GAME THREAD: NFL: DALLAS at BUFFALO

Discussion in 'Chicago Bears' started by SportsTicker, Oct 8, 2007.

  1. SportsTicker

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    ORCHARD PARK, New York (Ticker) -- The Buffalo Bills waitedover 13 years to play on Monday Night Football. Their fans mayneed that long to recover from this game.


    The Dallas Cowboys survived a club record-tying fiveinterceptions from quarterback Tony Romo - and got a 53-yardfield goal from rookie kicker Nick Folk as time expired, in anunbelievable 25-24 victory over the Bills on Monday.

    Buffalo (1-4), which last played on Monday Night Football whencurrent Cowboys coach Wade Phillips was leading the DenverBroncos in 1994, was able to collect six turnovers in all,including two of which were returned for touchdowns to help theBills gain and sustain the lead throughout the game.

    But Dallas (5-0) benefited from some opportunistic plays intheir favor during the last half of the fourth quarter.

    Trailing, 24-16, with 3:45 remaining, Romo directed a 12-play,80-yard drive that ended with a four-yard TD pass to PatrickCrayton with 24 seconds remaining. The ensuing two-pointconversion failed when Romo's pass attempt towards receiverTerrell Owens was broken up in the end zone by cornerback JabariGreer.


    The Cowboys lined up for an onside kick and were able to recoveron the next play, due in large part to the efforts of backuptight end Tony Curtis, who inadvertently knocked the ball aheadafter it had traveled 10 yards. Curtis eventually was able tocover the ball at the Dallas 41.


    After a booth review of the recovery, Romo hit Crayton andrunning back Marion Barber III to move the team into field goalrange. Folk, whose previous career high was from 47 yards out,converted the 53-yard attempt to seemingly end the game.

    However, just before the kick, Bills coach Dick Jauron called atimeout to ice Folk. The strategy did not save Buffalo, as therookie from Arizona nailed his second attempt, sending theCowboys sideline into joyous celebration.


    The comeback victory overshadowed what was a dreadful game forRomo, who tied Troy Aikman's club record for most interceptionsin a single game.


    After Julius Jones was stuffed on back-to-back downs on Dallas'first possession, Romo sailed his first pass of the game wellover the head of Jason Witten into the waiting hands ofdefensive back George Wilson, who returned the errant throw 25yards for the first touchdown of the game and a 7-0 lead.

    Perhaps still stinging from Buffalo's quick strike, Romo'ssecond throw - also intended for Witten - was intercepted on aspectacular diving catch by linebacker Angelo Crowell andreturned five yards to the Cowboys 44.


    In the second quarter, the Cowboys' quarterback was interceptedyet again, this time when Bills defensive end Chris Kelsaydeflected Romo's pass attempt around the Dallas 4. Thedeflection went high into the air and straight back into the endzone, allowing Kelsay to run under the ball for Buffalo'ssecond score, sending the Bills to a 17-7 advantage.

    Romo's dreadful first half continued on the next possession whenGreer leaped in front of a pass intended for receiver Sam Hurdat the Dallas 42. With his four interceptions in the firsthalf, Romo became the first quarterback to throw fourinterceptions in a half since Chicago Bears quarterback KyleOrton did so on September 25, 2005, against the CincinnatiBengals.


    For the second time in the first half, however, the Bills couldnot convert on Dallas' turnover, making the questionabledecision to attempt a 54-yard field goal. Lindell's kick sailedwide right with 36 seconds remaining, leaving the ball at theBuffalo 44 for the potent Dallas offense, which entered the gameas the league's best.


    Romo, who finished 29-of-50 for 309 yards and two touchdowns,took advantage of Buffalo's prevent defense at the end of thehalf, leading Dallas down the field 25 yards to get in place fora 47-yard field goal by Folk as time expired in the first halfto trim the deficit to 17-10.


