Monday, October 12, 2009
Dallas Cowboys 26, Kansas City Chiefs 20 (OT)
The Dallas Cowboys pulled out a much-needed road win against one of the league's worst teams Sunday afternoon, defeating the Kansas City Chiefs 26-20 at Arrowhead Stadium. The win improved Dallas to 3-2, two games behind the 5-0 NY Giants for first place in the ultra-competitive NFC East.
Photo not provided by the Dallas Cowboys
The game was a tense duel that came down to the wire.
With both teams sputtering through the first three quarters, things looked bleak for Dallas midway through the third quarter when they were down 13-3 to the now 0-5 Chiefs. But subbing in running back Tashard Choice for an ineffective Marion Barber changed the Cowboys' fortunes, as they were able to mount four long scoring drives the rest of the way, going up on Kansas City 20-13 with just over two minutes left in the game on a 59-yard catch-and-run to receiver Miles Austin.
Chiefs quarterback Matt Cassell, who had been terrible for the first 58 minutes, led his team storming down the field in the final two minutes, tying the game on a 16-yard touchdown strike to force overtime.
After both teams traded possessions in the extra frame, Romo was able to hit Austin again, who broke a Chiefs tackle and sprinted 60 yards to victory.
The win was difficult to watch for most of the game, as the Cowboys were plagued by bad penalties, turnovers in their own red zone, muffed punts, missed receivers, and dropped passes.
Cowboys QB Tony Romo finally broke out of his touchdown slump, going 20-for-34 for 351 yards, the two touchdowns and a costly fumble in the first half. Miles Austin carried the bulk of Dallas' offense, however, catching ten passes for 250 yards, and two touchdowns in his first-ever NFL start.
The Dallas running game was mediocre with Barber (15 carries, 53 yards) and explosive with Choice (8 carries, 92 yards, including a 36-yard touchdown run in the third). Less than mediocre was the Dallas discipline, as the team was penalized 13 times for 90 yards, fumbled four times, and kept the winless Chiefs in the game.
The Cowboys have a bye week next weekend, and resume the season on October 25 against the 3-1 Atlanta Falcons.
Posted by Todd M.
