Arlington, TX (Sports Network) - Brandon Carr intercepted Ben Roethlisberger
on the second play of overtime to set up Dan Bailey's 21-yard field goal that
lifted the surging Dallas Cowboys to a thrilling 27-24 overtime triumph over
the slumping Pittsburgh Steelers at Cowboys Stadium.
Carr's pick was the second critical turnover forced by Dallas in rallying from
a 24-17 deficit with just over 10 minutes left in regulation. The Cowboys tied
the game on a 3-yard touchdown run from DeMarco Murray that came shortly after
Pittsburgh's Antonio Brown lost a fumble on a punt return near midfield.
Tony Romo did his part as well in the Cowboys' third consecutive victory and
fifth triumph in their last six tilts, throwing for a pair of touchdowns and
amassing 341 passing yards while completing 30-of-42 throws.
The result also placed Dallas (8-6) in a three-way deadlock with the New York
Giants and Washington for first place in the NFC East with two games remaining
in the regular season. The previously front-running Giants were routed at
Atlanta earlier in the day, while the Redskins defeated Cleveland for their
fourth straight win.
Dez Bryant, playing with a fractured left index finger sustained at Cincinnati
last week, also aided the Cowboys' cause by catching a 24-yard touchdown pass
from Romo in the third quarter while finishing with 59 yards on four grabs.
Roethlisberger put up 339 yards and two touchdowns on 24-of-40 passing, but
his costly interception triggered Pittsburgh's second straight loss and fourth
setback in five games. The Steelers (7-7) now trail fellow AFC North member
Cincinnati by one game for the AFC's second Wild Card berth heading into next
weekend's showdown between the teams in Pittsburgh.
Both Brown and Heath Miller recorded touchdown catches for the Steelers, with
Miller amassing 92 yards on seven receptions. Mike Wallace totaled 95 yards on
four catches in a losing cause.
The Sports Network