Recently in 2008 Season Category

(Forgot to post this when it happened)

IRVING, Texas -- Lead change after lead change, spectacular play after spectacular play, head-slapper after head-slapper, the Dallas Cowboys and Philadelphia Eagles played a game Monday night that was more gripping than many movies.

A good ol' fashioned Western, Tony Romo called it.

"It's a good thing we were Clint Eastwood," he said, smiling after the 41-37 victory.

There were the highs of a long touchdown pass to Terrell Owens and a longer kickoff return by Felix Jones. The lows of back-to-back flubs by Romo that gave Philadelphia touchdowns 14 seconds apart. And that was just the first 17 minutes.

Then came Eagles rookie DeSean Jackson losing a touchdown because he flicked the ball backward before crossing the goal line, Donovan McNabb showing the fancy footwork of his youth and Brian Westbrook scoring twice on runs, once on a catch, only to have the McNabb-Westbrook connection go wrong on a fourth-quarter handoff.

When it was done -- after Marion Barber's second second-half touchdown and after the Dallas defense snuffed a reception followed by two laterals -- the Cowboys came away with a win in their final home opener at Texas Stadium, and the highest-scoring of the 98 games between these teams.

"We know that no game is going to be perfect," Owens said. "There's going to be interceptions, fumbles, missed assignments by everyone. But as a team, we came to play tonight. Offensively, defensively, I think everyone stepped up when they needed to."

Romo was 21-of-30 for 312 yards with three touchdowns, plus an interception and a lost fumble that came on consecutive snaps, taking Dallas from near-breakout to near-breakdown.

"We kept believing in each other," Cowboys coach Wade Phillips said. "Everyone said 'Hey, hang in there, we're going to come out on top,' and we did!"

Philadelphia, coming off an impressive romp in its opener, went from trailing 14-6 to leading 30-21 just before halftime. The Eagles were still up 37-31 after Westbrook's third score, early in the fourth quarter, but his fumble on the next series led to the seventh and final lead change.

"These were two great teams going at it," McNabb said. "There are a lot of positives we can take from this game. But that's not important right now. What we need to do is focus on the working on the negatives. That's going to make us a better team."

This was the rare September game that will linger in the memory of anyone who saw it. For anyone who didn't, think back to Romo's big comeback in Buffalo on a Monday night last year, or to Romo's playoff goof in Seattle two years ago, or McNabb's great escape on a scramble four years ago or even Leon Lett's premature touchdown celebration in the January 1993 Super Bowl. This game had plays reminiscent of all those, most in the first half.

"It was one of the best games I've not only seen, but been a part of," Cowboys linebacker Bradie James said.

Owens had 89 yards on three catches, including a 72-yard touchdown on Dallas' first series that he punctuated with the kind of arm-flapping celebration he used to do for Philadelphia, and a 4-yard touchdown. His first TD moved him into second place on the NFL's career receiving touchdown list; he finished at 132, well behind Jerry Rice's record of 197.

"It doesn't matter what they say about me now," Owens said. "The Lord has obviously blessed me with a lot of talent."

T.O. didn't catch a pass in the second half, but took pride in opening the middle for tight end Jason Witten, who caught seven passes for 110 yards. He had a 42-yarder to set up a 51-yard field goal before halftime, then a 32-yarder on the game-winning drive. Witten did most of his damage with a shoulder separated in the first half. Dallas also lost safety Roy Williams to a broken right arm.

McNabb was 25-of-37 for 281 yards with a touchdown and four sacks, two on the final series. He also matched Ron Jaworski's club mark of 175 career TD passes.

Jackson caught six passes for 110 yards, becoming only the second player in NFL history to open his career with consecutive 100-yard games. The other was Don Looney, also for Philadelphia, in 1940.

Westbrook ran 18 times for 58 yards for two touchdowns, and caught six passes for 45 yards and another score.

"We came so close," tight end L.J. Smith said. "We knew it would be a tough battle. To lose like this hurts."

This game was destined to be different when the opening kickoff went out of bounds between the 1-yard line and the pylon.

The long scores by Owens and Jones, then a great pass breakup by rookie Mike Jenkins got the old stadium rocking. Then it got quiet real fast.

Romo avoided a sack, then made the kind of "impulse play" former coach Bill Parcells hated, resulting in an interception. Westbrook scored on a short screen, cutting Dallas' lead to one point.

