Blocked field goal returned for a TD sparks Cowboys past Vikes
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Patrick Watkins returned a blocked field goal 68 yards for the go-ahead touchdown and the Dallas Cowboys went on to defeat the Minnesota Vikings, 24-14, at Texas Stadium.
Watkins' return broke a 14-14 stalemate and was part of a string of 17 straight points scored by Dallas (6-1), which recovered from last week's 48-27 loss to the Patriots to remain one game ahead of the New York Giants in the NFC East.
Tony Romo completed an incredible 31-of-39 passes for 277 yards with one touchdown. Terrell Owens had seven catches for 103 yards with a score and Marion Barber ran for 96 yards and a TD for the Cowboys, who benefited greatly from Minnesota's lack of offense.
The Cowboys held Vikings running back Adrian Peterson to only 63 yards and a TD rushing, one week after the rookie exploded for a franchise record 224 yards and three touchdowns in a 34-31 win over Chicago.
Tarvaris Jackson completed only 6-of-19 passes for just 72 yards for the Vikings (2-4), who have lost four of five.
Trailing 14-7 at halftime, the Cowboys came to life midway through the third quarter. Barber capped the game-tying touchdown drive with a one-yard TD plunge with 6:55 left. The score was set up by a 22-yard completion from Romo to Owens that brought the ball down to the one-yard line.
Then, the defense came up big. Minnesota drove the ball to the Dallas 31, setting up a Ryan Longwell 48-yard field goal try. However, Chris Canty blocked the kick and Watkins picked up the football and raced 68 yards for the go-ahead touchdown with 2:52 left until the fourth quarter.
Nick Folk turned a Peterson fumble into three points early in the fourth quarter, converting a 45-yard field goal, to put the game out of reach.
Barber later helped the Cowboys run out the clock, running for 65 yards during a 5:13 drive that ended with Dallas turning the ball over on downs with 23 seconds left deep in Vikings territory.
Jason Witten ended with a game-high 10 catches for 86 yards for the Cowboys.
Chester Taylor had a team-high three catches for 19 yards for the Vikings. Troy Williamson's 25 yards receiving was enough to lead all Minnesota receivers in yardage.
Dallas got going right away, taking the game's opening possession 80 yards on 14 plays with Romo hitting Owens with a five-yard TD strike for a 7-0 lead 8:24 into the contest.
Minnesota answered right away, marching 69 yards in 11 plays with Peterson running in from 20 yards to tie the contest just 5:53 later.
In the second quarter, Minnesota's defense made a couple of big plays, stalling a potential Cowboys' scoring drive once and turning a Patrick Crayton fumble into seven points.
First, with Dallas facing a 3rd-and-goal from the Minnesota nine-yard-line, Kenechi Udeze sacked Romo, forcing a fumble that Kevin Williams recovered and appeared to return for a touchdown. However, holding by Minnesota defensive end Ray Edwards on the return nullified the TD, but the Vikings had the ball none the less.
Then, after the Vikings went three-and-out, Romo's first pass of the ensuing possession went to Crayton, who fumbled at the Minnesota 43 after being hit by Antoine Winfield. Ben Leber picked up the loose ball at the 40, ran 10 yards, pitched it to Cedric Griffin, who held it for nine yards before losing it and then picking it back up and running in for the score.
Folk missed a 50-yard field goal for Dallas with two seconds left in the half and the Vikings continued to hold a 14-7 lead going into the break.
Game Notes
Jackson completed his first two passes of the game, the last being with 4:40 left in the first quarter, but then failed on his next six attempts before completing his third pass of the contest, this to Bobby Wade with under six minutes left in the third quarter...Dallas' TD off the blocked field goal was the franchise's first since September 25, 1983 when Ed Jones blocked the kick and Ron Fellows returned it for a score against New Orleans...Romo ended three completions shy of tying Troy Aikman's franchise mark of 34.
Patrick Watkins returned a blocked field goal 68 yards for the go-ahead touchdown and the Dallas Cowboys went on to defeat the Minnesota Vikings, 24-14, at Texas Stadium.
Watkins' return broke a 14-14 stalemate and was part of a string of 17 straight points scored by Dallas (6-1), which recovered from last week's 48-27 loss to the Patriots to remain one game ahead of the New York Giants in the NFC East.
Tony Romo completed an incredible 31-of-39 passes for 277 yards with one touchdown. Terrell Owens had seven catches for 103 yards with a score and Marion Barber ran for 96 yards and a TD for the Cowboys, who benefited greatly from Minnesota's lack of offense.
The Cowboys held Vikings running back Adrian Peterson to only 63 yards and a TD rushing, one week after the rookie exploded for a franchise record 224 yards and three touchdowns in a 34-31 win over Chicago.
Tarvaris Jackson completed only 6-of-19 passes for just 72 yards for the Vikings (2-4), who have lost four of five.
Trailing 14-7 at halftime, the Cowboys came to life midway through the third quarter. Barber capped the game-tying touchdown drive with a one-yard TD plunge with 6:55 left. The score was set up by a 22-yard completion from Romo to Owens that brought the ball down to the one-yard line.
Then, the defense came up big. Minnesota drove the ball to the Dallas 31, setting up a Ryan Longwell 48-yard field goal try. However, Chris Canty blocked the kick and Watkins picked up the football and raced 68 yards for the go-ahead touchdown with 2:52 left until the fourth quarter.
Nick Folk turned a Peterson fumble into three points early in the fourth quarter, converting a 45-yard field goal, to put the game out of reach.
Barber later helped the Cowboys run out the clock, running for 65 yards during a 5:13 drive that ended with Dallas turning the ball over on downs with 23 seconds left deep in Vikings territory.
Jason Witten ended with a game-high 10 catches for 86 yards for the Cowboys.
Chester Taylor had a team-high three catches for 19 yards for the Vikings. Troy Williamson's 25 yards receiving was enough to lead all Minnesota receivers in yardage.
Dallas got going right away, taking the game's opening possession 80 yards on 14 plays with Romo hitting Owens with a five-yard TD strike for a 7-0 lead 8:24 into the contest.
Minnesota answered right away, marching 69 yards in 11 plays with Peterson running in from 20 yards to tie the contest just 5:53 later.
In the second quarter, Minnesota's defense made a couple of big plays, stalling a potential Cowboys' scoring drive once and turning a Patrick Crayton fumble into seven points.
First, with Dallas facing a 3rd-and-goal from the Minnesota nine-yard-line, Kenechi Udeze sacked Romo, forcing a fumble that Kevin Williams recovered and appeared to return for a touchdown. However, holding by Minnesota defensive end Ray Edwards on the return nullified the TD, but the Vikings had the ball none the less.
Then, after the Vikings went three-and-out, Romo's first pass of the ensuing possession went to Crayton, who fumbled at the Minnesota 43 after being hit by Antoine Winfield. Ben Leber picked up the loose ball at the 40, ran 10 yards, pitched it to Cedric Griffin, who held it for nine yards before losing it and then picking it back up and running in for the score.
Folk missed a 50-yard field goal for Dallas with two seconds left in the half and the Vikings continued to hold a 14-7 lead going into the break.
Game Notes
Jackson completed his first two passes of the game, the last being with 4:40 left in the first quarter, but then failed on his next six attempts before completing his third pass of the contest, this to Bobby Wade with under six minutes left in the third quarter...Dallas' TD off the blocked field goal was the franchise's first since September 25, 1983 when Ed Jones blocked the kick and Ron Fellows returned it for a score against New Orleans...Romo ended three completions shy of tying Troy Aikman's franchise mark of 34.
posted by The Gryphon at 9:04 PM
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