Cowboys' Wide-Receiver Miles Austin Celebrates After His First Catch of the Game, a 49-yard game-winning touchdown reception from Tony Romo. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
Through his first three starts, Dallas wide-receiver Miles Austin had 21 receptions for 482 yards and five touchdown catches. Through nearly three and a half quarters of Sunday’s (Nov.8) game against the Philadelphia Eagles, Austin was held without a single reception.
"You knew he would probably get it at some point," said Cowboys’ quarterback Tony Romo of Austin. "He's a good player."
That he did as he caught a 49-yard touchdown with less than nine minutes left, leading Dallas (6-2) to a 20-16 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles (5-3). This was Austin’s only catch for the game, but undoubtedly the most important one as the Cowboys took the lead for good at 20-13.
"I made sure I caught it first," Austin said of his only reception in the game. "A bunch of the guys were making fun of me because I took so long to see it in my hands."
Make no mistake about it; Dallas needed this victory more than any win thus far this season. After being humiliated to end the season last year by this very same team in this very same place, Dallas made amends.
"Our last loss against them really motivated us to come out and play good," Cowboys’ outside line-backer DeMarcus Ware said.
The Dallas defense was at the forefront as they held the NFL’s third best scoring offense (29 points per game) to only one touchdown and three field goals in the game. Dallas nose tackle Jay Ratliff had two sacks for the contest, his third and fourth sacks of the season. Ratliff and the Cowboys pressured Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb all game long, sacking him four times and intercepting two of his passes; his highest interception total for a game this season. McNabb was 16-30 (53 percent) for 227 yards and one touchdown pass along with two interceptions. McNabb hadn’t had an interception in his past four games and now has three for the season. Cowboys’ corner-back Mike Jenkins gained position in front of Eagles wide-receiver Jeremy Maclin in the third quarter for his third interception of the season.
"We have to eliminate mistakes," McNabb said.
The Dallas offense did just enough to win the game as it faced an aggressive Eagles defense that blitzed thoroughly throughout the game. Tony Romo was 21-34 (61.7 percent) for 307 yards with a touchdown and an interception. Romo and Roy Williams finally got on the same page as Romo targeted Williams eight times on the night with Williams catching five of those passes for 75 yards. Cowboys’ running back Marion Barber contributed 50 yards on 12 carries including 23 yards on Dallas’ final drive to seal the victory.
"We executed," Romo said. "I think the coaches put together a good plan. You just have to keep fighting and getting better."
The Dallas Cowboys proved to themselves, the rest of the league and their fans that they have the strength of character to win a game in hostile territory against a division rival. Not only that, they have put distance between themselves and the rest of the NFC East; putting themselves in the drivers seat with eight games remaining. Now it’s up to Dallas to keep their momentum going as they play their next three games over the span of 11 days.
Dallas’ next game is at 3:15 p.m. Nov. 15, in Green Bay, against the Packers.
(Portions of this article were taken from The Associated Press)
Cowboys News and Notes:
- Cowboys’ safety Gerald Sensabaugh recorded his first interception of the season early in the first quarter.
- With 75 yards, Roy Williams had his second best day receiving as a Cowboy.
- Both teams combined for 19 penalties for 152 yards, in a tightly officiated game.
- Tony Romo is now 3-3 for his career against the Eagles including 2-1 in Philadelphia.
- This was the 100th game in the series history for these two teams. Dallas leads 56-44.
No comments:
Post a Comment