The Cowboys fumbled the kickoff, recovered at the 5, then got pushed back by a false start. Romo lost the ball three times on the next snap and Philadelphia's Chris Gocong landed on it in the end zone for a touchdown.

Dallas came right back with another long kickoff return by Jones and another TD by Owens.

Next came Jackson's early celebration of a long touchdown. The Cowboys challenged and, with all the extra cameras for a Monday night game, officials easily found an angle that showed him letting go too soon. Using similar logic to the controversial fumble-whistled-dead in the Broncos-Chargers game Sunday, the ball was put at the 1 and Westbrook scored on the next play.

The unbelievable part of Jackson's goof: He did it before. In a 2005 high school all-star game, Jackson spread his arms for a swan dive into the end zone, only to land at the 1.

McNabb kept the next drive alive by somehow breaking free from linebacker Greg Ellis and running for 10 yards. McNabb came away smiling and dancing. After another run that took five defenders to drop him, Philadelphia kicked a 22-yard field goal to go up 30-21 with 45 seconds left until halftime.

Plenty of time, in other words, for Dallas to get within 30-24.

The Cowboys went ahead on a 17-yard touchdown catch by Barber midway through the third quarter. The Eagles came right back, with McNabb overcoming a second-and-21 by scooting out of two near collisions, avoiding an ankle tackle and zipping the football like a fast-pitch softball to Westbrook. The drive ended with Westbrook churning into the end zone for his third touchdown and a 37-31 lead.

Want an encore? Well, the teams meet again in Philadelphia. In the season finale.

Game notes

The 54 first-half points were second-most in a Monday night game. ... The Cowboys hadn't had a kickoff returned for a touchdown in the regular season since Randal Williams did it, also against Philadelphia, in 2003. ... Owens also broke a tie with Cris Carter for the second-most games with multiple touchdowns.

That's six Dallas. Six. More than you have. Suck it. Especially Texascowboy.

SUCK IT - HARD!

hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha

hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha

hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha

hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha

IRVING, Texas (AP)--All the hoopla surrounding the farewell to Texas Stadium was supposed to fire up the Dallas Cowboys. Well, it got to the Baltimore Ravens, too.

Feeling like they were a hand-picked foe set up for failure, the Ravens refused to play the stooge.

Matt Stover, who sold programs outside the stadium as a kid growing up in the area, kicked four field goals to wipe out an early deficit, then Willis McGahee and Le'Ron McClain ripped off long, record runs each time the Cowboys got close in the final minutes, sending Baltimore to a 33-24 victory on Saturday night and a step closer to the playoffs.

"It wasn't a homecoming game. It was more like a mock funeral," McGahee said. "We spoiled their day. It was probably the best concert ever in Irving, Texas."

Tony Romo tried to add one last memory to the long list of great games played under the hole in the roof, throwing touchdowns to Terrell Owens and Jason Witten in the final 3:50. Each score got the Cowboys within two points, but the Ravens refused to buckle.

On Baltimore's first snap after T.O.'s touchdown, McGahee broke through a line bunched up to stop the run and ran 77 yards for a touchdown. It was the longest of his career and it tied the longest ever by an opponent at Texas Stadium. McLain broke that record on the Ravens' next snap, going 82 yards for the longest touchdown of his career.

"We wanted to be party crashers," linebacker Terrell Suggs said. "I hope they enjoyed their little ceremony. I guess we were kind of like the dynamite."

The Ravens (10-5) bounced back from a controversial last-minute loss to Pittsburgh to win for the fourth time in five games. With only the AFC's sixth seed up for grabs, Baltimore is guaranteed of getting in with a victory over Jacksonville at home next weekend.

In addition to the homecoming theme, the Ravens also were motivated by Dallas offensive coordinator Jason Garrett opting to remain with the Cowboys after interviewing to become Baltimore's coach last offseason.

"I wonder what team he wishes he was coaching tonight?" Suggs said.

The Cowboys (9-6) lost for the second time in three weeks, rekindling talk of their December disasters. While they can still get an NFC wild-card berth, this loss makes it tougher. They'll go to Philadelphia next Sunday needing a win and, perhaps, some help. Dallas' loss clinched a playoff spot for the Carolina Panthers.

"We've got to come back next week, try to win 10 games and see what happens," Cowboys coach Wade Phillips said.

The loss combined with temperatures sinking from the mid-40s at kickoff to about the mid-20s certainly hurt the mood and attendance of the postgame party.

