Cowboys-Saints: Dallas Dominates First Half, Holds on To Win, 24-17

The Dallas Cowboys came into the bayou and played a near-perfect game, handing the Saints their first loss of the season 24-17.

Tony Romo (22-34, 312 yards, one TD) played another great game and led the Cowboys to a TD on their first possession, making it the first time all season they've done so.

Romo hit Miles Austin (seven catches, 139 yards, one TD) for a 49-yard TD pass on a stop and go route, beating Saints' corner Malcolm Jenkins.

The Cowboys' defense forced the Saints into a three-and-out for the second consecutive time and drove down the field again, capped by Marion Barber's two-yard TD run to go up 14-0.

Late in the first half, with the Cowboys up 14-3, Drew Brees (29-45, 298 yards, one TD, one INT) threw deep to the Cowboys' end zone, looking for Devery Henderson, but threw the ball short, and Mike Jenkins made the interception giving the Cowboys the ball with 1:55 remaining.

Dallas went three-and-out, but, on the Saints' next drive, Brees was sacked by DeMarcus Ware (who was carted off the field last week on a stretcher) and fumbled.

The fumble was recovered by Anthony Spencer, and the Cowboys converted it into a field goal going into the half with a 17-3 lead.

In the second half, the Cowboys got the ball and went right down the field, as wide receiver Kevin Ogletree and back-up tight end John Phillips made nice catches, and Marion Barber finished the drive with a two-yard TD to put the Cowboys up 24-3. 

In the fourth quarter, Drew Brees and the Saints woke up and drove from their own 20 to the Cowboys two-yard line before running back Mike Bell ran in for a TD.

After a Cowboys' three-and-out, the Saints went right back to work, driving 70 yards, this time scoring on a Lance Moore TD catch on a bubble screen. 

On the ensuing possession Dallas faced a quick 3rd-and-7, but Romo hit Miles Austin for a 32-yard pass to put the Cowboys in Saints' territory.

After two more first downs, the Cowboys milked the clock and set Nick Folk up for a 24-yard field goal to put the game away.

But Folk missed (his 10th miss this season), giving the Saints one last chance to tie the game.

The Saints were in trouble right away at their own 20, but converted a 4th-and-10 and kept the ball moving on short passes, getting to the Cowboys' 42-yard line.

With 12 seconds left, Brees dropped back, and Ware beat lineman Jermon Bushrod and hit Brees, who coughed up the ball, and defensive tackle Jay Ratliff recovered the ball, ending the Saints bid for a perfect season.

The running game was efficient for the Cowboys, as Felix Jones and Marion Barber combined for 31 carries and 120 yards.

Tight end Jason Witten had five catches for 44 yards, and John Phillips had three catches for 40 yards, but the story for the Cowboys was their defense.

The Cowboys' defense forced three turnovers (one INT and two fumbles), sacked Drew Brees four times, and held the Saints without a third-down conversion until the last drive of the game.

Anthony Spencer had his second multi-sack game of the season, and DeMarcus Ware also had two sacks and two forced fumbles.

They also shut down the Saints' running game, holding Pierre Thomas to 20 yards on six carries.

Extra Points

Reggie Bush pulled his hamstring early in the second quarter and didn't return to the game.

Tony Romo is 82-119 for 953 yards and six TDs in December this season.

Marion Barber scored a rushing TD for the first time since Week Eight against Seattle.