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On paper, Dallas was facing a Seattle team that was clearly not as talented, the kind of opponent that can often be overlooked. But Dallas would have none of that, taking care of business in workmanlike fashion to roll to a rather easy 38-17 victory in front of 80,866 fans.
Quarterback Tony Romo was efficient if not flashy, posting three touchdown tosses and 256 yards off of 21-of-36 passing with no interceptions. He connected with 10 different targets, including Miles Austin for a team-high five catches and 61 yards. On the ground, the Cowboys posted 113 yards while their specials teams play was again exceptional.
After winning the coin toss and electing to receive, the Cowboys got started on their own 20 after Felix Jones took a knee in the end zone. Quarterback Tony Romo immediately hit wide receiver Miles Austin for a 10-yard strike and a first down, then handed off to Marion Barber, who broke off right tackle for 16 yards and another first down at the Dallas 46.
A screen pass to Barber lost two yards, with a pass to wideout Roy Williams sailing high. On third and 12, Romo threw behind Williams, the ball incomplete. Out came Mat McBriar for his first punt of the day, his 51-yard effort taken by Justin Forsett at his own five, who then managed only one yard on the return.
Running back Julius Jones took the handoff up the middle, where he was stuffed by Jay Ratliff for a one-yard loss. Quarterback Matt Hasselbeck gained a little breathing room with a 10-yard pass to receiver Nate Burleson, a quick pass to T.J. Houshmandzadeh on the right side earning the needed one yard and the first down.
Jones went off left guard for six yards, then darted up the middle for seven more and a first down at the Seattle 29. Hasselbeck avoided the rush and found tight end John Carlson for 18 yards and a first down at the Seahawks’ 47.
Back up the middle went Jones for three yards, which was followed by a screen out to Forsett for 14 yards and a first down at the Dallas 36-yard line. Hasselbeck’s next attempt to Carlson was nearly picked off by a diving Gerald Sensabaugh with Jones then taking it back up the middle for an 11-yard gain and a first down at the Dallas 25.
A pitch to Jones went nowhere before Hasselbeck overthrew Houshmandzadeh. On third and 10, Stephen Bowen batted down a screen pass, setting up Olindo Mare for a 43-yard attempt. His kick was good to get Seattle on the board, 3-0.
Felix Jones took the kickoff from three-yards deep in his own end zone out to the Dallas 22 where Romo and Co. got started. Barber plowed up the middle three yards, Romo then tossing to tight end Jason Witten for five yards for a third and two. The quarterback hit Austin on a quick slant for 15 more and a first down at the Dallas 45.
With time, Romo tried to thread one into Witten, but was unable to connect with his target, then handed off to Austin on a reverse, the speedster getting around the corner for 11 yards and a first down at the Seattle 44.
Barber took a draw up the middle for eight yards, then Romo through an innocent enough pass to receiver Sam Hurd underneath, but the receiver broke down the left sideline, evaded three tacklers and danced into the end zone for the Cowboys’ first score. Nick Folk added the extra point and Dallas had the lead, 7-3.
David Buehler’s kickoff was taken by Josh Wilson two yards deep in his own end zone and run out to the 27. Julius Jones was stopped at the line of scrimmage after a one-yard pickup, Hasselbeck then connecting with Houshmandzadeh for six yards, setting up third and three.
Jones went up the middle and had the necessary yardage for the first down, but Newman jarred the ball loose with a big hit, cornerback Orlando Scandrick scooping up the fumble and returning it four yards to the Seattle 30.
Felix Jones was turned back for a three-yard loss, with Romo then finding Williams on the right side for 12 yards. On third and one, Austin took a pitch out of the backfield and fumbled after gaining five yards. He was able to fall on the drop, although a holding call on tight end Martellus Bennett pushed the Cowboys back 10 yards, third and 11.
As the second quarter got underway, Romo went to receiver Patrick Crayton over the middle for a 16-yard reception and a first down at the Seattle 15. Barber took a handoff up the middle for two yards, but Romo couldn’t connect with Witten, bringing on third and eight. The quarterback then missed Austin in the end zone, but a pass interference call on Marcus Trufant gave Dallas a first and goal at the two.
Barber then finished off the drive, stepping across the goal line for the score. Folk did his work and the Cowboys were up 14-3.
After the Buehler touchback, Edgerrin James bounced off right guard for a one-yard gain with James then handling the next play as well, earning five. Hasselbeck was able to find Carlson curled over the middle for 13 yards and a first down at the Seattle 39.
With Hasselbeck set up wide left in the Wildcat formation, he took a reverse pitch and tried to hit fellow quarterback Seneca Wallace on the right sideline, the pass falling incomplete. Anthony Spencer knocked down a pass at the line of scrimmage, but on the next play, Hasselbeck hit Burleson deep for a 36-yard completion and a first down at the Dallas 25.