Only about half the crowd of 63,800 remained for the ceremony that featured introductions of about 100 former players, including 12 members of the Ring of Honor. Emmitt Smith, Roger Staubach and Jerry Jones were among the speakers.

Banners from the five Super Bowls won during their 37 seasons here, and another honoring Smith becoming the NFL's career rushing leader, were lowered from the rafters and will be moved to the new stadium, a $1.1 billion, 100,000-seat palace going up in nearby Arlington.

The Cowboys finished 213-100 in regular-season and postseason games at the home they moved into in 1971, going 6-2 this season.

"We wanted to add to the history, we wanted to add to the celebration," Owens said. "Obviously, we didn't do that. We made history, but not the way we wanted to."

The Cowboys jumped ahead 7-0 on a 2-yard touchdown by Tashard Choice, only the fourth rushing TD allowed by the Ravens all season. It was set up by DeMarcus Ware getting his NFL-leading 20th sack, which also caused Baltimore's Joe Flacco to fumble.

But Dallas couldn't build on it, mostly because Romo never got in sync the first three quarters. His struggles seemed more because of the Baltimore defense than the back injury that slowed him all week. He finished 24-of-45 for 252 yards, with two first-half interceptions. Ed Reed had both, tying for the NFL lead with seven. Steelers safety Troy Polamalu also has seven interceptions.

Baltimore went up 16-7 on Stover's kicks and a touchdown catch by Derrick Mason, who kept playing despite leaving twice with an aggravation of a dislocated left shoulder. Flacco was 17-of-25 for 149 yards and was sacked five times.

McLain finished with 22 carries for 139 yards and McGahee had eight carries for 108 yards. Dallas had given up only about 100 yards rushing until the victory-sealing runs.

Notes

Choice ran for 90 yards, among the most all season against Baltimore. Marion Barber had only two carries because of a dislocated right pinkie toe. ... This was the Ravens' first game here and, thus, they'll finish 1-0 at Texas Stadium. The Oakland-Los Angeles Raiders went 3-0 and are the only other NFL team not to lose under the hole in the roof. ... Stover, who also kicked four field goals in his only other career game here, went over 100 points for the 12th straight season. ... Ware is three sacks from breaking Michael Strahan's single-season NFL record.

PITTSBURGH (AP)--Tony Romo was one play into what he expected to be a game-winning scoring drive and, with Dallas trying to preserve time late in the fourth quarter, couldn't believe it when Pittsburgh called time out.

"He gave us that, 'Who called the time out? You called the time out?' " Steelers linebacker James Harrison said. "Yeah, we called the time out."

Like it has been nearly all season, Pittsburgh's league-leading defense was one play ahead of the opposing offense, even during a game in which the Steelers largely played from behind.

Deshea Townsend scored on a 25-yard interception return on the next play with 1:40 remaining as the Steelers scored their only two touchdowns 24 seconds apart, rallying from a 10-point deficit to deal the Cowboys a potentially damaging 20-13 loss on Sunday.

"Yeah, we called the time out," Harrison said, describing what the Steelers (10-3) perceived to be almost-smug confidence by Romo and the Cowboys even as they were surrendering a 10-point lead in the final 7 1/2 minutes. "And you're going to throw a pick to Deshea so we can win."

Afterward, the Cowboys (8-5) almost couldn't believe it: Not only that Pittsburgh's bold gamble paid off, but that they couldn't hold onto an apparently decisive lead in a game they badly needed to win to make the NFC playoffs as a wild card.

"Three games to go, obviously it's a huge challenge for us," tight end Jason Witten said.

Just before Pittsburgh's comeback began, the Cowboys celebrated wildly after dropping Gary Russell for a 2-yard loss on a fourth-and-goal play from the Dallas 1 early in the fourth quarter to retain that 10-point lead. The Steelers noticed.

It was the third time in a month the Steelers were stopped inside the 1 on their home field, but Dallas couldn't take advantage--just as Pittsburgh did little with the Cowboys' four turnovers in the first half.

"It's all about momentum. It's just momentum. It wasn't us thinking the game was over by any means," said Terrell Owens, who celebrated his 35th birthday by scoring Dallas' only TD on a 12-yard catch early in the third quarter. "Sometimes it's just like that. We were excited, the game was going our way."

