Chris Johnson ran for 131 yards and two touchdowns, including the go-ahead score with 3:28 left, and the Tennessee Titans extended their winning streak over the NFC to 11 games with a 34-27 victory over the host Dallas Cowboys on Sunday.
Johnson’s 1-yard touchdown run was set up by a 73-yard kickoff return by Marc Marian, which came moments after the Cowboys were flagged for excessive celebration on the game-tying touchdown.
Vince Young passed for a pair of touchdowns for the Titans (3-2), who recorded six sacks – five in the first half - en route to their 16th win in 17 games against NFC foes.
Stephen Tulloch’s interception of Tony Romo sealed the win for the Titans, who prevailed despite being outgained 551-321.
Dallas (1-3) rallied from a 17-3 deficit but still came up short despite huge days from Romo and Miles Austin.
Romo threw for a career-high 406 yards and three touchdowns but also threw three interceptions. Austin had nine catches for 166 yards, including an acrobatic 69-yard touchdown catch early in the second half.
Dallas tied it at 27 when Romo capped a seven-play, 60-yard drive with an 18-yard touchdown pass to Jason Witten with 4:30 left. However, an excessive celebration penalty forced the Cowboys to kick off from the 15-yard line and Mariani broke free for the long return.
The Titans jumped out to an early 17-3 lead thanks to a pair of touchdown passes from Young and a dominating defense that sacked Romo five times in the first half.
Dallas scored on a 6-yard touchdown pass to Roy Williams just before halftime, and Austin’s 69-yard catch-and-run tied it at 17-17 just 1:16 into the second half.
Tennessee | Dallas | |
Chris Johnson | Player | Felix Jones |
19 | Attempts | 15 |
131 | Yards | 109 |
6.9 | Avg Yards | 7.3 |
2 | Touchdowns | 0 |
42 | Long | 34 |
Tennessee | Dallas | |
Kenny Britt | Player | Miles Austin |
4 | Receptions | 9 |
86 | Yards | 166 |
21.5 | Avg Yards | 18.4 |
1 | Touchdowns | 1 |
52 | Long | 69 |