Saints rally to beat the Cowboys
Category: NFL Published on Friday, 26 November 2010 08:50 Written by Janó Hits: 390
Brees and the Saints blew a 17-point lead, but went back ahead with 1:55 left on a quick, long drive and held on for a 30-27 victory when the Cowboys' David Buehler narrowly missed a 59-yard field goal.
New Orleans coach Sean Payton appeared to try calling timeout as the ball was snapped, which would've given Dallas another chance.
But the officials didn't give it to him, so the play stood.
The Saints, playing on the holiday for the first time, won their fourth straight and fifth in six games to improve to 8-3.
The Cowboys (3-8) lost for the first time in three games since Garrett became interim coach.
Sixteen years ago, Garrett was a third-string quarterback making a rare start in place of Troy Aikman when the Cowboys fell behind Brett Favre and the Packers 17-3. Garrett rallied them a 42-31 victory that's among the most stirring in team lore.
This one would've been darn good, too.
Dallas trailed 17-0 after the first three times New Orleans had the ball. The Saints also were up 20-3 just before halftime.
Brees finished 23 of 39 for 352 yards with a touchdown and an interception.
That was another play that would've been a bigger deal had the outcome been reversed — it bounced off the hands of tight end Jimmy Graham and into the hands of Dallas safety Gerald Sensabaugh, leading to Choice's go-ahead score.
The Saints opened the game so crisply, they looked capable of returning to Cowboys Stadium for that informal national holiday in February, the Super Bowl. Brees marched them 80 yards in four plays on the opening drive, never even seeing a second down. They intercepted a screen pass and Garrett Hartley kicked a career-best 50-yard field goal, then Brees drove for another touchdown and the 17-0 lead.
Marques Colsston finished with six catches for 105 yards for New Orleans, and Devery Henderson had 97 yards receiving. Former Cowboys starter Julius Jones ran for 45 yards for the Saints, and Chris Ivory ran for 38 yards and two touchdowns.
Cowboys quarterback Jon Kitna was 30 of 42 for 313 yards, and Jason Witten had 10 catches for 99 yards.
| Week 12 |
|
| Dallas Cowboys–New Orleans Saints | 27–30 |
| New York Jets–Cincinnati Bengals | 26–10 |