Not for long. The Steelers surged back to tie it on Jeff Reed's second field goal, a 41-yarder, and Ben Roethlisberger's 6-yard pass to Heath Miller with 2:04 remaining. Roethlisberger found Nate Washington three times for 51 yards on a 67-yard drive that led to the Miller score after the Cowboys twice stalled on drives that, if they had scored, probably would have sealed it.

Then, on second-and-8 from the Cowboys 17, Witten ran the wrong pass route, allowing Townsend to step in front of Romo's pass for the fifth turnover forced by a Pittsburgh defense that went into the game leading the NFL in nearly every major statistical department. Until the closing minutes, that defense had been outplayed by a determined Dallas defense that held Pittsburgh to 70 yards rushing and 238 yards.

"We did all the things we had to--up until a point," Dallas linebacker Bradie James said. "But evidently we didn't do enough to get a win. We didn't make enough plays to win. I said the best defense would win the game, and they won the game."

The Steelers won their fourth in a row and ended Dallas' three-game winning streak. They can win the AFC North by winning next Sunday at Baltimore, which played Washington later Sunday night.

The Steelers' comeback on a bitterly cold day with a gametime temperature of 22 and a wind chill in the low teens allowed the Giants (11-2) to win the NFC East despite losing to Philadelphia 20-14 earlier in the day.

The weather didn't help during yet another December disappointment for Dallas, which is 17-29 in the month since 1996. The Steelers are 24-9 in December since 2001.

Dallas lost despite a big day by rookie Tashard Choice, who ran for 88 yards in his first NFL start, the most against Pittsburgh all season, and had 166 total yards. Choice filled in for the injured Marion Barber, who stayed in Dallas with a dislocated little toe.

Romo, coming off successive 300-yard games, ended 19-of-36 for 210 yards and three interceptions. He put Dallas up 10-3 early in the third by scrambling for more than eight seconds before somehow finding Owens behind Ike Taylor in the rear of the end zone.

Later, after the score swung, Owens was seen jawing to assistant coach Ray Sherman along the sideline, possibly because he wasn't seeing the ball at the end.

"The defense played a hell of a ballgame," Owens said. "We stunk it up on offense."

Until Owens' catch, Pittsburgh held a 77-9 scoring advantage in the third quarter this season. Nick Folk later added his second field goal, a 33-yarder with 3:32 left in the third that made it 13-3.

Dallas, constantly stalled by the turnovers and bad field position, mounted little offense until Romo hit Witten on two passes for 31 yards to set up Folk's 44-yard field goal that made it 3-3 at halftime.

Notes

Mike Tomlin is the first coach in Steelers history to win at least 10 games in each of his first two seasons. ... ... James Harrison's 15th sack tied Mike Merriweather's 1984 single-season Steelers record. ... DeMarcus Ware got his 16th for Dallas, but lost his NFL lead when Joey Porter's two sacks for Miami against Buffalo gave him 16 1/2 . ... Romo had only one interception in his previous three games. ... Pittsburgh finished 2-2 against the NFC East, losing to the Giants and Eagles.

ST. LOUIS (AP)--Even on the road, the chorus of "Romo!, Romo!" from Dallas Cowboys' fans was easily audible at the start of the second half.

Tony Romo told the coaching staff after pregame warmups he wasn't up to playing with a broken right pinkie. He was in uniform, giving fans false hope, but they were stuck with Brad Johnson.

The 40-year-old backup quarterback couldn't keep up with a suddenly potent, opportunistic St. Louis Rams' offense, throwing three interceptions. Steven Jackson ran for 160 yards on 25 carries with three touchdowns and the Rams (2-4) looked like contenders instead of sad sacks for the second straight game under new coach Jim Haslett in a surprisingly easy 34-14 victory on Sunday.

"It was a tough day for all of us," Johnson said. "We had miscues across the board."

Owner Jerry Jones admitted after the game that he thought the Cowboys had enough to beat the Rams despite Romo's injury and the suspension of cornerback Adam "Pacman" Jones. Adding to the woes, Jones said after the game that safety Roy Williams would miss the rest of the season after breaking his right forearm for the second time.

"I just was thinking a little lighter than I should have about this ballgame," Jones said. "I'm not speaking for this team, but I was."

The Rams won 19-17 at Washington last week in their first game since replacing Scott Linehan, ending a run of 17 losses in 20 games and four blowout losses to start the season.

Their response to Haslett, beginning his second stint as a head coach, has exceeded expectations.

