Final
Cowboys to close out stadium against Ravens
Dec 20, 2008 - 1:48 PM Baltimore (9-5) at Dallas (9-5), 8:15 pm ESTIRVING, Texas (Ticker) -- Had things gone according to plan, the Dallas Cowboys might have been been able to focus on the passing of Texas Stadium in style. But after a tumultuous and often-disappointing 2008 campaign, any remaining sentiment for the last 37 years will have to go on the back burner.
A season that began with championship expectations continues Saturday night, as the Cowboys host the Baltimore Ravens in what likely will be the last game at Texas Stadium.
The team will move into a new, $1.3 billion coliseum in Arlington in 2009. The only way the Cowboys could play another game in Irving is if they earn a wild-card spot as the NFC's fifth seed and host the No. 6 seed in the conference championship game. However, getting the first part of that equation out of the way is enough of an uphill climb.
Although their status as Super Bowl favorite vanished long ago and even the NFC East title is out of its grasp after the reigning champion Giants clinched it two weeks ago, the Cowboys took a huge step toward restoring a bit of their luster over the weekend, toppling those same Giants with a 20-8 victory on Sunday night.
After a week loaded with controversy surrounding the allegedly tempestuous relationship between wide receiver Terrell Owens and tight end Jason Witten, the Cowboys put it all behind them - for 60 minutes, at least - to win for the third time in four games since quarterback Tony Romo's return to the lineup. His two Pro Bowl targets combined for just 82 yards and neither scored a touchdown, but Dallas maintained control throughout to put itself in the driver's seat in the NFC wild card race.
Romo completed 20-of-30 passes for 244 yards and a pair of touchdowns to Patrick Crayton and Deon Anderson.
But it hasn't just been Romo's recovery from a broken pinkie finger spearheading the team's recent surge back into the playoff conversation. The Cowboys' defense - aided by head coach Wade Phillips recently taking over play-calling duties on game days - has flipped a switch during the last month.
Over the last four games, Dallas has held opponents to an average of 270.5 yards and has registered 24 sacks. The Cowboys have brought down opposing quarterbacks a league-high 53 times overall.
Leading that heavy pass rush is Pro Bowl linebacker DeMarcus Ware, who is threatening Michael Strahan's single-season sack record of 22.5, set in 2001. Ware has an NFL-best 19 this season, including three in Sunday's victory over the Giants.
On Saturday, the Cowboy defenders will get to take their shots at rookie quarterback Joe Flacco, who threw a pair of interceptions and completed just 11 passes against the stingy Pittsburgh Steelers' defense in last week's 13-9 loss.
The Ravens are in much the same position as the Cowboys. The division title is out of the question, with Pittsburgh having clinched the AFC North with last week's triumph. But Baltimore still has its sights set on the postseason - and if the season ended today, it would be in. However, with three AFC East teams holding strong at 9-5 and the Indianapolis Colts at 10-4, the Ravens need all the wins they can get.
This will be the Ravens' first and last trip to Texas Stadium. Their only two meetings with the Cowboys - both victories - took place in Baltimore.
The Cowboys will pay tribute to the stadium following the game, with former players on hand to bid adieu to the field where the team has played since October 24, 1971 - a year in which the Cowboys went on to win Super Bowl VI, 24-3, over the Miami Dolphins.