James plowed up the middle for two yards, followed by Hasselbeck overthrowing fullback Justin Griffith. Hasselbeck then threw one right over the shoulder of Scandrick and into the arms of receiver Deion Branch for the touchdown. Mare’s kick was good, narrowing the score to 14-10.
Felix Jones took the kick from four-yards deep in his end zone, running out to the 16. But an illegal block in the back penalty on Hurd pushed the Cowboys back to their own eight.
Romo started off the series by rolling right and found Austin, who made a nice catch on the right sideline for 17 yards. Seattle threw the challenge flag, but the ruling on the field was upheld. Jones darted off left guard for 10 yards and a first down at the Dallas 35.
After Romo overthrew Bennett on the right side, Jones somehow broke free from the scrum and picked up nine yards, setting up third and inches. Barber then slammed into the middle, gaining two yards for the first down at the Dallas 46.
Under pressure, Romo missed his target Witten, but on the next play, again under pressure, the quarterback stepped up and this time connected with Witten for 18 yards and a first down at the Seahawks’ 36.
Sacked for a four-yard loss by David Hawthorne, Romo then had to scramble, running up the middle for 10 yards, bringing on third and four. Romo threw behind Crayton, Folk coming out for a 48-yard attempt. His kick sailed wide right, the score remaining 14-10.
Rolling to his right, Hasselbeck tried to find Branch, but Scandrick was there with a big hit to break up the pass. A quick dump-off to Carlson netted five yards, then linebacker Bobby Carpenter broke through for the sack, Hasselbeck fumbling, but Forsett falling on it for a six-yard loss. Crayton took Jon Ryan’s 39-yard punt back 11 yards to the Dallas 35.
Barber took a delayed handoff for a six-yard gain up the middle, which was followed by Bennett grabbing a pass on the right side for five yards and a first down at the Dallas 46.
Romo and Williams got their signals crossed, the pass falling incomplete, but a neutral zone infraction before the next snap provided five yards with five more tacked on after another defensive offsides, resulting in a first down at the Seattle 49.
A run by Barber picked up only two yards, the two-minute warning then sounding. After the break, Barber lost a yard trying to go up the middle, but a pass interference call on Trufant on the next play gave Dallas 20 yards and a first down at the Seattle 23.
Romo’s attempt to Williams sailed out of the end zone, his next pass high to Crayton incomplete. But on third and 10, Romo and Williams connected on a slant over the middle, a pickup of 16 yards and a first and goal at the seven. Dallas then called their first timeout.
With 45 seconds remaining, Romo tried to check off to Witten, but couldn’t connect, then hit Williams on a slant over the middle, the receiver extending the ball into the end zone. The play was reviewed as to whether he fumbled, but the ground was ruled to have knocked the ball loose, and the ruling was upheld, touchdown. Folk added the extra point, the score now 21-10.
Kicking off with 35 seconds on the clock, Buehler’s boot was taken by Wilson at the goal line and run out to the 20 where Victor Butler laid a big hit. Julius Jones earned a yard on a run up the middle, Seattle then content to let the clock run out on the first half.
Wilson got the second half underway, taking the ball from two yards deep in the end zone out to his own 17. Julius Jones tried to go around the left side, but only gained one, then was stuffed in the middle for no gain, but a defensive holding penalty resulted in five yards and an automatic first down at the Seattle 23.
A swing pass to Jones brought a yard, with Hasselbeck then finding Griffith underneath for eight more. On third and one, Romo rolled to his right to avoid pressure, then hit Burleson for a 10-yard reception and a first down at the Seahawks’ 42.
Jones again tried to go around the left side, but managed only one yard, but then went off left tackle for 11 yards and a first down at the Dallas 46. Jones again got the call, this time for six, before Hasselbeck tried to go deep down the left sideline for Burleson, cornerback Mike Jenkins there to break it up.
On third and four, Hasselbeck tried to go back to Burleson cutting across the middle, this time Scandrick there to break it up. Crayton called for the fair catch, and although he muffed the 32-yard punt, he was able to fall on it, Dallas taking over at their own eight.
Felix Jones tried to bounce outside to the left, but was corralled after only one yard with Romo then missing Austin down the left sideline. On third and nine, Romo danced in the pocket before overthrowing to Austin on the right side. Punting out of his own end zone, McBriar’s boot went 51 yards with Burleson returning it four yards to the Seattle 44.
James slipped after a one-yard run, with safety Ken Hamlin then breaking up a pass to Burleson. Seattle marched back five yards for a 12-men in the huddle penalty, setting up third and 14. Hasselbeck tried to set up the screen to James, but the play only gained six. Crayton took Ryan’s 39-yard punt on the run at his 15 and bolted out to the 38-yard line.
Felix Jones went up the middle for three yards, followed by Romo hitting Witten on an out pattern on the right side for four yards. On third and three, the quarterback checked down to Crayton, earning six yards and a first down at the Seattle 49.
