Kellen Moore Replaces Matt Cassel as Cowboys' Starting QB

The Dallas Cowboys made the switch at quarterback Saturday night, benching Matt Cassel for former Boise State Broncos star Kellen Moore. On Monday morning, Cowboys head coach Jason Garrett confirmed Moore would start in Week 16 against the Buffalo Bills, according to Charean Williams of the Forth Worth Star-Telegram. 

The team benched Cassel in the second quarter against the New York Jets on Saturday. His night ended after he completed only three of eight passes for 37 yards with an interception.

The Moore era did not get off to a great start. The second throw of his four-year career was an interception.

The 26-year-old Moore had not thrown a pass in a regular-season game in his career until Saturday night.

A four-year starter at Boise State, Moore threw for 14,667 yards, 142 touchdowns and only 28 interceptions. Despite those stellar numbers, he never saw the field in the three years he spent as a backup to Matthew Stafford with the Detroit Lions.

Moore was the only quarterback on the Cowboys roster who had yet to get an opportunity after Tony Romo's injury. Garrett undoubtedly thought that using veterans Cassel and Brandon Weeden would hold Dallas over until Romo returned from the fractured collarbone he suffered in Week 2.

But with Romo out for the rest of the year, along with the Cowboys waiving Weeden and Cassel underperforming, Moore got a chance to shine. Late in the first half, he found Dez Bryant for a 10-yard touchdown to help give the Cowboys a 10-9 lead heading into the locker room.

CBS Sports couldn't believe what happened:

Rick Gosselin of the Dallas Morning News noted that Cassel didn't take many chances down the field, and Moore was doing the opposite:

Since the Cowboys have been eliminated from playoff contention this year, it wouldn't hurt for Garrett to give Moore extra reps with the first team. He has already played better than both Weeden and Cassel have for Dallas, and that was in only one half of action.

Maybe the Cowboys have finally found their backup quarterback.