Saints Perfect No More Play Video
Posted: Dec 19, 2009 11:28 PM
Updated: Dec 20, 2009 10:49 PM
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Drew Brees and the New Orleans Saints are marching toward perfection no more.
Tony Romo and DeMarcus Ware helped Dallas end its December doldrums and the Cowboys held off a frenzied rally by the Saints for a 24-17 victory Saturday night.
The loss by the Saints (13-1) left the Indianapolis Colts (14-0) as the NFL's only unbeaten team this season.
The high-powered Saints trailed 24-3 going into the fourth quarter, then scored two fast touchdowns. After Dallas kicker Nick Folk watched his 24-yard field goal try clang off the right upright shortly before the 2-minute warning, Brees got a final chance to tie it.
Brees quickly moved the Saints into Dallas territory. But on second down, Ware sacked Brees and forced a fumble that was recovered by the Cowboys with 6 seconds left.
Romo passed for 312 yards, including a 49-yard touchdown to Miles Austin. Ware returned from a neck injury that left his status in doubt and was part of a relentless Dallas pass rush that pressured Brees all night.
Marion Barber had two short touchdown runs for the Cowboys (9-5), who ended a two-game skid and proved they were good enough to beat the top team in the NFC in front of a charged-up, hostile crowd.
The Cowboys' troubles in December had been well documented, but this win provided a dramatic boost to their playoff chances. They'll hold on to a wild car spot for at least another week.
The Saints did not score a touchdown until Mike Bell's 1-yard run with 12:35 to go. Brees followed by capping a seven-play, 70-yard drive with a 7-yard touchdown pass to Lance Moore with 8 minutes left, cutting New Orleans' deficit to 24-17.
That left it up to the Saints' defense to hold once more. Dallas faced a third-and-7 on its own 23 and the crowd was going so wild Romo had to call timeout a moment before the play clock expired.
The noise was still deafening when Romo returned to the line of scrimmage, but that didn't stop him from finding Austin on a short crossing route for a 32-yard gain. On the next play, Romo spun away from the rush and hit tight end John Phillips for a 23-yard gain to New Orleans' 22. From there, Dallas went conservative and set up what looked to be a game-sealing field goal from nearly the same distance as Shaun Suisham's miss two weeks ago, which allowed the Saints to come back and beat Washington in overtime.
When Folk's kick bounced off the upright, the crowd erupted, sensing the Saints were simply destined not to loose. And it looked that way after Brees converted a frantic fourth down on a pass over the middle to Marques Colston, who made a one-handed catch.
The Saints marched to midfield in the final minute, but the Cowboys held firm. Ware stripped Brees for the second time in the game and lineman Jay Ratliff recovered, silencing the packed Superdome while the Cowboys leapt in the air and embraced one another.
colts fan at Dec 20th 2009 10:09 AM
everybody is an instant saints fan. they win a few games and everybody instantly turns into a follower. now they lost and everybody will have an excuse. the cowboys just outplayed them. the cowboys missed an unmissable field goal and they still lost. stick by your original team through thick or thin and stop jumping ship to the winning teams.
t-boy at Dec 20th 2009 12:32 PM
Colts fan, not sure if your from around here, but most people in this area have been Saints fans all their lives, so if your talking to people from around the rest of the country you are posting on the wrong site. 2nd, I spent a day in New Orleans this past Friday, listen to local radio and just knew they were in for a let down with this game. Its not that Dallas is better, just they had more to play for, losing and they had no chance for the playoffs. Now its better for the Saints to have to possible play Dallas again after losing then winning. Its likely we may see them again and we will win that game. My guess it will be the 1st round of the Saints playoff game, if Dallas makes it past the wild card game. Also being undefeated would have been nice, if you look at the history of it, the odds are not on your side. So Colts Fan if you think Indy goes undefeated to the Super Bowl and wins 19-0, think again. The Patriots learned that the hard way. I'm also not concern if the Saint's loose one more, unless Minnesota runs the next three games, then we need to win the last two to stay in New Olrenas, however that's if Minnesota get to the Championship game, I tend to believe its going to be Arizona.
Rachel at Dec 21st 2009 7:41 AM
Go Dallas! Go Dallas! Go Dallas! Love them boys!
not nang at Dec 21st 2009 9:36 AM
Well for the past 3 games the Saints have looked really bad. What happened to the fighters we had in the first 10 games? They need to get their heads out of their behinds and get serious again. We're at the top of the heap, even with a loss, and even better now with the Vikes losing, so they have to work harder than they have all year to stay there, and be there at the end of the Super Bowl. We need home field advantage, so get busy Saints!! We're with you ALL THE WAY!!!
GEAUX SAINTS!!
Pamela at Dec 23rd 2009 8:58 AM
GO COWBOYS I am glad the Cowboys beat the Saints. The Saints just began to have a decent team in the last few years. America's Team will always command the field cause will or loose it about the attitude. Just look at the size of thier throphy case, the size of thier statium and the size of the shadow.
Dallas is not a team it is an organization.
Go Dallas Go - True Blue - America's Team