14 Jan 11 Saints defense comes through in win

The Dallas Cowboys might have to rethink their plans for the rest of the season. It's tough to consider yourself a playoff contender after scoring only one penalty-aided touchdown at home against the league's worst defense. Deuce McAllister ran for two touchdowns, John Carney kicked two field goals and Joe Horn added a 31-yard touchdown catch in the closing minutes, carrying the New Orleans Saints to a 27-13 victory that seriously dampened the Cowboys' wild-card chances. Dallas (5-8) had won consecutive games, including a thrilling New York Giants jersey
43-39 victory over Seattle on Monday night. With running back Julius Jones reviving the offense, Cowboys coach Bill Parcells said his team was peaking at the right time. Instead of continuing the momentum, Dallas lost at home to a team that had lost three straight and was more curious about its coach's status than its playoff possibilities. The Saints (5-8) also wound up with their first road win over the Cowboys in 10 tries. While Dallas has lost five games by at least 18 points this season, including drubbings by Philadelphia and Green Bay, this one will hurt more because of what was at stake -- and because it was so winnable. The Cowboys led 10-0 after one quarter, but managed only one field goal the rest of the game. An offense that put up 22 points in the fourth quarter against the Seahawks six days earlier hardly spent any time across midfield over the final three quarters. Most of the boos were for Vinny Testaverde, who was 14-of-35 for 167 yards with an interception that set up New Orleans' first touchdown and a fumble that ended a Dallas drive withNew York Jets jersey
1:40 left and the Cowboys trailing by a touchdown. Two plays later, Aaron Brooks hit Horn on the right sideline. He leaped over cornerback Terence Newman and went into the end zone, then celebrated by running to a sign and running a finger under the words "Remember Our Troops." What the Cowboys will remember is all the blown opportunities. They could've been up 21-0 after their first three drives, but wasted the first one with a missed field goal after getting to the 19, then got just a field goal after reaching the 18 next time. Dallas will have to win its final three just to break even and hope that's good enough to keep up Parcells' streak of always making the playoffs in his second season with a team. It won't be easy: next up is Philadelphia. The Saints were shut out in the first quarter for an 11th straight game, then tied it at 10 just before halftime. They matched Dallas at 13 midway through the third quarter and went ahead on a 5-yard TD run by McAllister with 5:21 left. McAllister ran a season-high 30 times for 83 yards and caught four passes for 37. Horn Oakland Raiders jersey
had 84 yards on five catches and Donte Stallworth had 113 yards on five catches. Brooks was 18-of-31 for 252 yards with two interceptions, the first coming in the end zone when New Orleans trailed 10-0. Dallas' Jones gained 88 yards on 23 carries, ending his NFL record-tying streak of three straight games with at least 30 rushes.