    After Folk's field goal on the opening drive of the second halfcut the Bills lead to 17-13, starting cornerback Terrence McGee,who had returned four kickoffs for TDs in his career, wentvirtually untouched 103 yards for the Bills third non-offensiveTD of the contest, extending their lead to 24-13.


    Dallas answered with Folk's third field goal, a 37-yarder, tocap an 11-play, 73-yard march that helped the Cowboys' make it aone-possession game.


    The Bills went three-and-out on their next possession, butbenefited from Romo's fifth turnover of the night.

    As Romo eluded the Buffalo pass rush and broke free up themiddle, defensive end Aaron Schobel stripped the Cowboys'quarterback and defensive tackle Kyle Williams recovered theball at the Dallas 48.


    After Bills rookie quarterback Trent Edwards, who finished23-of-31 for 176 yards, threw his only interception of theevening as the Bills looked to close out the Cowboys midwaythrough the final period, Romo tied a dubious club record withfive interceptions in a single game with 6:05 remaining.

    However, Buffalo was unable to run out the clock, setting thestage for the incredible comeback.
     
  2. SportsTicker

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    ORCHARD PARK, New York (Ticker) -- The Buffalo Bills waitedover 13 years to play on Monday Night Football. Their fans mayneed that long to recover from this game.


    The Dallas Cowboys survived a club record-tying fiveinterceptions from quarterback Tony Romo - and got a 53-yardfield goal from rookie kicker Nick Folk as time expired, in anunbelievable 25-24 victory over the Bills on Monday.

    Buffalo (1-4), which last played on Monday Night Football whencurrent Cowboys coach Wade Phillips was leading the DenverBroncos in 1994, was able to collect six turnovers in all,including two of which were returned for touchdowns to help theBills gain and sustain the lead throughout the game.

    But Dallas (5-0), who ironically led the league with aplus-seven turnover margin entering the game, benefited fromsome opportunistic plays in their favor during the last half ofthe fourth quarter.


    "I can't say enough about the character of our team," Cowboyscoach Wade Phillips said. "We made way too many mistakes, wealmost gave it away but we took it (at the end). I want toenjoy this one. This was a great win. It put us at 5-0."

    Trailing, 24-16, with 3:45 remaining, Romo directed a 12-play,80-yard drive that ended with a four-yard TD pass to PatrickCrayton with 24 seconds remaining. The ensuing two-pointconversion failed when Romo's pass attempt towards receiverTerrell Owens was broken up in the end zone by cornerback JabariGreer.


    The Cowboys lined up for an onside kick and were able to recoveron the next play, due in large part to the efforts of backuptight end Tony Curtis, who inadvertently knocked the ball aheadafter it had traveled 10 yards. Curtis eventually was able tocover the ball at the Dallas 41.


    After a booth review of the recovery, Romo hit Crayton andrunning back Marion Barber III to move the team into field goalrange. Folk, whose previous career high was from 47 yards out,converted the 53-yard attempt to seemingly end the game.

    However, just before the kick, Bills coach Dick Jauron called atimeout to ice Folk. The strategy did not save Buffalo, as therookie from Arizona nailed his second attempt, sending theCowboys sideline into joyous celebration.


    "You can't call him a rookie anymore," Crayton said. "The stuffhe has been doing - nerves of steel. He is just a calm kicker.And then you make him kick it twice. What is he, a hundredpercent so far this season?"


    "I said to Tony Romo on the sideline, wouldn't it be amazing ifwe won this game," Phillips said. "Then we didn't make thetwo-pointer, but our kicker just did a great job, hit twostraight 53-yarders and an onside kick."


    Conversely, it was the second heartbreaking home loss for theBills, who loss in Week One to the Denver Broncos, when JasonElam hit a 42-yard field goal as time expired.


    "(It was) the second painful loss on the last play of a game(for us)," Jauron said. "They played their hearts out; we justdidn't make enough plays. We needed one more play to win itand we didn't get the play...It hurts and that one hurt."

