIA — With a quick pump fake followed by a tight, arching spiral that Miles Austin snatched in mid-stride, quarterback Tony Romo sent Wade Phillips bouncing downfield, his arms stretched to the sky and a smile spilling over the face of the coach of the NFC East’s first-place team.

Phillips, the always embattled head coach of the Dallas Cowboys, never seemed to take the early season criticism and questions of his quarterback seriously.

Was the coaching staff allowing Romo to be Romo? Should Romo be Romo? If not, who should Romo be anyway? Eli Manning?

"Tony Romo will be fine," Phillips would say.

In a conference top-heavy in quarterback play with Brett Favre, Drew Brees and Kurt Warner at the highest level, Romo, his team 6-2 after a 20-16 victory, is right there in the conversation.

One game after Romo spread the ball around to 10 pass-catchers, seven caught balls Sunday totaling 307 yards, Romo’s fourth 300-plus-yard game of the season.

And, yes, his perfectly placed 49-yard bomb to Austin in the fourth quarter was the back-breaker. But Romo’s best achievement might have finally been getting him and struggling receiver Roy Williams on the same page.

Williams caught a season-high five balls for 75 yards. Most impressive was the percentage Romo completed to him. Romo threw his way eight times, completing five. Entering the game, the two had connected just 38 percent of the time.

Doing it in Philadelphia, the site of last season’s embarrassing end and Romo’s forgettable comments, made it all the more special. And when the game was on the line and either Romo or Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb would make the plays to win the game, it was Romo taking the lead.

Romo had talked last week about such a situation unfolding, realizing the doubt hovering from past failures.

"We think we’re a different football team now," Romo said earlier in the week. "We’re a confident group that feels as though if we go out there and execute we can score on anybody."

The Cowboys’ defense came through in the fourth quarter with a fourth-and-1 stuffing of McNabb up the middle to give the offense the ball at the Dallas 45. A holding penalty on center Andre Gurode put the Cowboys in a first-and-20 hole at their 45.

Then Marion Barber lost 4 yards to make it second-and-24, and it appeared the Cowboys were about to blow the momentum switch.

Romo stepped up and hit Patrick Crayton for 10 yards to the Philadelphia 49 for a third-and-14.

Quiet all night under the watch of Eagles cornerback Asante Samuel, Austin broke free of Philadelphia’s other stellar corner Sheldon Brown — Romo’s pump fake freezing the defense — and split the secondary.

Austin made a bread-basket catch and took it in for the score. Romo jumped into Marc Colombo’s arms as Phillips chugged down the sideline as coach of the NFC East’s first-place team.

There’s a real rivalry again, thanks to the Dallas defense

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 00:51 CST

GIL LeBRETON

PHILADELPHIA — All chanted profanities and fall-down drunks aside, there is something reassuring about seeing the Philadelphia Eagles and Dallas Cowboys back on the same field again, fighting in November for first place.

The Eagles, after all, are the ones who first put the post-Jimmy Cowboys in their places, which is to say on their silver-pantsed posteriors, wondering where all the America’s Team mojo went.

If the Cowboys were going to pronounce themselves truly back, though, they had to do more than come into Lincoln Financial Field and not wet those same silver pants.

As they did last December, for example, when Philadelphia embarrassed the Cowboys and spanked them 44-6, laughing all the way into the playoffs.

The Cowboys needed their defense, in other words, to right itself in the second half Sunday night and resume holding the upper hand over a Philly offense that was without Brian Westbrook.

They needed their offense in the fourth quarter to seize the field position that Eagles coach Andy Reid had brashly given them and get the ball to the end zone.

They needed Tony Romo, Roy Williams, Miles Austin, the pass rush and the entire secondary to finally put together a complete game.

Most of all, they needed to show themselves that they could put together four fearless quarters against a bullying division rival.

And, in the end, they did.

Austin grabbed a Romo pass and dashed 49 yards for the go-ahead touchdown in the fourth quarter, and the Cowboys held on to defeat the Eagles 20-16.

In so doing, the 6-2 Cowboys gained sole possession of first place in the NFC East for the first time in two seasons.

They have won four games in a row. And whatever smirks we may have rendered for that end zone celebration against the lowly Kansas City Chiefs, there should be no disparaging this hard-earned road victory over an old and bitter foe.

