Cowboys Survive in Overtime 26-20

Miles Austin’s Record Breaking Game Overshadows Dallas’ Undisciplined Play

With starter Roy Williams out due to cartilage damage to three ribs, Miles Austin made the first start of his career and the Cowboys needed a big game from the third-year wide-out. The Dallas Cowboys wide receiver delivered 10 receptions and 250 yards against Kansas City, breaking the Cowboys receiving yards record for a game (246) held for 43 years by Hall of Famer Bob Hayes. That’s just 5 catches and 38 yards less than Austin had all of last season. Austin broke tackles to set up big gains all game long, culminating in the 60-yard game winning touchdown pass in overtime to win the game.

“I just wanted to show people I’m ready to play. I wanted to show my teammates that I want to contribute as much as I can,” Austin said. “I was able to do that.”

All-in-all, Dallas (3-2) did not have a crisp game on either side of the ball. Dallas shot themselves in the foot all game long: a missed field goal, 2 fumbles that led to 10 points for the Chiefs, dropped passes in the end zone, and 13 penalties for 90 yards at crucial points in the game led to a close contest with a winless Kansas City team.

“Our guys fought the whole game but we didn’t do all the right things,” said Coach Wade Phillips. “There are things we need to work on, but the bottom line is winning and guys coming through.”

The Wade Phillips led Dallas defense faltered with the game on the line in the 4^th quarter for the third time in the last four weeks. With a 20-13 lead and only 2:16 left in the game the Cowboys had a chance to put the game away with a defensive stop. Instead, Kansas City drove 74 yards in 10 plays to tie the game at 20-20 with 24 seconds left in regulation. Luckily for Dallas, the defensive unit shut the Chiefs down in overtime and allowed the offense to win the game.

The Cowboys offense managed only 170 total yards in the first half and went into the locker-room down 10-3 at halftime. Dallas picked it up in the second half, though, accumulating 328 yards and 17 points. The running game picked up the pace as Marion Barber and Tashard Choice combined for 145 yards on 23 carries and a touchdown. Quarterback Tony Romo also had a bounce back game. After failing to throw a touchdown pass for a total of (a career high) 13 ½ consecutive quarters, Romo was 20-34 for 350 yards and 2 touchdowns with no interceptions. Romo did have a fumble in the first half (which led to the first Kansas City touchdown of the game) on what appeared to be a botched play in which offensive lineman Leonard Davis knocked the ball out of his hands.

Dallas legitimately stared a 2-3 record in the face going into their bye week. The Cowboy’s can’t expect to play like they did in this game and compete with any reasonably good NFL team. Dallas now has a week off to work on their deficiencies.

The Dallas Cowboys next game is Sunday Oct 25 at 3:15 pm, in Dallas against the Atlanta Falcons.

(Portions of this article were taken from the Associated Press)