IRVING, Texas (AP) -That speech Bill Parcells gave about how to win a championship finally seemed to sink in for the Dallas Cowboys.

The words of wisdom were ignored last week when the Cowboys were routed at home by New Orleans. They still weren't having an impact when Dallas let an early 14-0 lead turn into a 28-21 deficit to the Atlanta Falcons on the road Saturday night.

Then, everything clicked. The defense stopped giving up big plays and started making key stops, the offense started humming again and the Cowboys pulled out a 38-28 victory, moving them into the playoffs and ensuring they'll lead the NFC East for at least one more week.

``Championship teams, the ones that really have a chance come January, bounce back and win,'' quarterback Tony Romo said. ``We did that tonight. ... It was awesome.''

Parcells didn't go around kissing anyone like he did after another pivotal road win earlier this season. Instead, he did other things players probably appreciate more. He said he's ``really proud of them'' and gave them several days off. Their only obligations until Wednesday are visiting hospitalized children during the day Monday, then the team's holiday party that night.

The rest isn't only a reward. It could be a necessity because there's a good chance the Cowboys (9-5) will be playing in January.

``We're in the race now,'' Parcells said. ``We'll be in it until the last day.''

Dallas' final two games are against Philadelphia on Christmas and Detroit on New Year's Eve; both are at Texas Stadium. The Cowboys clinched a playoff berth Sunday when Minnesota and Carolina lost.

When the Eagles beat the Giants, it meant the upcoming Dallas-Philadelphia game would be for first place in the division. A win by the Eagles would tie them with the Cowboys, but Philadelphia would own the tiebreaker. A Dallas win would clinch the East title because the Cowboys would have a two-game lead with one to go.

The other storyline to the Eagles game will of course involve Terrell Owens.

Before anyone even mentioned his ugly departure from Philadelphia, T.O. brought more attention to himself by spitting in the face of Atlanta defensive back DeAngelo Hall during the game Saturday night.

Owens apologized afterward, then kept the spotlight glaring by mentioning he has torn ligaments in his right ring finger. Surgery is needed, but he's waiting until the offseason.

``I'm doing this for the team,'' he said, indicating the injury could be partly to blame for his league-leading 15 dropped passes.

Owens scored two touchdowns against Atlanta, making a tremendous catch around Hall and hauling in a perfectly thrown ball by Romo.

Romo was 22-of-29 for 278 yards, with one interception, and the two T.O. TDs. It was the kind of strong performance he needed to answer any questions raised by the way he struggled against the Saints.

That was the perception for most people, at least. Count Parcells among the few exceptions.

``I know what the deal is. I've known it all along,'' the coach said, refusing to get swept up in the Romo Mania fans are savoring. ``I didn't expect him to go clean here and be perfect. I know he's going to have bumps in the road. And he had them.

``But he recovered pretty good tonight. He wasn't perfect, but he did a good job. He got us down the field when he had to. ... I'm happy about it.''

After trailing by a touchdown, the Cowboys got a 48-yard field goal from Martin Gramatica, then went ahead on a 9-yard touchdown run by Marion Barber III.

Following a defensive stand on fourth-and-1, Romo guided a long, slow drive that included several third-down conversion throws and a lot of hard-charging runs by Barber. He capped it with a 3-yard TD run with only 2:18 left.

``You love to finish a game like that,'' Romo said. ``It shows a lot about the character of our team, that we can play muscle football for the last 50 yards or whatever and put the ball in to finish the game.''

The only negative was the defense continuing to show its vulnerability against deep passes and against dump passes to the fullback near the goal line.

``We got the same people doing the same dumb things,'' Parcells said. ``We've got to get it rectified.''

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