Sports

NFL

Cowboys razzle-dazzle way to late victory

Associated Press
Published December 12, 2005

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IRVING, Texas - Cowboys coach Bill Parcells challenged his struggling offense to "do something" to keep pace with the high-scoring Chiefs.

Then he gave them some gimmicks to help pull it off.

Getting touchdowns on a flea flicker, an end around inside the 10-yard line and a pass to a blocker who hadn't scored in two years, the Cowboys kept their playoff hopes alive by winning a tense, thrilling game between postseason contenders.

Drew Bledsoe had his best game in months, throwing for 332 yards and matching his season-best with three touchdowns. He led Dallas on a go-ahead drive early in the fourth quarter, then took the club 68 yards in 14 plays for the winning score - a 1-yard pass to tight end Dan Campbell with 22 seconds left.

Yet ending their two-game losing streak wasn't that simple. The Cowboys had to hold their breath as Lawrence Tynes went for a 41-yard field goal that would've forced overtime. After a low snap, it went wide right, ending Kansas City's three-game winning streak.

The Cowboys could've lost and still finished 10-6, but they would've been in a real funk with a three-game losing streak and the next two on the road.

"This is a hugely important game for us," said Bledsoe, who was 22-of-34 with no turnovers. He also moved into fifth on the career completions list, 15th on the career touchdown passes list and matched Warren Moon for the most 3,000-yard seasons. "But we've got to keep winning," he added.

The final play was only part of the frustration for Kansas City. The Chiefs also wasted 143 yards rushing and three touchdowns by Larry Johnson and 340 yards passing by Trent Green.

Kansas City's first five drives reached at least midfield, but only two ended in touchdowns. The Chiefs were at the Dallas 9 and up 14-10 when Green was sacked by former teammate Scott Fujita and fumbled. Defensive end Marcus Spears returned it 59 yards, leading to a 26-yard touchdown from Bledsoe to Jason Witten that put Dallas up 17-14 at halftime.

Dallas' first touchdown came on a perfectly executed flea flicker, with Terry Glenn speeding past the coverage for a 71-yarder.

Glenn surprised the defense again early in the fourth quarter by taking a handoff on third and 1 from the 6. He scored the first rushing touchdown of his career, putting Dallas up 24-21.

Green regained the lead for Kansas City with a 47-yard touchdown to Eddie Kennison with 3:55 left.

NOTABLE: Kansas City owner Lamar Hunt, a longtime Dallas resident, flipped the coin before kickoff and was honored with a video tribute after the first quarter. Hunt moved the then-Dallas Texans to Kansas City of the AFL in 1963.

[Last modified December 12, 2005, 01:10:15]

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