"I think it's just the will of the players, more than anything," Haslett said. "I thought they played extremely well today, in all three phases."

St. Louis defense did its part, forcing four turnovers for the second straight game.

Oshiomogho Atogwe, who had two interceptions, scored the lone touchdown against the Redskins last week on a fumble recovery.

Jackson pulled a quadriceps muscle in the fourth quarter just before Haslett said he was going to take him out, and was to undergo an MRI. But Jackson thought he'd be fine for next week's game at New England.

"It's a little tight," Jackson said. "I'm able to walk and I'm able to bend it, so that's a good sign."

Cowboys linebacker DeMarcus Ware tied an NFL record with a sack in his 10th straight game and enjoyed his first multiple sack game of the season with three, giving him nine on the season.

Ware matched the mark set by Denver's Simon Fletcher from Nov. 15, 1992 to Sept. 20, 1993, although he remained one game shy of the franchise mark by Harvey Martin in 1976-77--which ended five years before the sack was officially recognized.

Marion Barber had 100 yards on 18 carries and the game's opening touchdown for Dallas.

There were not many more highlights for the Cowboys (4-3), who lost for the third time in four games. Newly acquired wide receiver Roy Williams saw limited action and said he was shut out for the first time in his career.

"This is my fifth year and this is my first time to not catch a ball," Williams said. "It's frustrating because I want to help this team win, and today I didn't do that."

Romo looked fine throwing in pregame warmups with his hand wrapped. The team originally believed the injury would sideline him a month, but held out hope Romo could play until game day.

"He ended up making that decision for us, actually, and that's the way it should have been," Jones said. "He just felt like he couldn't help us."

Johnson was 6-for-18 for 66 yards in the first half while the Cowboys fell behind 24-7. He finished 17-for-34 for 234 yards and throwing his only touchdown pass to Martellus Bennett inside the 2-minute warning.

The Rams' 21-point first quarter dwarfed their season output of just 10 points in the first five games. They asserted themselves after Barber accounted for 45 yards on the Cowboys' opening drive, quickly answering on Marc Bulger's first touchdown pass in two starts with a 42-yarder to wide open rookie Donnie Avery.

Jackson added runs of 8 and 1 yards, the Rams' first two touchdowns all season from inside the 20, for a 21-7 lead. The first score capitalized on a short field after Johnson's fumble on a shotgun snap led to a punt from the end zone, and the second came four plays after Will Witherspoon's interception of a tipped pass at the Dallas 18.

Jackson's 56-yard run down the right sideline made it 31-7 midway through the third quarter and gave him three rushing scores for the first time since the 2006 finale.

Bulger finished 14-for-19 for 173 yards and a touchdown.

Notes

X-rays were negative on Rams DT Adam Carriker's left ankle, which forced him out in the first half. ... Rams WR Derek Stanley (concussion) was hospitalized for observation after being involved in a special teams collision early in the third quarter. The team had called for a cart but Stanley ended up walking off the field. ... Atogwe has 10 interceptions in his past 14 games.

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- The verdict is in: Pacman is out again.

Dallas Cowboys cornerback Adam "Pacman" Jones has been suspended for at least four games for his most recent violation of the league's personal conduct policy, the NFL announced Tuesday.

The league said Jones was involved in an alcohol-related incident at a Dallas hotel on Oct. 8. Previous reports indicated Jones was involved in an alcohol-related scuffle with a bodyguard assigned to him by the Cowboys, and that hotel employees called the police.

Jones will not be paid during the suspension. Commissioner Roger Goodell will determine the ultimate length of Jones' suspension after Dallas' Week 11 game against Washington on Nov. 16.

"He does need to address the kinds of things that seem to be with him at various times and one of those that he's dealt with for a really long time, he needs to address in a way that most of us might understand -- alcohol issues," Cowboys owner Jerry Jones told ESPN.com's Pat Yasinskas.

"I am disappointed for him and his opportunity and for the Cowboys and our opportunity and, frankly, for the NFL," Jones said. "I would like to have been standing here talking about his success and the curtain coming up for him and addressing his issues. That certainly would have been more positive."

In his letter to Jones informing him of his latest suspension, Goodell said Jones' "disturbing pattern of behavior was clearly inconsistent with the conditions I set for your continued participation in the NFL."