Perusing the Cowboys’ schedule before the season, most fans — and even Jerry Jones? — would have been amply happy with a 6-2 record through the season’s first half.

Receiver Austin continues to steal the headlines, but the Cowboys’ current streak has been held intact by their defense.

Toss out the season’s second game, in fact, against the New York Giants, and Cowboys defenders have held opponents to 21, 7, 17, 20, 21, 17 and now 16 points.

That kind of frugal defense will win a lot of NFL games. And in the Cowboys’ case, it also is taking pressure off quarterback Romo and the offense to drive the length of the field on every possession.

The Eagles’ offense finished with 297 yards, 89 of them on the ground. It was a far cry from the 44-point season finale last year.

Unlike last season, the Cowboys were able to keep the heat on Philadelphia quarterback Donovan McNabb most of the night. They sacked McNabb four times and pressured him into two interceptions.

McNabb remains elusive, but the night-long rush kept him constantly dancing around and out of the pass pocket.

Cowboys tackle Jay Ratliff sacked McNabb twice and led the defensive charge.

Everything seemed to go right in Romo’s world

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 00:50 CST

RANDY GALLOWAY

PHILADELPHIA — Strange things happened in Tony Romo’s football world here Sunday night.

For starters, he won in Philly, 20-16. Not the first time, but maybe the most important time in a career that, although brief, is constantly dogged by many doubters.

Also consider this:

Tony never spotted a wide-open Jason Witten in the end zone, resulting in a costly four-point scoreboard swing. Wait ’til that word reaches Buffalo. Romo missed an open Witten. Mr. Owens will be in shock.

Consider this:

Romo had wonderful chemistry all evening with, yes, Roy Williams. Beautiful throws repeatedly landed in the paws of Uno Uno. What? Has there been a problem?

Apparently not. Roy was an inviting target. Five catches, 75 yards.

Consider this:

Romo threw a costly third-quarter interception, his first in four games. It was the kind of bad decision and bad pass that could have wrecked an evening. Except, no it didn’t.

Consider this:

Marvelous Miles Austin disappeared on Romo. Could not be located for 53 minutes. First, quarter, second quarter, third quarter — nothing. And nearly halfway through the fourth, still MIA.

But then ...

If this keeps up, the state of Texas is going to name the capital after Miles. (It’s a borrowed Blackie Sherrod line from years ago, in honor of his 90th birthday today)

Tie game at 13-13 in the fourth, and the Cowboys faced the large task of a third-and-14 at the Eagles’ 49. Austin lined up left side, staring at double coverage before the snap. Miles made an inside move, then went back to the sideline with an outside move.

One defender sucked in. Second defender sucked in. Austin became wide open inside the 15. Romo’s throw was a beauty. Austin made the catch, and as always, he’s a tough cat to collar. Austin juked three would-be tacklers and rolled into the end zone. Touchdown Miles Austin, his sixth in four games.

That 49-yard play would prove to be the game-winning moment with 8:04 remaining. The 20-13 lead would hold up because this was Wade Phillips’ proudest moment as the Jerry-ordered defensive coordinator.

All that Eagles offensive thunder of late was held to one touchdown.

Whatever it was the Cowboys had to prove in this visit, and the list seemed to grow all of last week, the only way to satisfy the cynics was, of course, win.

What it all means in the long run, that is yet to be determined.

But the Cowboys went on the road, beat an old enemy in a city full of hate for all things Cow, and in doing so picked up style points because of whipping a quality foe on the road.

Cowboys’ defense rises to the occasion

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 01:10 CST

By CHAREAN WILLIAMS

PHILADELPHIA — The Dallas Cowboys rank second in total offense, 22nd in total defense. But, on Sunday night against the Eagles, it was the defense that played like it’s at the top of the rankings.

The Cowboys defense gave up 16 points and 297 yards. They sacked Donovan McNabb four times. They forced two turnovers. They had a fourth-down stop in the fourth quarter.

It was a team effort.

Nose tackle Jay Ratliff had five tackles and two sacks.

Safety Gerald Sensabaugh had an interception on McNabb’s third pass to set up the Cowboys’ first touchdown.

Cornerback Mike Jenkins had an interception at the end of the third quarter, which set up a game-tying field goal.

