Cowboys silenced

By ASSOCIATED PRESS

December 08, 2008 Last Updated: December 08, 2008 02:44 PM Professional

Wide receiver Nate Washington reacts after a blow to his knee from Dallas safety Ken Hamlin Sunday in the Steelers' 20-13 victory.

Steelers' late rally quiets chatty Dallas

PITTSBURGH — Maybe Tony Romo stumbled onto the right idea when, forced out of the pocket, he improvised by throwing a left-handed pass into the end zone that sailed a little high.

Turns out it was one of his best passes of the day against a Pittsburgh Steelers defense that, no matter the score or the situation, is convinced it can alter any game or reverse any lead.

Even a game that, from the way the Cowboys were celebrating following a goal-line stand halfway through the fourth quarter, looked by them to be won. And, to the Steelers, sounded that way, too.

"They did a little more jaw talking when they were up 10," Steelers linebacker James Harrison said after a 20-13 comeback victory Sunday. "But it's not over."

For 57 minutes, Dallas outplayed a league-best Pittsburgh defense that could become the first since the 1970 merger to lead the NFL in fewest rushing, passing, total yards and points allowed. Romo, despite throwing three interceptions, deftly scrambled for eight seconds before throwing a go-ahead, 12-yard scoring pass to Terrell Owens that put Dallas up 10-3 in the third.

"We played 3Z\x good quarters," Owens said. "We just couldn't finish it out."

Rookie running back Tashard Choice, starting only because of injuries to Marion Barber and Felix Jones, ran for 88 yards — the most against Pittsburgh all season — and added 78 yards on five catches.

The Cowboys (8-5) did everything to win a game that might have put them in a strong position to claim the last of the NFC's two wild-card spots — except win it.

"Horrible, man," wide receiver Patrick Crayton said. "Just a sick feeling right now."

With the NFC East champion Giants, Ravens and Eagles remaining, Dallas' route to the postseason got a lot harder despite Atlanta's loss to New Orleans. The Cowboys and Falcons are 8-5 in the race for one of two wild cards, but Dallas owns a better conference record.

"When the season is over and if we don't make the playoffs, it's obviously going to be very damaging," Romo said.

If only psychologically, it might already be that.

Owens reflected Dallas' frustration when, after the Steelers (10-3) scored their only two touchdowns of the game 24 seconds apart in the closing minutes, he was seen jawing at assistant coach Ray Sherman.

Steelers linebacker Larry Foote wouldn't elaborate on the back-and-forth jabbering he heard from the Cowboys, saying, "It's Christmas time, the holiday season. Greetings are good."

The game began getting away from the Cowboys when, with the opportunity to run time off the clock, they punted on two straight possessions after dropping Pittsburgh's Gary Russell for a 2-yard loss on fourth-and-goal from the 1 to preserve their 13-3 lead.Santonio Holmes' 35-yard punt return led to Jeff Reed's 41-yard field goal. After getting the ball back with 5:10 remaining, the Steelers drove 67 yards to tie it on Ben Roethlisberger's 6-yard TD pass to Heath Miller with 2:04 to play.The Cowboys still had time to mount a potential winning drive, so it surprised them when Pittsburgh's defense called timeout before a second-and-8 play from the Dallas 17."He gave us that, 'Who called the timeout? You called the timeout?"' Steelers linebacker James Harrison said of Romo. "Yeah, we called the timeout."Turns out the Steelers knew exactly what Dallas was doing, even if the Cowboys didn't."Our coach (Mike Tomlin) believes in us fully," said cornerback Deshea Townsend, who, in his 11th season, is the senior member of the Pittsburgh defense. "That's just another sign of it."Romo expected tight end Jason Witten to hook to the inside on a pass route, but Witten went outside, and Townsend stepped in front of the pass for a 25-yard return, his 20th career interception and Pittsburgh's second touchdown in 24 seconds.It couldn't have been quieter on Dallas' sideline."It's all on me," Witten said. "It wasn't Tony. He put it right where he's supposed to put it."Good throw or not, Romo went 19-of-36 for 210 yards and three interceptions on a frigid, breezy 22-degree day following successive 300-yard games against the 49ers and Seahawks."He played a tough game," Cowboys coach Wade Phillips said. "He had a rough game. The wind wasn't as gusty as we were worried it was going to be, but it did seem like some of Romo's throws were bad."Roethlisberger's statistics were similar — 17-of-33 for 204 yards — except for the zero interceptions. And the fact he led two fourth-quarter scoring drives."It was given away," Crayton said. "That's the difference. It wasn't taken away, it didn't get away, it was given away."

Defensive back Deshea Townsend, left, celebrates with Troy Polamalu after Townsend's interception return for a touchdown that gave the Steelers a 20-13 decision over Dallas Sunday.