PHILADELPHIA – Brandon Carr recorded his first career interception return for a touchdown on his first interception as a Cowboys cornerback in the fourth quarter Sunday against the Eagles.
The interception was the only pick for either team, handing the Cowboys a 14-point lead with 12:25 remaining in the game. If Dwayne Harris 78-yard punt return was the turning point, Carr's interception return on the Eagles' next possession was the dagger.
Carr said he'd been waiting on getting his first interception as a Cowboys player before searching for his first interception return for a touchdown, but he's glad they both occurred on the same play. He snagged the football out of the air after it deflected off wide receiver DeSean Jackson and the leg of linebacker Ernie Sims.
"It felt good for the ball to somehow find its way back to my hands off the tip and then from there get to the end zone," Carr said. "It was much needed. I think it came at right time of the game."
Hatcher Redemption
Jason Hatcher's day ended up much better than it started.
Hatcher committed an offside penalty and an encroachment penalty on two separate third downs on the Eagles first drive, but finished the game by recovering a Nick Foles' fumble in the end zone for the Cowboys' final touchdown.
His two penalties on the opening drive were Hatcher's only two of the night, though 10 of the 13 Cowboys penalties were on the defense. Dallas defenders were called for offside or encroachment six times, including three times on third downs.
Turnover Triumph
Winning the turnover battle had been a rarity for the Cowboys prior to Sunday.
Dallas benefitted from two Eagles turnovers in the fourth quarter to win the turnover battle by two. The only other time the Cowboys had a better turnover ratio than their opponent was in Carolina.
The Cowboys haven't committed a turnover the last two games after committing at least one in every previous game. Their plus-two turnover ratio Sunday was their best this season.
"Takeaways matter," said Tony Romo. "It sets up the offense, it creates momentum. It changes the game to no end, and if our defense keeps creating turnovers, then we're going to have a good opportunity to be a good ball club."
Bryant's Burst
Dez Bryant made his three catches count, recording a team-high 87 yards and a touchdown. The touchdown reception was the 18th of his career, tying him with Alvin Harper for 16th on the team's all-time list.
His three catches brought him to 153 career catches, passing Joey Galloway for 28th in team history, and he also topped the 2,000 career-yard mark, becoming the 28th Cowboys player to do so.
Quick Hits
- Tony Romo recorded his first win as a starting quarterback in Philadelphia since 2009. The team's last win in Philly before Sunday occurred in the 2010 season finale when Stephen McGee started with Romo injured with a broken collarbone.
- Romo improved to 7-6 as a starter against the Eagles.
- The Dallas Cowboys had a punt return for a touchdown (Dwayne Harris 78 yards) and an interception return for a touchdown (Brandon Carr 47 yards). It was just the second time in team history the Cowboys had a punt return for a touchdown and an interception return for a touchdown. The first was at the N.Y. Giants (9/21/98) when Deion Sanders had both.
- In adding a fumble recovery for a touchdown, Sunday's game marked the first time in Cowboys history the team had a punt return, interception return and a fumble recovery for scores.
- Brandon Carr had his ninth career interception Sunday – first as a Dallas Cowboy. He returned the pick 47 yards for a touchdown – his first career interception return for a touchdown.
- Dwayne Harris had a career-long 78-yard punt return for a touchdown Sunday. It was his first career touchdown of any kind.
- Jones' 22 receiving yards Sunday gave him 1,003 for his career and make him the eighth Dallas Cowboy with 2,500-plus rushing yards and 1,000-plus receiving yards.
- Jones caught an 11-yard scoring pass from Tony Romo Sunday to give him his second career receiving score. His first came in 2010 on a 71-yard catch and run at the N.Y. Giants (11/14).
- Tony Romo'stwo touchdown passes Sunday gave him 51 career multiple-touchdown games to improve his club-high of multi-touchdown games and allow him to tie for fifth in the NFL since becoming a starter in 2006:
- Romo had a passer rating of 122.1 Sunday. It was his 46th career game with a rating above 100.0 to establish a club record and rank fourth in the NFL since 2006:
- DeMarcus Wareshould be credited with a* *half sack Sunday to give him his seventh consecutive game with at least a half sack – the third such streak in his career.
- Jason Witten led the team with eight catches Sunday to give him 66 for the season, giving him his ninth overall and ninth consecutive season with at least 60 receptions – the third-most overall and second-most consecutive all-time among league tight ends.
- Witten's 47 yards Sunday upped his career total to 8,494 and allowed him to move past Plaxico Burress (8,457) and Billy Howton (8,459) for 66th all-time in NFL history.
