Big D Teams

Cowboys remain perfect

2007-10-11T10:26:00.000-07:00

Last-second field goal lifts Dallas to narrow victory over hard-luck Buffalo

Nick Folk booted a 53-yard field goal as time expired to ensure the Dallas Cowboys maintained their perfect start to the season with a 25-24 comeback victory over the Buffalo Bills on Monday.

Back in the NFL Monday Night Game spotlight for the first time in 13-years, the Bills had looked poised to pull off an upset behind a ferocious defense that had intercepted Dallas quarterback Tony Romo five-times, returning two for touchdowns.

With the capacity crowd of 72,175 already celebrating, Folk threw cold water on the party when he drove his field goal attempt through the uprights with two seconds to play.

But the drama was not over, Bills coach Dick Jauron having signalled for a timeout just before the kick forcing Folk to do it again.

The Dallas kicker held his nerve and the second attempt narrowly cleared the crossbar to send a stunned crowd into the night and the Bills to a second home defeat of the season in the dying seconds.

The win lifted the Cowboys to 5-0, leaving Dallas, the Indianapolis Colts and the New England Patriots as the NFL's only remaining unbeaten teams.

SUNDAY

The Chicago Bears turned five Green Bay turnovers into a stunning upset to end the Packers' perfect season with a 27-20 road victory on Sunday.

Brian Griese hit Desmond Clark with a 34-yard touchdown strike with about two minutes remaining as the Bears (2-3) roared back from a 20-10 third-quarter deficit with 17 unanswered points on the Packers' home field.

Green Bay had won four straight game before the loss.

Three fumbles and two interceptions of Brett Favre passes hurt the Packers, who scored only three points in the second half after holding a 17-7 lead at intermission.

The tide turned on a Brian Urlacher's third-quarter interception of a Favre pass at the Packers 19 after Green Bay had gone ahead 20-10 on a Mason Crosby field goal.

Griese drove the Bears to a quick touchdown on a 19-yard pass to Greg Olsen, and the Packers never recovered.

Tom Brady tossed three touchdowns in the New England Patriots' 34-17 pounding of the Cleveland Browns.

He continued to lay the foundation for what could be a Most Valuable Player campaign, joining Steve Young as the second player in NFL history to open the season with at least three touchdown passes in each of the first five games.

Two of Brady's touchdown passes came in the opening half to Benjamin Watson and Donte Stallworth to help the Patriots romp to a 20-0 lead on the Browns.

Peyton Manning threw a pair of strikes as the Indianapolis Colts humbled the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 33-14.

Even with favourite target Marvin Harrison sidelined by injury, Manning was on target, finding Dallas Clark and Reggie Wayne for touchdowns. Running back Kenton Keith ran for a pair of scores in his first career start.

Pittsburgh, the Steelers walked away with a convincing 21-0 win over Seattle.

Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger hit Heath Miller with a 13-yard touchdown strike in the second quarter.

That was all the offense the Steelers needed, with their defence shutting down the Seattle attack, limiting the Seahawks to 144-yards total offence.

