Tuesday, September 16, 2008 - Page updated at 12:00 AM
E-mail article
Print view Share:
Digg
Newsvine
Monday Night Football | Cowboys edge Eagles in thriller
Terrell Owens of the Dallas Cowboys caught a long pass in stride, cruised into the end zone and began showing off. With a shimmy in the...
The Associated Press
IRVING, Texas — Terrell Owens of the Dallas Cowboys caught a long pass in stride, cruised into the end zone and began showing off.
With a shimmy in the direction of the Philadelphia Eagles and some arm-flapping like he used to do when he scored for them, the final "Monday Night Football" game at Texas Stadium was off to a high-energy start. And it kept going from there.
After seven lead changes, Dallas walked away with a 41-37 victory.
The wackiness included Tony Romo following one flub with another, leading to Philadelphia touchdowns 14 seconds apart; Eagles receiver DeSean Jackson losing an apparent touchdown because he flicked the ball away in celebration before he actually scored; and, eventually, Donovan McNabb and Brian Westbrook of the Eagles wasting strong performances by fumbling a fourth-quarter handoff exchange.
The game was decided cleanly after that turnover — a crisp, Romo-led drive capped by Marion Barber's 1-yard touchdown run with 4:35 left.
Romo called the game between NFC East rivals a good ol' fashioned Western.
"It's a good thing we were Clint Eastwood," Romo said.
Philadelphia (1-1) led 30-24 at halftime.
Dallas (2-0) moved in front on a 17-yard touchdown catch by Barber with 5:08 left in the third quarter.
The Eagles came back, with McNabb overcoming a second-and-21 by zipping the football like a fastpitch softball to Westbrook. The drive ended with Westbrook scoring his third touchdown, for a 37-31 Eagles lead.
Dallas got close with a 47-yard field goal from Nick Folk. Philadelphia was driving for a lead-padding score when McNabb put the ball on Westbrook's hip instead of in his belly. The Cowboys recovered the fumble at the Dallas 33 and Romo moved them to the go-ahead score, the big play being a 32-yard pass to Jason Witten.
"There are a lot of positives we can take from this game," McNabb said. "But that's not important right now. What we need to do is focus on the working on the negatives. That's going to make us a better team."
![]()
Romo was 21 of 30 for 312 yards with three touchdowns, plus a lost fumble and an interception. Owens had 89 yards on three catches, two going for touchdowns. He had the early 72-yarder and a 4-yarder.
McNabb was 25 of 37 for 281 yards with a touchdown and four sacks, two on the final series. He also matched Ron Jaworski's franchise record of 175 career touchdown passes.
Notes
• Texas Stadium opened in 1971 and the Cowboys are to move to a new stadium in Arlington for the 2009 season.
• Dallas safety Roy Williams, a five-time Pro Bowl selection, fractured his right forearm and reportedly will miss about four weeks.
Copyright © 2008 The Seattle Times Company
Seahawks | Chris Spencer could miss remaining four games
UPDATE - 03:48 PM
Giants suspend Super Bowl hero Plaxico Burresss
NFL stars of the day, key injuries
NFL | Pittsburgh's defense shines

This feature requires Flash 7.
Top video | World | Science / Tech | Entertainment
nwjobs


Michelle Goodman blogs about work/life balance.
Dotcom Reunion Party -- tonight, Dec. 1
Post a comment
nwautos

Choosing a new station wagon? Weigh the impact of your choice on your wallet and on the planet.
Post a comment
- WaMu to lay off 3,400 in Seattle; bank to empty most of its leased space downtown
- JPMorgan cutting 3,400 Seattle jobs
- Cougar fans nip at request for Husky Stadium funds
- College Football | With UW, Pat Hill says he had "great" talk
- US cruise ship outruns Somali pirates' guns
- UW to get close look at Jeff Tedford
- Wal-Mart worker trampled to death by frenzied Black Friday shoppers
- Boy's archery death accidental, coroner says
- Star Times | Football: Offense
- Bush: `I'm sorry' the economic crisis is occurring
- JPMorgan cutting 3,400 Seattle jobs
- WaMu to lay off 3,400 in Seattle; bank to empty most of its leased space downtown
- Meteorologist Cliff Mass examines Pacific Northwest weather in his new book
- Canada's oil-sands boom creates vast riches and a dirty footprint
- UW uses artwork to help sharpen visual skills of future doctors
- Wal-Mart worker trampled to death by frenzied Black Friday shoppers
- Cougar fans nip at request for Husky Stadium funds
- Recycling fees may rise as demand, prices drop
- Gregoire looking at massive state budget cuts
- 2 homeless women back on their feet for Seattle Marathon