League and law enforcement sources told ESPN senior NFL analyst Chris Mortensen that Goodell was expected to weigh whether Jones was in potential violation of his probation, in which he was prohibited from alcohol-related incidents.

When Goodell reinstated Jones from suspension before the regular season began, sources said one of the commissioner's conditions for Jones to remain an active player was that he remain in compliance with all aspects of his three-year probation from when he pleaded no contest last February to a felony in Fayette County, Ga.

Police reported that Jones might have been drinking when he was involved in the scuffle with a Cowboys-assigned bodyguard last week in Dallas. But Jerry Jones has refuted many of the allegations and speculation. Even though police were called to the scene, no arrests were made or charges filed.

"We respect and support the decision of the commissioner," Jones said in a statement earlier Tuesday. "I regret that this issue has brought negative attention to the Cowboys and the NFL. We move forward with a very clear knowledge as to what the process will be for a possible reinstatement. Adam is well aware of where he stands and what he has to do."

Jones began his time in Dallas under close scrutiny by the league after he was suspended for the entire 2007 season for multiple violations of the conduct policy while he was a member of the Tennessee Titans. The Cowboys traded for Jones before his suspension was over and he was reinstated by Goodell on Aug. 28.

Goodell also said his decision on whether Jones can return to play will be based on Jones' strict compliance with the NFL and the Cowboys in relation to treatment plans and evaluations by clinical experts.

"I'd like to see him intensify his approach to getting better with his social conduct," Jerry Jones told ESPN.com. "I'd like to see that. If it were successful, I'd like to be a part of it. I'd like to have influenced it. I know the commissioner, considering his conduct policies in the NFL, it was a well-considered decision to let Adam back into the NFL."

The Cowboys owner said he does not regret making the trade that brought Adam Jones to Dallas.

"I don't regret having been a part of helping him do better," Jones told ESPN.com. "I am sorry that we've had the negative publicity and that is the price that we pay for the team as well as the NFL."

Eventually, in most sports, including the one I prefer to write about, a team takes on the personality of its coach, for better or worse.

The Cowboys achieved that 11 months ago. They're satisfied with the press clippings that say they are as good as anyone in football (and Wade Phillips's season-ending gloat last year that they'd gone further than they had the season before since they had a bye that preceded their one-and-out playoff loss). Never mind the fact that Dallas's last playoff win was in the same year as the Rangers' last playoff win.

This team makes excuses instead of plays. They show up unprepared, uninspired, undisciplined. Underachieving. Comfy.

In football and in baseball, the ultimate measure of a head coach or manager, as far as I'm concerned, is not how they call a game or when they pull out a trick play or how they manage a bullpen. It's whether they get their players to play for them. Whether they bring out the best in the multi-millionaires who suit up, whether they bring to work an intensity and an accountability and a level of character that rubs off on the guys who have to make plays.

Are there renegade personalities on the roster? Sure. But that's even more reason for a stronger personality under the headset than the Cowboys have right now.

I can't wait to hear Phillips acquit his team's effort tomorrow in his chronically defensive manner. I can't think of one reason he shouldn't be fired before that press conference ever takes place. This team should be so much better than it is. Instead, he's instilled a personality that seems to have everyone on the field convinced that they're a lot better than they are. Wade Phillips isn't going to turn that around.

Apologies for the self-serving, off-topic rant - my football therapy for the day.

The news from Sunday just gets better and better! This means more time to spend with Jessica Simpson, you know. Check his travel plans, I think he's headed from Arizona and going to Mexico.

IRVING, TEXAS (TICKER) --Tony Romo evidently will not be around to help the Dallas Cowboys recover from a painful loss.

According to multiple reports, Romo has a broken pinkie finger - an injury that will sideline the Pro Bowl quarterback for four weeks.

The injury first was reported Monday morning by ESPN, which cited an anonymous team source. The NFL Network reported that Romo currently is being examined by team doctors.

The Cowboys could not be reached for comment.

Romo suffered the injury during Sunday's 30-24 overtime loss to the Arizona Cardinals and originally was diagnosed with a sprained pinkie. The two-time Pro Bowler was harassed by Arizona's pass rush throughout the contest and appeared to favor his throwing hand during Dallas' overtime possession.

Romo has passed for 1,689 yards and a league-leading 14 touchdowns this season for the high-powered Cowboys (4-2), who have lost two of their last three games.

If Monday's reports are accurate, Dallas will use veteran Brad Johnson under center for at least its next three games.