Cowboys running back Marion Barber is dealing with a nagging toe injury and will be a game-time decision.
- NFL
FINAL 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
BALTIMORE 3 6 7 17 33
DALLAS 7 0 0 17 24 FINAL
SCORING SUMMARY
1ST QUARTER: DAL - TD, TASHARD CHOICE 2 YD RUN (NICK FOLK
KICK), 3:55. Drive: 3 plays, 4
yards in 0:51. Key plays: Ellis
recovery of Flacco fumble at
Baltimore 4. DALLAS 7-0
BAL - FG, MATT STOVER 26 YD,
Dec 20 11:40 PM - NFL
TD BAL
LE'RON MCCLAIN 82 YD RUN
(MATT STOVER KICK)
BALTIMORE 33
DALLAS 24 1:18 LEFT, 4TH QTR
Ravens 33, Cowboys 24 4th - 1:18Dec 20 11:29 PM
TD DAL JASON WITTEN 21 YD PASS FROM TONY ROMO (NICK FOLK KICK)
Ravens 26, Cowboys 24 4th - 1:36Dec 20 11:24 PM
TD DAL JASON WITTEN 21 YD PASS FROM TONY ROMO (NICK FOLK KICK)
Ravens 26, Cowboys 24 4th - 1:36Dec 20 11:24 PM
TD DAL JASON WITTEN 21 YD PASS FROM TONY ROMO (NICK FOLK KICK)
Ravens 26, Cowboys 24 4th - 1:36Dec 20 11:24 PM- NFL
TD DAL
JASON WITTEN 21 YD PASS FROM TONY ROMO
(NICK FOLK KICK)
BALTIMORE 26
DALLAS 24 1:36 LEFT, 4TH QTR
Ravens 26, Cowboys 24 4th - 1:36Dec 20 11:24 PM - NFL
TD BAL
WILLIS MCGAHEE 77 YD RUN
(MATT STOVER KICK)
BALTIMORE 26
DALLAS 17 3:32 LEFT, 4TH QTR
Ravens 26, Cowboys 17 4th - 3:32Dec 20 11:11 PM
TD DAL TERRELL OWENS 7 YD PASS FROM TONY ROMO (NICK FOLK KICK)
Ravens 19, Cowboys 17 4th - 3:50Dec 20 11:07 PM
TD DAL TERRELL OWENS 7 YD PASS FROM TONY ROMO (NICK FOLK KICK)
Ravens 19, Cowboys 17 4th - 3:50Dec 20 11:07 PM
TD DAL TERRELL OWENS 7 YD PASS FROM TONY ROMO (NICK FOLK KICK)
Ravens 19, Cowboys 17 4th - 3:50Dec 20 11:07 PM- NFL
TD DAL
TERRELL OWENS 7 YD PASS FROM TONY ROMO
(NICK FOLK KICK)
BALTIMORE 19
DALLAS 17 3:50 LEFT, 4TH QTR
Ravens 19, Cowboys 17 4th - 3:50Dec 20 11:07 PM - NFL
FG BAL
MATT STOVER 35 YD
BALTIMORE 19
DALLAS 10 6:30 LEFT, 4TH QTR
Ravens 19, Cowboys 10 4th - 6:30Dec 20 10:57 PM - NFL
FG DAL
NICK FOLK 35 YD
BALTIMORE 16
DALLAS 10 11:28 LEFT, 4TH QTR
Ravens 16, Cowboys 10 4th - 11:28Dec 20 10:41 PM - NFL
END, 3RD QTR 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
BALTIMORE 3 6 7 16
DALLAS 7 0 0 7 END, 3RD QTR
SCORING SUMMARY
1ST QUARTER: DAL - TD, TASHARD CHOICE 2 YD RUN (NICK FOLK
KICK), 3:55. Drive: 3 plays, 4
yards in 0:51. Key plays: Ellis
recovery of Flacco fumble at
Baltimore 4. DALLAS 7-0
BAL - FG, MATT STOVER
Dec 20 10:34 PM
TD BAL DERRICK MASON 13 YD PASS FROM JOE FLACCO (MATT STOVER KICK)
Ravens 16, Cowboys 7 3rd - 2:51Dec 20 10:29 PM
TD BAL DERRICK MASON 13 YD PASS FROM JOE FLACCO (MATT STOVER KICK)
Ravens 16, Cowboys 7 3rd - 2:51Dec 20 10:29 PM
TD BAL DERRICK MASON 13 YD PASS FROM JOE FLACCO (MATT STOVER KICK)
Ravens 16, Cowboys 7 3rd - 2:51Dec 20 10:29 PM- NFL
TD BAL
DERRICK MASON 13 YD PASS FROM JOE FLACCO
(MATT STOVER KICK)
BALTIMORE 16
DALLAS 7 2:51 LEFT, 3RD QTR
Ravens 16, Cowboys 7 3rd - 2:51Dec 20 10:29 PM - NFL
FG BAL
MATT STOVER 37 YD
BALTIMORE 9
DALLAS 7 0:00 LEFT, 2ND QTR
Ravens 9, Cowboys 7 HalfDec 20 9:46 PM - NFL
FG BAL
MATT STOVER 29 YD
BALTIMORE 6
DALLAS 7 10:54 LEFT, 2ND QTR
Ravens 6, Cowboys 7 2nd - 10:54Dec 20 9:12 PM - NFL
END, 1ST QTR 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
BALTIMORE 3 3
DALLAS 7 7 END, 1ST QTR
SCORING SUMMARY
1ST QUARTER: DAL - TD, TASHARD CHOICE 2 YD RUN (NICK FOLK
KICK), 3:55. Drive: 3 plays, 4
yards in 0:51. Key plays: Ellis
recovery of Flacco fumble at
Baltimore 4. DALLAS 7-0
BAL - FG, MATT STOVER
Dec 20 8:59 PM - NFL
FG BAL
MATT STOVER 26 YD
BALTIMORE 3
DALLAS 7 6:14 LEFT, 1ST QTR
Ravens 3, Cowboys 7 1st - 6:14Dec 20 8:40 PM - NFL
TD DAL
TASHARD CHOICE 2 YD RUN
(NICK FOLK KICK)
BALTIMORE 0
DALLAS 7 11:05 LEFT, 1ST QTR
Ravens 0, Cowboys 7 1st - 11:05Dec 20 8:27 PM
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