Marion Barber, Dallas Defense Lead Cowboys to 27-16 Win at Lambeau

With Tony Romo struggling early on, the Dallas Cowboys used a steady dose of Marion Barber and Felix Jones to build a lead on the Packers. Then Romo and the 'Boys put the Packers away with two big plays from little known receiver Miles Austin and a sturdy effort from a defense that was just a week removed from getting gashed by Philadelphia. 

Austin, who came into the game with a career receiving total of 88 yards, caught two passes for 115 yards, including a 52-yard touchdown with 9:09 left in the fourth quarter that put Dallas up 27-9. The third year pro from Monmouth University gave Dallas just the spark they needed on a night when Terrell Owens only had 17 yards receiving.

"Just taking advantage of the double-teams on T.O. and (Jason) Witten," Austin stated humbly.

The game started sour for the Packers, as Green Bay running back Ryan Grant was stripped of the ball by the Cowboys' Adam Jones on just the second play from scrimmage. Jones recovered Grant's fumble and returned it to the Packers' 14-yard line.

Dallas' offense was stopped on three consecutive downs, but Nick Folk kicked a 25-yard field goal to put Dallas up three only two minutes into the game.

Green Bay responded with two field goal marches of its own to take the lead, but Dallas had an answer of its own in the form of Felix Jones. The rookie running back took a hand-off and exploded off the left side of the Cowboys line 60 yards for a touchdown, becoming the only Cowboy in team history to score a touchdown in his first three games.

Jones' touchdown run gave the Cowboys a 10-6 with 6:04 remaining in the first half. Yet it was a lead the Cowboys would never relinquish, in large part because of a defense that had Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers scrambling all night and a running game headlined by Barber.

Barber finished the game with a career high 142 yards and a touchdown. He wore out the Packers' defense with his signature punishing running style.

Even when the Packers threatened, the Cowboys defense had an answer. Early in the third quarter, Rodgers connected with Donald Driver on a 50-yard pass play that set the Packers up with first and goal. But the Dallas defense answered with sacks on second and third down, and the Packers were forced to kick a field goal that cut the lead to 13-9.

Then Romo, who had struggled up to this point, came back on the next Cowboys possession and hit Austin on a 63-yard pass that set up a first and goal at the Packers' three. Barber punched it in from two yards out and the Cowboys suddenly had a two score lead with under three minutes to go in the third.

But it was the touchdown pass to Austin on third and 20 from the Packers' 48 that put the dagger in their chances with just over nine minutes to go in the contest.

The Packers pressured Romo, but he alertly stepped up in the pocket and lofted a pass that Austin caught over his shoulder on the right sidelines, then walked into the end zone. Packers corner Tramon Williams seemed to have him well-covered, but it was Austin who made the big play for the Cowboys.

Rodgers was under heavy pressure all night, and it clearly disrupted the rhythm of a Packers offense that relies heavily on it. Rodgers was sacked five times—two by corner Anthony—and on numerous occasions was flushed out of the pocket by Dallas' DeMarcus Ware.

It was a heroic effort from a defense that surrendered 37 points only a week earlier. The Packers were held to 84 yards rushing and 334 overall. Rodgers later drove the Packers down for a touchdown with 2:11 remaining, but it was too little too late.

Notes

Romo became the first Dallas quarterback ever to win at Lambeau Field. Packers receiver Greg Jennings had his second straight 100-yard game, but has yet to catch a touchdown. Jennings had 12 last year. Packers' Al Harris left the game with cramps, and did not return.

Stats

RUSHING (att-yards-TD) Dallas: M. Barber (28-142-1), F. Jones (6-76-1), T. Romo (1-1) Green Bay: R. Grant (13-54), B. Jackson (3-20), A. Rodgers (5-10-1)

PASSING (comp-att-yards-TD-INT) Dallas: T. Romo (17-30-260-1-1), P. Crayton (0-1-0-0-0) Green Bay: A. Rodgers (22-39-290-0-0)

RECEIVING (rec-yards-TD) Dallas: M. Austin (2-115-1), J. Witten (7-67-0), M. Bennett (1-37-0), T. Owens (2-17-0), M. Barber (3-15-0), T. Curtis (1-6-0), F. Jones (1-3-0) Green Bay: G. Jennings (8-115-0), D. Driver (4-76-0), J. Nelson (4-42-0), D. Lee (5-41-0), B. Jackson (1-16-0)

INTERCEPTIONS (Total-yards) Green Bay: N. Collins (1-61)

SACKS (Total) Dallas: A. Henry (2), D. Ware (1), Z. Thomas (1), J. Ratliff (1) Green Bay: C. Jenkins (1.5), A. Kampman (1.5)

*Information from the Associated Press was used in this article.