DALLAS // Marion Barber's one-yard touchdown run with a little under five minutes remaining completed a thrilling 41-37 victory for the Dallas Cowboys against the Philadelphia Eagles on Monday. Barber's second score of the game came with 4mins 35secs left to put the Cowboys ahead for the final time in a game that witnessed seven lead changes.
The Dallas quarterback Tony Romo overcame a fumble that led to a touchdown and a costly interception in Philadelphia's 24-point second quarter to throw three touchdown passes. Romo said: "It was unbelievable, we just kept on fighting. "I made some mistakes but we recovered. This game is funny sometimes. "The guys battled hard. That is a good football team we just played there. I'm real excited about this year."
Romo's passes included two to former Eagle Terrell Owens, one of them a 72-yard strike that gave the Cowboys an early 7-3 lead. Philadelphia's big second quarter gave the Eagles a 30-24 lead at half-time. However, the Cowboys defence stiffened in the second half, allowing just seven points, and came up with two big stops on the Eagles final two possessions after Barber's late touchdown. Dallas tie with the defending Super Bowl champion New York Giants at 2-0 in the East, while the Eagles join Washington at 1-1.
"We kept believing in each other," the Dallas coach Wade Phillips said. Jason Witten had seven catches for 110 yards for the Cowboys, while Owens had three catches for 89 yards. Barber rushed for 63 yards on 19 carries. Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb completed 25 of his 37 passes for 281 yards with a touchdown, but was sacked four times. DeSean Jackson caught six passes for 110 yards and became only the second player to start his career with consecutive 100-yard games. Westbrook rushed for 58 yards on 18 carries and added two rushing touchdowns.
* Reuters *