Sometimes just getting the win is all that matters, regardless of how it's achieved.
Facing a Kansas City team that came into the game at 0-4, the Cowboys trailed through most of the afternoon thanks to turnovers, penalties and generally all-around sloppy play. But in the end, they snuck out with a 26-20 overtime victory, thanks in large part to the efforts of receiver Miles Austin.
Dallas fell behind 10-0 early because of costly turnovers, then again at 13-3 after a penalty-filled drive by Kansas City. But, the Cowboys scored 17 unanswered points in the second half to take a 20-13 lead with just over two minutes remaining.
And then their defense, which had allowed little during the day, gave up a long fourth-quarter drive, a la the Giants game, that saw the Chiefs tie the score, 20-20.
In overtime, however, the team was saved by Austin, who turned an innocent looking pass play into a 60-yard scamper for the game-winning score. His first career start, Austin finished the day with 10 catches for 250 yards, a new Cowboys record.
Making his NFL debut, rookie Kevin Ogletree got the game started by taking the opening kickoff from his own end zone out to the Cowboys' 28-yard line. A quick handoff to Marion Barber picked up seven yards, with tight end Jason Witten hauling in an eight-yard pass for a first down.
Tony Romo hit Patrick Crayton for eight more yards, who appeared to fumble, but the play had already been called dead, the officials ruling that Crayton had been stopped due to forward progress. Barber then went up the middle for two yards and a first down at the Chiefs' 47.
After a Dallas timeout, their first of the day, Barber tried another run, but was brought down behind the line of scrimmage for a loss of four. They again went backwards, Romo hitting Barber on an attempted screen, but an ineligible man downfield penalty pushing the team back five yards.
On second and 19, the quarterback found receiver Miles Austin on a quick slant, the play picking up only six yards, then went back to Austin again for another 10 yards, setting up fourth down. Mat McBriar's punt traveled 31 yards, Bobby Wade calling for the fair catch at his own nine-yard line.
Kansas City got their first possession going when Larry Johnson took the handoff and slammed up the middle for four yards. On the next play the Chiefs' tried a flee-flicker, Johnson taking the handoff, then pitching back to quarterback Matt Cassel, who tried to throw deep to receiever Mark Bradley. Although the play was incomplete, a holding call on Terence Newman gave Kansas City five yards and a first down.
The trickery continued with the Chiefs trying a double-reverse, Bradley eventually attempting to take the ball around the left end, but losing two yards. Johnson went conventionally up the middle again for one yard with Cassel throwing a screen to running back Jackie Battle for just three more. Dustin Colquitt's punt carried 48 yards, bouncing out of bounds at the Dallas 32.
Romo got the next possession started with an 11-yard pass to Witten and Barber gaining six with a lunge up the middle. Barber's next run saw him slip for one yard, setting up third and three. A Romo to Crayton pass moved the chain nine yards to the Kansas City 41.
Running back Tashard Choice got his first carry of the day and managed five yards, although that was immediately lost with a false start penalty on Marc Colombo. Romo then called his second timeout of the first half.
A quick slant to Crayton picked up 18 yards, moving Dallas down to the Chiefs' 23. Barber followed with a nice 16-yard run, but a holding penalty on guard Kyle Kosier negated the play and pushed the team back 10 yards.
Not to worry, Romo pinpointed a pass to Witten on a curl over the middle, an 11-yard pickup. On second and nine, Austin got behind the defense in the end zone, but Romo just overshot his target, the ball incomplete. Blitzed by the defense, Romo had to hurry his throw, the pass falling behind Choice. Nick Folk came on for a 40-yard field goal attempt, the kick pushing to the left, no good. Whether it made a difference or not, it appeared McBriar was unable to turn the laces away from the kicker on the hold.
Taking over at their own 30, running back Jamaal Charles picked up seven yards. Cassel then couldn't find an open receiver and was sacked for no gain and didn't connect with Bradley, bringing out Colquitt for the punt. Crayton muffed the catch with Kansas City' Maurice Leggett falling on the prize, giving the home team possession at the Dallas 23.
Johnson was dragged down by nose tackle Jay Ratliff for a loss of six as the first quarter came to an end. After the break, Johnson tried to go up the middle again, but managed only one yard. On third and 15, Cassel's throw to tight end Sean Ryan was too high, so out came Ryan Succop for a 47-yard field goal. His kick slipped inside the uprights, giving Kansas City a 3-0 lead.
Ogletree grabbed the kickoff at his own two, but only got out to the Dallas 18. Choice got things started with a four-yard run, but once again the turnover bug bit the Cowboys. A bad snap was picked up by safety Mike Brown, who carried it back a short four yards to give Kansas City great field possession at the visitors' 16.