Dallas tried a reverse around the left side, but Romo and Crayton fumbled the exchange. Crayton picked it up, but lost 11 yards. Romo threw to Bennett for 13 yards, then found Witten for nine more and a first down at the Seahawks’ 38.
Romo hit Jones coming over the middle, who turned the corner and sprinted down the left sideline for 30 yards, setting up first and goal at the Seattle eight. Romo tried to loft one to Williams on the right side of the end zone, but Trufant was again called for pass interference, now first and goal at the one.
Barber couldn’t quite bounce outside, losing two yards on the play, but Romo then slipped one into Austin in the right corner for the touchdown. Folk’s kick was good, the score improving to 28-10.
After another Buehler touchback, Seattle got going on their own 20, Hasselbeck throwing out to Griffith, but Spencer there to break up the pass. Julius Jones went up the middle for four yards, setting up third and six. Hasselbeck threw underneath to Branch, but linebacker Bradie James was there to meet him, the play going for only five yards. Hasselbeck was slow to get up, but did run off the field.
Crayton took Ryan’s 53-yard punt at his own 18, weaved his way through traffic, then charged up the left sideline for an 82-yard touchdown return. It was Crayton’s second punt return for a score in as many weeks. Folk was good, the score increasing to 35-10.
Again, Buehler launched a touchback, Seattle starting at their 20. Hasselbeck found Burleson downfield for a 16-yard completion, then tried to go outside to Burleson, again the pass too high. A blitzing Keith Brooking bolted through untouched for the sack and a loss of seven, then on third and 17, it was DeMarcus Ware’s turn, the linebacker coming around the left end for another sack and a loss of seven as the third quarter came to an end.
Ryan’s 41-yard punt was downed at the Dallas 37. Romo quickly went to Crayton for 17 yards and a first down at the Seattle 46. He then pitched back to Felix Jones who hurdled for six yards, which was followed by Barber breaking through up the middle for a nice 15-yard gain and a first down at the Seahawks’ 25.
Barber captured three yards up the middle with a pass to tight end John Phillips going for no gain. Romo then overthrew Williams, Folk coming out for the 40-yard field goal. His attempt was good, Dallas pushing the score to 38-10.
Starting at their own 20 after the touchback, Hasselbeck’s pass to Houshmandzadeh went wide, but his next attempt to Burleson was good for nine yards. James then plowed up the middle for five yards and a first down at the Seattle 34.
Hasselbeck tried to go Carlson over the middle, but Bradie James was there to knock it down. But, Hamlin was called for the personal foul, unnecessary roughness, resulting in 15 yards and a first down at the Seattle 49.
Hasselbeck missed Burleson, then overthrew Carlson, bringing on third and 10. Again, he tried to find Burleson, but Newman was there to break it up. Crayton called for a fair catch of Ryan’s 38-yard punt at his own 13.
But on the very first play of the series, Romo was sacked and fumbled, Seattle’s Colin Cole falling on it to give the Seahawks first and goal at the Dallas eight. After Jones went up the middle for four yards, Hasselbeck connected with Griffith who dove for the pylon to score. Mare’s kick was good, the score still an uneven 38-17.
Felix Jones covered up the short kick, Dallas starting their next possession at their own 29. Jones then went around the left corner for 11 and a first down at the Dallas 40.
Jones went up the middle for two, Barber then losing two on the next snap. Romo threw out to receiver Kevin Ogletree on a screen for 19 yards and a first down at the Seattle 41.
After Barber lost a yard on his next attempt, running back Tashard Choice bounced off right tackle for five yards. Romo’s next attempt was nearly picked off by cornerback Kelly Jennings, McBriar coming on for another punt. Burleson called for the fair catch at his own eight.
A Hasselbeck to Houshmandzadeh pass gained six, the two connecting again for 10 yards and a first down at the Seattle 25. A screen pass to Julius Jones then picked up 31 yards to the Dallas 44.
Hasselbeck found Branch for eight yards, then dumped off to Jones for what would have been two yards. But an offsides penalty provided five yards and a first down at the Dallas 31.
On the very next play, though, Hasselbeck went over the middle to Burleson, who had the ball knocked out by Bradie James, Victor Butler there to fall on the fumble and give Dallas possession at their own 17.
Choice went up the middle for two yards as the two-minute warning sounded, then picked up one more after the break. On third and seven, Choice went off right guard for another three yards, Dallas calling timeout before the play clock expired. Burleson returned the 58-yard punt five yards to the Seattle 24, Edgerrin James then going up the middle for three yards as time ran out.
With the victory, Dallas improved to 5-2 on the season, moving into a tie for first place in the tough NFC East with the Philadelphia Eagles, their opponent next week. | Home | Email | Print | Register for New Alerts | RSS |
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