Sep 17, 2007, 0:14 GMT
Miami, FL - Anthony Henry had a pair of interceptions to lead an opportunistic Dallas defensive unit, and recovered a key onsides kick that set up the final Cowboys touchdown in a 37-20 win over the Miami Dolphins.
Dallas forced five turnovers, picking off Trent Green four times. The impressive performance came despite the absence of three starters - Terrance Newman, Jason Ferguson and Greg Ellis - and one week after allowing 35 points in a victory over the Giants.
'We always talk about self-inflicted wounds or whatever you want to call them and that's what happened,' said Dolphins first-year head coach Cam Cameron.
Tony Romo finished 14-of-29 passing for 186 yards and a pair of touchdowns, and Terrell Owens had five catches for 97 yards and a score. Marion Barber led the way on the ground for Dallas (2-0), carrying 14 times for 89 yards and a pair of scores.
'I thought I managed the game pretty well,' Romo said. 'I don't know what it looked like on paper but I thought I did a pretty good job getting us out of some bad plays.'
Green completed 23-of-40 passes for 287 yards, but was responsible for each of the Miami turnovers.
Ronnie Brown rushed 11 times for 33 yards, but was hardly utilized during the second half. Chris Chambers caught nine passes for 109 yards, and Marty Booker and Derek Hagan each reeled in touchdowns for the Dolphins (0-2), who head to the road next week to take on the New York Jets.
'All we can do now is go to the Jets and try to turn it around,' said Dolphins defensive end Jason Taylor after the loss. 'You work on the stuff that you did wrong and didn't do very well. You work on that during the week in practice and try to bring a better effort than we did today.'
With just over four minutes remaining, Dallas scored what appeared to be the game-sealing points with a gutsy 4th-and-5 call that resulted in a 34-yard touchdown pass from Romo to Owens for a 30-13 lead.
'That's pretty bad and I don't know what happened on the play,' said Taylor. 'I haven't seen the film obviously,' Taylor said. 'It had to be a breakdown in technique for no one to even get a chance to even tackle the guy.'
Miami used a penalty on Owens following the touchdown and a 20-yard kickoff return by Ted Ginn Jr. to set up in excellent field position, and scored in only three plays when Hagan outfought three Dallas defensive backs for a 21- yard touchdown catch with 3:26 left.
The ensuing onsides kick was recovered by Henry, and one play later, Barber broke free for a backbreaking 40-yard touchdown scamper.
After Owens dropped a potential third-down conversion to stall Dallas' opening drive, Miami drove 44 yards for a Jay Feely field goal of 37 yards to take a 3-0 lead.
On the ensuing drive, the Dolphins defense overcame a Joey Porter personal foul that set up 1st-and-goal at the 10-yard line to force the Cowboys into a 26-yard Nick Folk field goal.
Dallas dominated time of possession in the second quarter. Green was intercepted on the opening play of the quarter by Henry, giving Dallas excellent field position at its own 37-yard line. The drive stalled at the Miami 40, but the Cowboys defense forced a three-and-out.
Romo and the offense picked things up at their own 40-yard line, and proceeded to embark on a drive that spanned more than six minutes. Romo found Owens for a key 3rd-and-15 conversion for 28 yards to move to Miami's 42-yard line, then again on a 3rd-and-7 to move inside the five. Two plays later, Barber bulled his way into the end zone from two yards out for a 10-3 Dallas lead.
Miami did pull within four just before the half thanks to a 45-yard field goal by Feely. Green had hit Booker with a 26-yard pass to move into Dallas territory, and then found Chambers for 17 yards to the Cowboys 25, but the offense sputtered from there and was forced to settle for three points.
On the opening possession of the second half, Miami mounted its most productive drive of the day, going 73 yards and chewing up more than five minutes of clock to take some pressure off the overworked defense. Green completed all four of his pass attempts, and then connected with Booker for an 18-yard touchdown with 9:41 to go in the third gave the Dolphins a 13-10 edge.
Romo avoided a sack by finding Tony Curtis in the end zone for a two-yard touchdown and a 17-13 lead five minutes later.
Green then put the Dolphins defense in a hole when he overthrew Chambers and was intercepted by Cowboys safety Ken Hamlin, who returned it 35 yards to the Miami 15-yard line. But Owens couldn't handle a pass in the back of the end zone on third down, and Dallas opted for a 28-yard Folk field goal to make it a 20-13 game.
On the following drive, Green allowed Dallas to start in Miami territory for the third consecutive possession, mishandling a center snap exchange and setting the Cowboys up at the Dolphin 49. Romo found Owens for a third down conversion to the Miami 33 just before the quarter ended, but a pair of costly penalties - an offensive pass interference and a false start - forced another field goal, this one from 47 yards out.
'Anytime that you get extra possessions, it goes a long way,' said Romo of the defensive effort. 'As you saw in the first half, I think we had three possessions. Anytime you gain an extra possession, I think you have a great chance of winning.'
Miami's defense gave Green and the offense another opportunity, turning back Romo and company on their next drive, but with 5:44 to go Henry picked off his second pass of the day, and the Cowboys took over at their own 40.
Game Notes
This is the first time Dallas has scored 35 points in back-to-back games since 1987...Jay Ratliff made first career start for Dallas in place of Ferguson, who was lost for the season with torn biceps...Crayton left with what appeared to be a dislocated finger in the second quarter, but returned after halftime...It was Owens' sixth straight regular season game with a TD catch...The Cowboys will take on Chicago at Soldier Field next Sunday night.
© 2007 The Sports Network
Game Notes.
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