Mavericks Slow Down Suns, Grab 2-1 Series Lead

2006-05-29T12:08:00.000-07:00

To combat the run-and-gun Suns, Johnson has demanded patience on offense and hustle on defense. With their advantage in depth, the Mavericks have made a commitment to winning the transition game. "We had a more balanced offense and didn't take bad shots," Johnson said. "When we take bad shots that hurts us on the other end. We have better balance and transition when we do what we do. If you can get 10 steps on a guys that is faster then you going down the other end of the court, you're at an advantage. We can't run as fast as those guys, so we better get a head start." "We really controlled the tempo great," Nowitzki said. "Especially in the second half we got back in transition. We wanted to run when we had the chance but if not we wanted to slow it down, look for some shots. We only shot 41 percent but if you get a shot up every time and don't turn the ball over that keeps them from running. If they have to play defense for 24 seconds all the time they don't get the run-outs." Second in the NBA in fast-break points during the season, Phoenix managed just four fast-break points Sunday - and zero in the second half. The offense grinded to a halt, totaling just 36 points after halftime and failing to reach 90 for the first in the postseason. "I think they are getting back, doing a better job in getting back on transition," Nash said. "I don't know if fatigue is a factor but we are not running like we need to. It was a little frustrating to see us not give the extra effort tonight, especially in the second half, when we got caught too many times going 1-on-1." "We got to run," Suns coach Mike D'Antoni said. "We didn't do it. We didn't have the neccassary enrgy to force the issue. I don't know if they are looking down the floor and seeing a couple of guys back and the rest of the guys stop running. If we don't run and spread the floor and hit them quick we are going to end up with 88 points." Dallas got the offense it needed, especially from Nowitzki, Josh Howard and Jason Terry, who combined for 40 of their 69 points in the second half. Howard scored 16 of his 22 points and Terry 10 of his 19 after halftime. The Mavericks also had the upper hand in effort and concentration. They held edges in rebounds (48-45), offensive rebounds (19-12) and steals (8-0) while committing just five turnovers and forcing 13. "I don't think we get enough credit for being a team that hustles," Johnson said. "If you don't try to outhustle the Suns the way they play for long rebounds, short rebounds, you are going to be in trouble. You got to have quickness to get the long rebounds and that is just hustle." Nowhere was that more evident that down the stretch. Trailing by as many as nine points in the fourth quarter, the Suns closed to 88-84 and had the ball when Tim Thomas made a lazy pass to Nash that was stolen by Howard, who went in for a layup with 2:10 left. "I thought Steve was there," Thomas said. "I was already in motion ready to throw the ball to Steve, then all of a sudden Josh Howard was there. I didn't even see him coming." After Shawn Marion missed a 3-pointer, the Mavericks held the ball for more than a minute, grabbing three offensive rebounds. They may have received a break when Nowitzki's desperation 30-footer was ruled to have hit the rim and Terry sealed it with a jumper for a 92-84 bulge with 33 seconds to go. "I think that Thomas turnover was big and then we missed a couple of shots but we were able to get two big offensive rebounds right after that," Nowitzki said. "When they play their small lineup, you gotta go in and get some offensvie rebounds. We got 19 today." Howard pulled down 12 rebounds for Dallas, which never trailed in the fourth quarter and won despite shooting 41 percent (39-of-95). Nash scored 21 points, Boris Diaw added 20 and Leandro Barbosa 17 for the Suns, who shot 43 percent (35-of-82). Marion had 10 points and 18 rebounds and Thomas added 14 and 10. Nowitzki's first two 3-pointers of the series helped the Mavericks remain within 25-22 after one period. But a dedication to defense caused the offense to sputter. A 3-pointer by Nash gave the Suns their largest lead at 50-39 with 3:05 left in the first half. A minute later, Howard was called for a flagrant foul on Thomas, who traded technicals with Terry before making two free throws. Dallas closed the quarter with an 8-2 spurt, then opened the second half with a highly energetic 12-2 run fueled by Nowitzki and Howard, taking a 59-54 lead on a jumper by Terry. "The turning point was at the end of the first half where we up by 11 and missed a couple of layups and we had a couple of bad plays," D'Antoni said. "We came in the half up by five instead of up by 11, 13 or 15. Then we came out a little flat. We didn't play real smart." The Mavericks trailed for just 20 seconds thereafter, taking the lead for good at 78-72 with a 6-0 spurt early in the final period.

Who'll Be The Next Option To Dirk?

2005-10-24T23:29:00.000-07:00

The exodus of an almost complete squad of former all-stars (Michael Finley, Steve Nash, Antawn Jamison and Antoine Walker) the past two summers has opened the door wide for Dirk Nowitzki's next sidekick. Josh Howard's versatility gives him the inside track. He's better a succesor to Finley than the aged Adrian Dantley to Mark Aguirre. Jason Terry and Eric Dampier have known days in Atlanta and Oakland when they were often the second offensive option. Jerry Stackhouse and Keith Van Horn may not enjoy that status ever again, but their experience in such lofty roles is well documented. It's safe to say resources are available, even if all-star credentials aren't.

You Only Get One Shot

2005-10-24T23:18:00.000-07:00

Saturday the Stars stand to advance to the MLS Western Conference Finals in a winner takes all series finale against the Colorado Rapids. In lieu of a scoreless match last Saturday in Denver, the aggregate goal home and home series has reached an equal opportunity conclusion. For FC Dallas to emerge as winner of this nail biter, it may need more than the one second half shot on goal they made in Denver.

What have you Done For Me Lately?

2005-10-24T23:03:00.000-07:00

Kick a 45 yard field goal in overtime to beat division rival New York last week and what thanks does Jose Cortez get when he follows that up Sunday by flubbing a 29 yarder in a three point loss at Seattle? He's fired. Did the drop from first to last in the division, albeit by only half a game, weigh in on this decision? Probably not. But passions do run higher in a tight race than when not in one. It's apparently not the time to become seasoned, Cortez knows now.