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McGahee, Ravens jolt Cowboys

Dec 21, 2008 - 6:56 PM IRVING, Texas (Ticker) -- Two plays proved to be too much for the Dallas Cowboys as they bid farewell to Texas Stadium.

Willis McGahee recorded a career-high 77-yard touchdown run late in the fourth quarter and Pro Bowl fullback Le'Ron McClain rumbled 82 yards for a score with 93 seconds left as the Baltimore Ravens secured a 33-24 triumph over the Cowboys on Saturday.

Derrick Mason reeled in a 13-yard touchdown pass in the third quarter and Dallas native Matt Stover kicked four field goals for Baltimore (10-5), which controls its own destiny in its push for an AFC wild-card berth. The Ravens host the Jacksonville Jaguars (5-10) on December 28.

"It was a team victory. I couldn't be more proud of the guys," Baltimore coach John Harbaugh said. "We have so many guys through the course of this game playing through obstacles.

"This was a physical, hard-fought football game. We had guys banged and bruised. Guys playing with one arm. I can't even name all the guys that have injuries. My guys were excited though. I think they were looking forward to coming here to put this place (Texas Stadium) to bed."

Joe Flacco, who completed 17-of-25 passes for 149 yards, joined Ben Roethlisberger of the Pittsburgh Steelers as the only rookie quarterbacks to secure a win at Texas Stadium.

Despite the honor, Flacco was focused on the success of his running backs.

"That was pretty crazy, but it was good to see Willis bust through," Flacco said. "And Le'Ron gets the 80-yard run. It's a little surprising that he can get 80 yards without anyone getting him but he did a great job.

Rookie Tashard Choice had a two-yard scoring run and Tony Romo tossed scoring strikes to Terrell Owens and Jason Witten for Dallas (9-6), which trails the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (9-5) and Atlanta Falcons (9-5) and the Philadelphia Eagles (8-5-1) in the race for an NFC wild-card berth. The Cowboys visit the Eagles next weekend.

Dallas' loss clinched a playoff berth for the NFC South-leading Carolina Panthers (11-3).

"They were able to get to the quarterback while still playing coverage, so it makes for a long day when you have to go against a team like that," Romo said. "I don't know how many quarterbacks play well against defenses like Baltimore and Pittsburgh. They were rushing

four or five guys and still almost double on all the guys.

"We eventually kind of got to see what they were doing, at least in the blocking scheme."

With Baltimore nursing a 19-17 lead with 3:42 remaining in the fourth quarter, McGahee took a handoff and ran straight through the heart of the Dallas defense for his sixth rushing touchdown of the season. Prior to the run, McGahee's longest run from scrimmage this season was 17 yards.

McClain sealed the win with his long jaunt.

"Obviously I've never seen anything like that at the end of a game," Dallas coach Wade Phillips said. "We kept fighting back but to have two long runs, when you normally don't give up a long run ...

"We had two run blitzes on and both on both of them they hit us for touchdowns. They couldn't run the ball the whole game. They had two plays that just broke our back when we were fighting back. We had every gap filled. We missed a tackle on one of them ... probably both of them. We should have had other people there. I've never seen that happen in a ballgame."

Playing with an injured left shoulder, Mason had six catches for 66 yards.

"I reaggrevated my shoulder that I dislocated six or seven weeks ago," Mason said. "It's hard to lift my arm right now, but they worked on it at halftime. It was hard for me to run or raise my arm but Joe (Flacco) put the ball in the right place."

Stover connected on field goals of 26, 29, 37 and 35 yards for the Ravens.

"I used to come to this stadium and sell programs," Stover said. "The history of the Dallas Cowboys is great, they were my team growing up. I was really proud to be here on this night.

"I kicked four field goals in my only other appearance here (1994 with Cleveland) and was able to come in and kick four tonight."

With Baltimore clinging to a 9-7 advantage in the third quarter, McClain was stripped of the ball. Dallas seemed poised to secure possession, but Mason alertly corralled the bouncing ball and kept the drive alive.

A fake field goal on a 4th-and-9 play gave Baltimore a first down, and on the next play Flacco tossed a 13-yard scoring strike to Mason with 2:58 remaining in the third quarter.

On Baltimore's second play from scrimmage, DeMarcus Ware's NFL-leading 20th sack and forced fumble of Flacco gave the Cowboys the ball on the Ravens' 4-yard line. Three plays later, Choice ran in from two yards out to give the Cowboys a 7-0 lead.

The rushing touchdown was only the fourth Baltimore allowed this season.

The Ravens turned a pair of interceptions by safety Ed Reed into field goals and claimed a 9-7 lead at the half. Reed shares the league lead with Pittsburgh safety Troy Polamalu with seven interceptions.

Nick Folk's 35-yard field goal brought the Cowboys within 16-10 with 11:32 remaining in the fourth quarter.