KANSAS CITY - Sunday's contest was billed as the game that never was, two franchises that once shared Dallas finally squaring off nearly 50 years after the fact.
The Cowboys came from behind to beat them both.
For most of the game the Cowboys were trying not only to catch up to the former Dallas Texans, now in Kansas City, but also to get out of their own way. They had to overcome 13 penalties for 90 yards to win in overtime.
Throw in a couple of wasted timeouts, a missed field goal, a muffed punt and a fumbled center-quarterback exchange, and the Cowboys were lucky to escape Arrowhead Stadium with a win. After everything that happened, they'll gladly take it.
"Our guys fought the whole game but we didn't do the right things," Wade Phillips said. "There are things we need to work on, but the bottom line is winning and guys coming through."
It was the Cowboys' own errors which allowed Kansas City to post a 10-0 lead in the first half. Patrick Crayton fumbled a punt in the first quarter, which led to a Chiefs field goal. Later Crayton and Terence Newman left dozens of yards on the field by refusing to catch punts, instead letting them bounce deeper into Cowboys territory.
Tony Romo never got hold of a snap from Andre Gurode in the second quarter, the Chiefs recovering it on the Cowboys' 16. There were no more turnovers from then on, but the sloppiness continued.
Most frustrating of all might have been the five offsides penalties, including four on one drive.
"We hadn't had any this season," Phillips said.
On Friday Phillips was asked if he would be happy to beat the Chiefs with no style points, and said yes. The answer was the same after the game. After battling for over 66 minutes, winning ugly wasn't disappointing to anyone.
"I don't know if there's a team that overcame some of the things we had to overcome in one single game," Romo said. "We've got a lot of competitive individuals. The leadership showed throughout the game."
Big Choice
Second-year running back Tashard Choice continues to step up when called upon, supplying most of the punch in the Cowboys' running game Sunday.
With Felix Jones (knee) staying back in Dallas, and Marion Barber still not himself after injuring his quad in Week 2, the Cowboys were again in serious need of some big plays out of Choice. He ended up leading both teams in rushing, going for 92 yards on just eight carries.
His 36-yard touchdown run in the third quarter brought the Cowboys back from a 10-point deficit, but his timeliest gain might have come in the overtime period. With Kansas City winning the field position battle in the extra period, Choice changed things on a 24-yard run to start the Cowboys' second possession. They would score the game-winner on a 60-yard Miles Austin catch and run three plays later.
The Cowboys outran Kansas City 150 yards to 72. Barber had 15 carries for 53 yards and the Chiefs' Larry Johnson gained 37 yards on 21 rushes. Both teams had a former Pro Bowler starting, but it was Choice stealing the show.
"That's the story of my career," Choice said. "Whatever opportunity they give me, I'm going to make the most of every opportunity."
Building Block
Jay Ratliff's bull rush at the snap of the ball is among the best in the league. After Sunday, offensive linemen might have another move to worry about.
Ratliff made one of the most athletic plays you'll see late in the fourth quarter, right when the Cowboys needed it. With the game tied at 13 and Kansas City lining up for a 53-yard field goal, Ratliff jumped clear over the offensive guard and penetrated the backfield to block Ryan Succop's kick.
The Cowboys would post the go-ahead score three plays later on a 59-yard pass from Tony Romo to Miles Austin, forcing the Chiefs to mount a last-minute scoring drive to send the game into overtime. Without Ratliff's big play, the whole dynamic of the fourth quarter changes.
"I was surprised that they tried a 53-yard field goal at that time in the game," Wade Phillips said. "But they lined up low and Ratliff can jump and made a big play that should have put the game away for us."
Ratliff said it was the first time he's ever hurdled an offensive lineman to make a play.
"It was just in the moment. I've never done that before, it's the first time and we'll just see what happens in the future."
Newman Fine
After suffering a neck strain on Kansas City's game-tying drive near the end of regulation Terence Newman was able to return for overtime.
Newman was hurt when Chiefs' receiver Dwayne Bowe landed on his head while Newman was defending a pass from Matt Cassel. He was replaced for the rest of the series by Alan Ball. Newman had been off the field for parts of the fourth quarter even before Bowe came down on top of him.
Phillips said Newman battled pain as the game unfolded.
"Same stuff," the coach said. "He went down a couple times, came back in and kept fighting it, but he was out a little bit.
Witten Vocal
The last time the Cowboys overcame a shaky start to come from behind and win against Carolina, the team's leaders expressed urgency during the locker room at halftime. It didn't take nearly that long Sunday.
Beginning with the very first drive Jason Witten showed how fired up he was for the game. He exchanged heated words with Chiefs coach Todd Haley following an early penalty, and later barked at Romo when the Cowboys had to burn a timeout. Even Mat McBriar got some of it, Witten letting him know the ball needed to be snapped sooner when the Cowboys had to call a timeout as the play clock ran down before their field goal try.
A team captain, Witten finished with five catches for 47 yards.
"Jason gets very emotional during the game," Romo said. "I don't think people realize how committed he is and the extent to how much he cares. It shows when he is out there playing. I love the guy. I think he is outstanding. He does things the right way and we are lucky to have him."
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