Yes, the Cowboys ran their record to 4-1, but had few positives to show for it, in another up and down performance. Tony Romo completed 14 of 23 passes for 176 yards, but was also responsible for two turnovers. Terrell Owens, who spent the days leading up to the game clamoring for the ball to come his way more often, caught only two passes.
But, unlike the college game, the NFL doesn’t require you to be pretty, just so long as you bag a win. And, if nothing else, that’s what the Cowboys did.
Coming off a loss to the Washington Redskins, the Dallas offense looked focused as they staked their defense to an early 17-0 lead. Linebacker Greg Ellis intercepted Carson Palmer on the first play from scrimmage and returned it to the 17 yard line. The interception was the team’s first since Dec.22 of last year against Carolina, a span of 6 games. The good field position, led to a Nick Folk 30 yard field goal.
On their next possession, the Cowboys were faced with a 4th down & 4 from the Cincy 33, when rookie running back Felix Jones took a handoff and went around right end untouched for the first touchdown of the game. "It was a sweep play, I had some great blocks out there," Jones said. "(Marc) Colombo made a great block for me and opened it up." The carry was Jones' first since two weeks previous against Green Bay, having gone the whole game against Washington without a single touch. "I was very anxious, I'm a football player and I want to have the ball in my hands," said Jones, who could possibly win the Rookie Of The Week award for the third time this season. "But I'm also patient. I wait for my opportunities and once I get that opportunity I maximize it."The score was Jones’ fourth in five games. Jones would finish the game with 9 rushes for a whopping 96 yards. He also caught one pass for 7 yards. "(Jones) plays well and when he gets the ball in his hands, he makes good plays," tight end Jason Witten said.
After another Bengals punt, Romo guided the offense 80 yards in 10 plays, and found tight end Jason Witten in the back of the end zone from 4 yards out to end the drive, and up the lead to 17-0.
The game’s momentum changed in an instant, when Frostee Rucker stripped Romo of the ball and Cincinnati recovered with 1:42 left in the half. A 15 yard facemask penalty on Marion Barber put the ball on the Cowboys 29 yard line. A Shayne Graham field goal a few plays later cut the lead to 17-6, and left the Texas Stadium faithful grumbling as the half came to a close.
After Romo and Co. opened the third quarter with a three-and-out, Carson Palmer directed an 11 play 72 yard drive that ended when he found T.J. Houshmandzadeh for an 18 yard score.
Later in the quarter, Romo lofted a pass toward Witten across the middle, but it was intercepted by Keith Rivers and returned 39 yards. "You would love to never have a turnover, but I think that's unrealistic and there's stuff we will work on," said Romo, who's interception upped his streak of consecutive games with at least one interception to eight. "I will try not to do certain mistakes again." Four plays later, Graham shaved the deficit to one, 17-16. Graham’s ensuing onside-kick caught the Cowboys off guard, and the road team grabbed not only the ball, but, seemingly, complete control of the game.
But then...Maybe it was just another example of why the Bengals were owners of a winless record, or possibly Dallas’ “vaunted” defense flexed it’s muscle and decided to put a stop to it all. After the first two plays netted 15 yards, Chris Henry took a handoff and ran to the left side where he was hit by defensive tackle Tank Johnson and fumbled the ball. Anthony Spencer recovered for Dallas. "Every time you tackle somebody, you're trying to force a fumble," Johnson said. I just went for the ball and it came out."
Two plays later, Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis could only watch, as Terrell Owens streaked into the end zone for a 57 yard score and a 24-16 Cowboys advantage. In less than a minute, the Cowboys had gone from appearing like they were about to officially blow a 17 point lead, to having an eight point cushion. "Great play by Tank to cause the fumble," linebacker Zach Thomas said. Though Johnson was pleased with that particular play, he wasn't pleased with his overall performance. "I'm just not all the way healthy and I pride myself on being physical, so anytime you can't be physical it's hard to do what you want to do," said Johnson, who has been battling an ankle sprain the past couple of weeks.
Owens' reception was his second and final one of the day, and ended a very tumultuous week for the often out-spoken wideout, who was under the radar for his comments about wanting the ball more often. Other than that long touchdown, Owens was a non-factor, his other catch netting a modest 10 yards. "I've just been dealing with a lot of stuff and this was a great team win," said an emotional Owens, who also became the eighth player in NFL history to record 900 career receptions. "We fought hard to get back in this ballgame and there has been a lot of criticism that I have taken all week and it's more about getting my faith and giving God all the glory he gave more today. "It was frustrating out there, but I just stuck with it. I am more about being No. 81. It's more about a star being on my helmet. God put me in a situation to let everybody know I am a man of God no matter what criticism I may take or people point at me."
And as is his norm, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones defended his star wideout, yet still managed to give a "woe is me" shot in there about himself. "I don't know that I've been around a guy who's gotten more negative criticism than me.
"He's a great player and made an exceptional play. Catching a ball on a slant and then taking it on a slant was an exceptional play. I saw him wanting more. He didn't have the attitude like he'd done his part. He had a competitive attitude and look in his face."
To his credit, Palmer, who was obviously less than 100% due to an elbow injury suffered two games previously against the Giants, found Houshmandzadeh for a 10 yard score, capping a 7 play 37 yard drive. His two-point-conversion pass intended for tight end Ben Utecht was broken up by safety Keith Davis to keep Dallas in front 24-22.
"Keith Davis made a big play for us," Cowboys head coach Wade Phillips said of Davis, who was starting in the place of injured safety Patrick Watkins. "He's our third safety. He's a smart player. He knew what was coming and made a really good play."
After the kickoff, the Cowboys moved 65 yards in 10 plays, when they were faced with a 3rd & 11 at the 15 yard line. On the play, which may turn out to be one of the most critical plays of the season, Romo’s pass went through the hands of wide receiver Miles Austin and deflected directly to receiver Patrick Crayton in the end zone for a touchdown, and a 31-22 Dallas lead. The catch was Crayton’s only of the game and, not only clinched the victory but also, allowed Dallas to keep pace with Washington (4-1) and the New York Giants (4-0) in the tough NFC East.
"I was really happy for our guys because in close games and games that come right down to the end you need playmakers and you need people to come through," Phillips said. "I thought we did that."
Briefs
Chad Johnson, who told members of the media that he would score a touchdown and then kiss the Cowboys star, had a quiet day, finishing with 4 receptions for 43 yards.......Marion Barber carried 23 times for 84 yards, a week removed from carrying only 8 times for 26 yards.......Cornerback Terence Newman was inactive for the game, and for some reason I haven't been able to find out why. Hum. Do I smell a rat?...........The Cowboys defense held the duo of Chris Perry and Cedric Benson to 61 yards rushing on 23 carries, less than 3 yards per carry.......Cowboys fullback Deon Anderson was active for the first time since injuring his knee during the team's win over Philadelphia in Week 2. He finished the game with 1 carry for 3 yards....... For the first time since returning from injury in Week 2, Miles Austin did not record a catch.