The Cowboys visit St. Louis next week before hosting Tampa Bay on October 26. After a road game against the rival New York Giants, the Cowboys have a bye in Week 10.

GLENDALE, Ariz. (AP)--Never before had an NFL team started a game with a kickoff return for a score, then ended it with a blocked punt in overtime for a touchdown.

It was that kind of crazy day in the desert.

J.J. Arrington, inactive the first four games of the season, opened things up with a 93-yard return for an Arizona score.

Several comebacks and many clutch plays later, Sean Morey blocked Mat McBriar's punt, then Monty Beisel scooped up the ball and scored from 3 yards to give the Cardinals a wild 30-24 victory over the Dallas Cowboys.

It was the first time in NFL history that a blocked punt for a touchdown ended a game in overtime.

"I can't remember one that was this crazy," Arizona quarterback Kurt Warner said, "especially toward the end."

Morey rushed untouched off the left side of the Dallas line to block the kick. Beisel, a backup linebacker, picked up the ball at about the 3 and bowled over the goal line.

Morey said that in previous punts, his assignment was to double-team Dallas' Kevin Burnett to set up the return. But this time, Burnett had been moved from tackle to guard.

"They just had new personnel," Morey said, "so I figured if I have to block the tackle, and the tackle's not going to block me, then I'm just going to make a play at the end of the game."

McBriar was hurt on the play and had to be carted off the field in the din of a crowd that included the usual large portion of Dallas fans.

Dallas (4-2) scored 10 points in the final 2 minutes of regulation, sending the game into overtime when Nick Folk's 52-yard field goal barely cleared the crossbar as the fourth quarter ended.

"It was almost a miracle finish for us," Dallas coach Wade Phillips said.

Almost isn't good enough when you're the Cowboys, who thus far haven't been the dominating team many expected them to be.

"This season isn't going to go straight down this narrow path and be a nice and cozy Sunday drive," Dallas quarterback Tony Romo said.

Folk was in field-goal range only because a 5-yard offside penalty was called against injured Arizona linebacker Travis LaBoy as he tried to limp downfield. The penalty moved the ball from the 40 to the 35.

That was just one of the weird moments in Arizona's sixth consecutive home victory.

"It didn't seem like the bounces or the calls were going our way and sometimes you have to overcome those things," said Cardinals coach Ken Whisenhunt, whose team is 9-2 at home since he became coach. "I think our team did that. That's part of growing up and getting mentally tougher."

Arizona (4-2) scored 17 consecutive points, including a pair of touchdown passes by Warner, to go up 24-14 on Neil Rackers' 41-yard field goal with 3:17 left in regulation.

Romo, who threw three touchdown passes but fumbled twice under fierce pressure, connected with Marion Barber on a 70-yard scoring play that cut it to 24-21 with 2 minutes left.

Dallas' defense held, and the Cowboys got the ball at their 32. Romo connected with Patrick Crayton on a 30-yard play to the Arizona 39, where the Dallas quarterback spiked the ball with 4 seconds to play to stop the clock.

LaBoy was far upfield.

"I think we were about 60 yards offsides on the play," Whisenhunt said.

Officials, who had a difficult day all around, huddled for several minutes and even reviewed the play before Folk's tying kick.

The Cowboys scored the last time they had the ball in the first half and on their first possession of the second to take a 14-7 lead.

Romo was sacked three times and had to hurry his throw on several other occasions.

"Today I got hit blindside for the first time in awhile," he said. "But they're good. Their D-line played an outstanding football game. You've got to give them credit. That was, I thought, the difference of the game."

Before the blocked punt, Arizona's biggest play of the game came the next time the Cardinals had the ball and it was third-and-17 on their 33.

Warner's pass was tipped at the line of scrimmage, but the intended receiver, rookie Tim Hightower, still caught it. Hightower powered to the first down, and the Cardinals went on for the tying score.

Larry Fitzgerald's leaping catch between defenders on a 30-yard play led to Warner's 11-yard touchdown pass to Steve Breaston that put Arizona ahead 21-14 with 10:44 left in regulation. ^Notes: The Cardinals' home winning streak is their longest since 1975-76. ... Phillips said the team had doubled its special teams practice time to try to shore up some problems. ... Dallas lost running back Felix Jones with an injured left hamstring in the first half. ... Folk's 37-yard field-goal try at the end of the first half bounced off the left upright.