    The comeback victory overshadowed what was a dreadful game forRomo, who tied Troy Aikman's club record for most interceptionsin a single game.


    After Julius Jones was stuffed on back-to-back downs on Dallas'first possession, Romo sailed his first pass of the game wellover the head of Jason Witten into the waiting hands ofdefensive back George Wilson, who returned the errant throw 25yards for the first touchdown of the game and a 7-0 lead.

    Perhaps still stinging from Buffalo's quick strike, Romo'ssecond throw - also intended for Witten - was intercepted on aspectacular diving catch by linebacker Angelo Crowell andreturned five yards to the Cowboys 44.


    In the second quarter, the Cowboys' quarterback was interceptedyet again, this time when Bills defensive end Chris Kelsaydeflected Romo's pass attempt around the Dallas 4. Thedeflection went high into the air and straight back into the endzone, allowing Kelsay to run under the ball for Buffalo'ssecond score, sending the Bills to a 17-7 advantage.

    Romo's dreadful first half continued on the next possession whenGreer leaped in front of a pass intended for receiver Sam Hurdat the Dallas 42. With his four interceptions in the firsthalf, Romo became the first quarterback to throw fourinterceptions in a half since Chicago Bears quarterback KyleOrton did so on September 25, 2005, against the CincinnatiBengals.


    For the second time in the first half, however, the Bills couldnot convert on Dallas' turnover, making the questionabledecision to attempt a 54-yard field goal. Lindell's kick sailedwide right with 36 seconds remaining, leaving the ball at theBuffalo 44 for the potent Dallas offense, which entered the gameas the league's best.


    Romo, who finished 29-of-50 for 309 yards and two touchdowns,took advantage of Buffalo's prevent defense at the end of thehalf, leading Dallas down the field 25 yards to get in place fora 47-yard field goal by Folk as time expired in the first halfto trim the deficit to 17-10.


    After Folk's field goal on the opening drive of the second halfcut the Bills lead to 17-13, starting cornerback Terrence McGee,who had returned four kickoffs for TDs in his career, wentvirtually untouched 103 yards for the Bills third non-offensiveTD of the contest, extending their lead to 24-13.


    "That really helped us out," McGee said. "I especially wantedto get something started on special teams because it's beenawhile since I've gotten into the end zone so just helping theteam out like that felt real good...I thought that really wasthe boost we needed to finish the game off."


    Dallas answered with Folk's third field goal, a 37-yarder, tocap an 11-play, 73-yard march that helped the Cowboys' make it aone-possession game.


    The Bills went three-and-out on their next possession, butbenefited from Romo's fifth turnover of the night.

    As Romo eluded the Buffalo pass rush and broke free up themiddle, defensive end Aaron Schobel stripped the Cowboys'quarterback and defensive tackle Kyle Williams recovered theball at the Dallas 48.


    After Edwards, who finished 23-of-31 for 176 yards, threw hisonly interception of the evening as the Bills looked to closeout the Cowboys midway through the final period, Romo tied adubious club record with five interceptions in a single gamewith 6:05 remaining.


    However, Buffalo was unable to run out the clock, setting thestage for the incredible comeback.


    "Well, (Romo) didn't throw a sixth (interception)," Phillipssaid. "He had a rough night but he kept battling back. Westill believe in Tony; he's our quarterback and he made a coupleplays at the end."


    The six turnovers the Bills collected in this contest were onemore than the team had forced in their first four gamescombined. They also became the second team in league history tolose a game in which they returned two interceptions and akickoff for touchdowns.


    "A lot of guys in there (are) hurting," McGee said. "We madetoo many big plays to lose that game. It was a very excitingMonday Night game but, with all the big plays we made, it justseemed like we had it won but that's football. It's not overuntil it's over. We left everything out on the field. I thinkoverall, we did a good job."
     

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