Cowboys can now focus on keeping playoff hopes alive
BY SCHUYLER DIXON Associated Press
Tuesday, November 13, 2012
11/13/12 at 5:27 AM
IRVING, Texas - Talk of who's replacing Dallas coach Jason Garrett figures to be secondary - at least this week - to how the Cowboys can stay in the NFC East race.
A week after losing in Atlanta, when speculation centered on whether Sean Payton was coming to Dallas, the Cowboys won at Philadelphia on the same day a report surfaced that Mike Holmgren was interested in joining the Cowboys.
Garrett spent all week deflecting the Payton questions, and owner Jerry Jones did more of the same with Holmgren on Sunday, when the Cowboys beat the Eagles 38-23 in what amounted to an elimination game for any realistic playoff hopes.
Tony Romo started the rally with a spectacular scramble and throw that saved a drive and led to a long scoring toss to Dez Bryant. The Cowboys secured the win by scoring fourth-quarter touchdowns on a punt return, an interception and a fumble. It was the first time Dallas had all three in one game.
The Cowboys will try to keep it going Sunday against Cleveland
"Hey, look, it gets back to football, but you lose another game and there's going to be more talk," tight end Jason Witten said. "We know what's at stake, and I thought it was big of our team to go find a way to win, and hopefully we'll build on that."
Now that the Cowboys have barely survived a stretch of four road games out of five, they get five of the next six at home, starting with three straight. After the Browns on Sunday, Washington visits on Thanksgiving followed by a rematch with the Eagles on Dec. 2.
A trip to Cincinnati is followed by home games against Pittsburgh and New Orleans. The Steelers are the only team in that six-game stretch with a winning record.
Original Print Headline: Dallas can focus on NFC East
Associated Images:
Dallas' Dez Bryant scores a touchdown against the Eagles on Sunday. The Cowboys won 38-23, giving them a chance to still make the playoffs. MICHAEL PEREZ / Associated Press
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