(My Sportsbook) - The
Dallas Cowboys knocked off the last unbeaten team in the NFL on Sunday, but don't crown them kings of the NFL just yet.
Dallas pulled out a hard-fought 21-14 win and saddled the Indianapolis Colts with their first loss of the 2006 season. Indy entered Texas Stadium 9-0 with studs Peyton Manning, Marvin Harrison and Reggie Wayne among those dreaming of being a part of the NFL's first undefeated team since 1972.
It was Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo who spoiled the plot, rallying his team to victory from a 14-0 deficit. Dallas improved to 6-4 with its second straight win, and moved into a first-place tie in the NFC East with the New York Giants, who lost on Monday night at Jacksonville. Chicago has the best record in the NFC at 9-1, followed by five 6-4 teams in the Giants, Cowboys, Panthers, Saints and Seahawks.
"It's big," Romo said of the win. "We've been trying to get ourselves going with a little momentum here for a while. We needed this win badly."
Romo passed for 226 yards with an interception to improve to 3-1 as Dallas' starting quarterback since taking over for Drew Bledsoe four weeks ago. Romo completed 19 of his 23 attempts in his first home start and was instrumental in two touchdown drives and another to run out the clock.
He has thrown for at least 220 yards in each of his first four starts this season. Gary Hogeboom is the only other quarterback in franchise history to throw for 220-or-more yards in his first four starts. He had five.
Romo out-dueled Manning, who finished 20-of-39 for 254 yards with a pair of touchdown passes and two INTs. It was his first multi-interception game of the season. Manning had been sacked only three times in the previous five weeks and was taken down twice on Sunday.
One of Manning's interceptions was returned by Cowboys linebacker Kevin Burnett, who returned the pick 39 yards for a score. Burnett is a candidate to replace injured linebacker/end Greg Ellis, who was lost for the season last week with a ruptured Achilles' tendon.
Dallas' defense forced four turnovers (2 INTs, 2 fumbles) and held the Colts to a season-low 14 points matched by a Week 5 win against Tennessee. Head coach Bill Parcells was forced to shuffle his defense, and the changes worked well enough to defuse the high-powered Indianapolis offense.
Linebacker Al Singleton started in Ellis' place, and alternated with Burnett and first-round pick Bobby Carpenter, who saw the most action of his young career. Cowboys outside linebacker DeMarcus Ware posted a sack and forced a fumble in the win, while inside linebacker Akin Ayodele led the defense with eight tackles.
"You have to give them credit," Colts head coach Tony Dungy said. "They've got a good defense. They've got good, physical guys. They did a good job today. I think we got mentally frazzled and fell apart."
Demarcus Ware has been a beast for the Cowboys, and posted a sack for the third straight games. Ware causes problems for all offenses with his ability to line up as a linebacker, then crash heads with the line as a defensive end.
Ware has six sacks this season and 14 in less than two years in the NFL. He also is four sacks shy of Anthony Dickerson's club record for most sacks (10 1/2) by a Cowboys linebacker, set in 1983.
The Cowboys' running game was wild too against Indianapolis on Sunday.
Dallas running backs Julius Jones and Marion Barber III played instrumental roles. Jones finished with 22 carries for 79 yards, while Barber cleaned up around the goal line with two scores in the decisive fourth quarter and 35 yards on nine receptions.
Barber leads the team with nine touchdowns -- the most since Emmitt Smith recorded nine in the 2000 season.
The Cowboys took advantage of the Indianapolis defense, which entered the game allowing an NFL-high 159.3 rushing yards per game. Dallas racked up 117 yards on the ground Sunday and recorded its fourth consecutive 100-yard rushing game and the eighth of the season.
The big picture looks good for America's Team.
The NFC East just got a little weaker, after Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb went down with a season-ending knee injury. The Washington Redskins, who have turned to young quarterback Jason Campbell, continue to lose games.
The Cowboys, who have put together back-to-back wins for the first time this season, have six games left on the schedule, four of which come at home. They also have less time to prepare for Tampa Bay on Thanksgiving at Texas Stadium, but the quick week shouldn't be too hard in light of the recent victory.
WHAT'S UP WITH VANDERJAGT?
Cowboys kicker Mike Vanderjagt missed a pair of field goals on Sunday against Indianapolis, extending a streak of inconsistent play for the ex-Colt. Vanderjagt, the most accurate kicker in the history of the NFL, has missed five field goals this season (12-of-17) and isn't living up to his three-year contract worth almost $6 million.
"It sucks," Vanderjagt said about his game on Sunday. "It sucks to let your team down. It sucks to let the fans of Dallas down. The kicks just didn't go in."
Parcells is starting to get worried about his kicker, especially since Vanderjagt is the only one on the roster. He was booed heavily on Sunday, and understands his coach and fans seek perfection. Vanderjagt, who was hampered with a sore groin muscle throughout training camp and preseason, will have to convince his coach not to worry by bouncing back with a strong performance Thursday against the Buccaneers.
UP NEXT: HOSTING THE BUCS FOR THANKSGIVING
Dallas will play its annual game on Thanksgiving this week, hosting the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Texas Stadium. The Boys are 1-2 in their last three Thanksgiving Day games, including last year's 24-21 overtime loss to the Denver Broncos.
The Cowboys have lost the last three meetings with Tampa Bay, after winning the first eight matchups. In the most recent game, on October 26, 2003, the Cowboys suffered a 16-0 setback at Raymond James Stadium.
Tampa Bay (3-7) is coming off a big win over the Washington Redskins, and has been impressed with the play of rookie quarterback Bruce Gradkowski.
