Cowboys Win, 24-14; Improve To 6-1 Heading Into Bye
Rob Phillips - Email
DallasCowboys.com Staff Writer
October 21, 2007 6:19 PM
IRVING, Texas - The Cowboys have relied on their second-ranked offense to close out games this season, but their defense and special teams helped seal a 24-14 victory over the Minnesota Vikings heading into the bye week.
The Cowboys (6-1) quickly erased a seven-point halftime deficit and then scored 10 points off Vikings mistakes to build a 24-14 lead they never relinquished.
Cowboys safety Pat Watkins returned defensive end Chris Canty's blocked field goal 68 yards for a touchdown, and linebacker Bradie James' fumble recovery at the Vikings' 22-yard line led to a Nick Folk field goal in the fourth quarter.
Sunday's win at Texas Stadium maintained the Cowboys' one-game lead in the NFC East. The club won't play again until Nov. 4 at Philadelphia.
Minnesota (2-3) was scoreless in the second half after capitalizing on a Cowboys turnover late in the second quarter. The Vikings took their first lead with 1:39 left in the first half after linebacker Ben Leber scooped up a Patrick Crayton fumble and tossed a lateral to cornerback Cedric Griffin, who raced for the score. Crayton fumbled after catching a 7-yard pass from quarterback Tony Romo.
Despite appearing to be bothered by a sore hamstring, Romo completed 31 of 39 passes for 277 yards and a touchdown.
Vikings rookie running back Adrian Peterson's 20-yard touchdown run capped a 69-yard opening drive for the Vikings, but he wasn't much of a factor the rest of the game. The Palestine, Texas, native finished with 63 yards on 12 carries.
Cowboys veteran Greg Ellis made his first start of the season at strong-side linebacker in place of rookie Anthony Spencer. The Cowboys used Ellis as a pass-rushing nickel defensive end in his first four games back from last year's season-ending Achilles injury.
DallasCowboys.com Staff Writer
October 21, 2007 6:19 PM
IRVING, Texas - The Cowboys have relied on their second-ranked offense to close out games this season, but their defense and special teams helped seal a 24-14 victory over the Minnesota Vikings heading into the bye week.
The Cowboys (6-1) quickly erased a seven-point halftime deficit and then scored 10 points off Vikings mistakes to build a 24-14 lead they never relinquished.
Cowboys safety Pat Watkins returned defensive end Chris Canty's blocked field goal 68 yards for a touchdown, and linebacker Bradie James' fumble recovery at the Vikings' 22-yard line led to a Nick Folk field goal in the fourth quarter.
Sunday's win at Texas Stadium maintained the Cowboys' one-game lead in the NFC East. The club won't play again until Nov. 4 at Philadelphia.
Minnesota (2-3) was scoreless in the second half after capitalizing on a Cowboys turnover late in the second quarter. The Vikings took their first lead with 1:39 left in the first half after linebacker Ben Leber scooped up a Patrick Crayton fumble and tossed a lateral to cornerback Cedric Griffin, who raced for the score. Crayton fumbled after catching a 7-yard pass from quarterback Tony Romo.
Despite appearing to be bothered by a sore hamstring, Romo completed 31 of 39 passes for 277 yards and a touchdown.
Vikings rookie running back Adrian Peterson's 20-yard touchdown run capped a 69-yard opening drive for the Vikings, but he wasn't much of a factor the rest of the game. The Palestine, Texas, native finished with 63 yards on 12 carries.
Cowboys veteran Greg Ellis made his first start of the season at strong-side linebacker in place of rookie Anthony Spencer. The Cowboys used Ellis as a pass-rushing nickel defensive end in his first four games back from last year's season-ending Achilles injury.
posted by The Gryphon at 8:20 PM
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