Inside linebackers Keith Brooking and Bradie James combined for 10 tackles, and Brooking was in the middle of the pile on McNabb’s quarterback sneak on fourth-and-inches with 10:49 remaining in the fourth quarter.

"Fourth and inches. I felt like, and we felt like, right there that could be the ball game if we could stop them," coach Wade Phillips said. "We knew they were going to run quarterback sneak. Our guys rose to the occasion."

Cornerback Terence Newman helped limit big-play receiver DeSean Jackson to two catches for 29 yards.

Rookie linebacker Victor Butler had a third-down sack of McNabb with less than 5 minutes remaining.

It wasn’t always a thing of art, but the Cowboys still will frame it.

The Eagles had been one of the NFL’s most dangerous offenses.

They had scored a 50-plus-yard touchdown in six of their first seven games. They led the league with 12 touchdowns for 20 or more yards. Nine of those were passing touchdowns.

But Jackson and Jeremy Maclin combined for five catches for 73 yards. Their longest play went for 20 yards, and the Eagles managed only two plays of more than 20 yards.

The Cowboys not only took away the big play, but the Eagles averaged only 5.2 yards on their 57 snaps.

The Cowboys believed all along they could be one of the league’s top defenses.

Even after they allowed 877 yards with no sacks and no turnovers in the first two games — a victory over the Bucs and a loss to the Giants.

Even after they missed three tackles on Brandon Marshall’s 51-yard touchdown to give the Broncos a late 17-10 victory.

They have proved it the past four games. They have allowed only 301.8 yards per game in winning their past four games. Those four opponents scored a combined eight touchdowns.

Wildcat formation, Ogletree add to Cowboys’ offensive mix

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 01:10 CST

By JEFF CAPLAN

PHILADELPHIA — Got weapons?

The Dallas Cowboys entered Sunday night’s game as offensively diverse as they’ve been this season, and against the Philadelphia Eagles they gave another intriguing youngster, rookie receiver Kevin Ogletree, a larger role, while also utilizing third-down tailback Tashard Choice in the wildcat formation — or as the Cowboys call it, the Razorback.

Dallas called the direct-snap play to Choice four times in the first half, with a holding penalty negating the first attempt, a 10-yard gain. The Cowboys had run the play just six times entering the game.

Choice, the second-year back out of Georgia Tech, scored the Cowboys’ first touchdown, a 2-yard run from the Razorback, and then ran it on consecutive plays for 9 yards and 2 to start a second-quarter drive that ultimately fizzled.

Ogletree, quick off the line and crafty when he gets the ball, is a favorite of team owner Jerry Jones, and the owner wants the rookie involved.

Twice Ogletree snatched third-down screen passes from quarterback Tony Romo, for 20 and 17 yards, to put the Cowboys inside the Eagles’ 5-yard line both times, setting up the first touchdown and a field goal late in the first half.

Ogletree also recorded the first run of his career, picking up 6 yards on an end-around, a play used mostly for Patrick Crayton and then last week for Miles Austin for the first time.

Romo’s streak ends

Tony Romo’s career-best streak without an interception — three games and 143 attempts — ended with 9:03 to play in the third quarter.

Romo’s pass was intended for tight end Jason Witten, but Witten never had a chance on the errant pass that fell into the arms of cornerback Sheldon Brown, his fourth interception of the year and the 22nd for the Eagles’ defense.

Crayton’s streak ends

Patrick Crayton was unsuccessful in his bid at history Sunday night. No player has ever returned a punt for a touchdown in three consecutive games.

Crayton entered Sunday’s game with a 73-yard touchdown return against Atlanta and an 82-yarder last week against Seattle.

Witten moves up

Jason Witten’s first two catches of the game moved him ahead of Keith Jackson (5,283) and Wesley Walls (5,291) for 15th in receiving yards among tight ends in league history.

Wade loses challenge

Cowboys coach Wade Phillips’ second-half challenge failed. Dallas believed that Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb had crossed the line of scrimmage before throwing an 11-yard touchdown pass to Brent Celek.

The call on the field — touchdown — stood. The replay showed that McNabb’s entire body had not crossed over the line. The play gave the Eagles a 13-10 lead, their first of the game, with 11:48 left in the third quarter.

Johnson in; Octavien sits

Linebacker Curtis Johnson, sidelined with a hamstring injury for all but one game since the Cowboys acquired him on Sept. 1, was activated Sunday night.