Johnson went up the middle for three yards, then took a swing pass around the right side for a nine-yard gain and a first and goal at the Cowboys' four. Johnson went back up the middle for two yards, then was stopped after a one-yard gain, setting up third and goal.
Linebacker Mike Vrabel came in as an eligible receiver and took a pass from Cassel for the touchdown. Succop's kick was good and the Chiefs had a 10-0 lead.
Ogletree took Succop's kick at his own one and this time was able to get out to the 21-yard line. Barber broke through up the middle for an 11-yard pickup and a first down, which was followed by the back taking it again for a short three yards. But, an illegal formation penalty pushed them back five yards with a false start penalty moving them in reverse five more.
Now on first and 20, Romo tried to set up a screen, but it was covered, so he just threw it away. His next attempt was then tipped at the line of scrimmage, falling incomplete. On third down, Romo scrambled out of a near sack, running up the middle for six yards. McBriar's 52-yard punt was brought in by Wade, who was immediately tackled at his own 19.
On first down, Cassel rolled right but threw way high over his target Wade. He then found Ryan over the middle for a 13-yard catch and a first down. Johnson slipped up the middle for one yard wit Cassel hitting receiver Dwayne Bowe downfield for a 20-yard strike and a first down at the Dallas 47.
Linebacker Keith Brooking broke through on the blitz to sack Cassel for an 11-yard loss, which was followed by Bowe unable to haul in a pass to set up third and 18. Cassel was forced to scramble, the quarterback able to pick up nine yards, the punting units again getting the call. Crayton called for a fair catch on Colquitt's 31-yard punt at the Dallas 13.
A Romo pass to Witten garnered 10 yards and a first down with Barber then grounding out two yards up the middle. Austin hauled in a Romo pass, then curled down the left sideline for an 18-yard reception and a first down at the Dallas 43.
Romo then found Austin on the right sideline, the wideout bolting downfield for a 37-yard gain and a first down at the Kansas City 20. A Barber run collected two yards, but Romo and Crayton couldn't connect on second down. Romo and Hurd did connect on the next pass, a quick slant to the middle that gained 10 yards and set up a first and goal at the Chiefs' eight.
Barber danced through the middle for four yards as the two-minute warning sounded. Romo first tried to hit Austin in the right end zone, but the pass was broken up. His next attempt then went high through the hands of Hurd, bringing out Folk for the chip-shot 22-yard field goal. His kick was good, putting Dallas on the board, 10-3.
David Buehler's kick was taken by Charles at the goal line, the return man only getting to his own 12. With 1:44 left in the half, Cassel found Charles out of the backfield for a nine-yard completion, but Charles then lost a yard on the next snap. After a Kansas City timeout, Cassel had to scramble upfield, but picked up 11 yards and a first down at the Chief's 31.
A pass underneath to Charles earned another 13 yards as Kansas City called their second timeout. With 39-seconds left in the half, Cassel eluded two would-be sackers then threw the ball away. Again, Cassel escaped pressure and hit Ryan for 15 yards , but a holding penalty canceled the gain and pushed them back 10 yards.
On second and 20, Cassel threw to the left sideline for 14 yards then with 13 seconds remaining, his next attempt fell incomplete bringing on fourth down. Dallas then used their final timeout. Crayton let the ball bounce, Kansas City downing it at the three as the clock ran out.
Buehler's kick to open the second half was taken by Charles at the four-yard line and carried out to the 24. Cassel immediately hit Ryan for a 14-yard completion, but pressure forced a bad throw on the next snap, the pass incomplete.
DeMarcus Ware then broke through for the sack, his first of the season, a 10-yard loss. Cassel threw underneath to Charles for 12 yards, but it wasn't enough , bringing on Colquitt for the punt. Newman went back to receive the punt, but let the ball bounce over his head, the Chiefs' downing it at the three-yard line.
Barber was lucky to just get out of the end zone, stopped for a two-yard loss, with Romo then throwing to Witten for a gain of seven. Romo's pass to Hurd was high, McBriar forced to kick out of his own end zone. His punt bounced to the Chief's 44-yard line where it was downed by Dallas.
An offsides penalty on Anthony Spencer provided five yards with Johnson then going up the middle for two more. An offside penalty on Igor Olshansky again gave the Chiefs five yards and a first down as Cassel followed that by hitting Wade for four yards.
Offsetting penalties, another offsides on Dallas and holding on Kansas City, resulted in a new play. Johnson went up the middle for three yards with Cassel then zipping one into Bradley for seven yards and a first down at the Dallas 27.
Yet another defensive offsides penalty, this time on DeMarcus Ware, tacked on five more yards. Johnson plowed into the pile for two yards, but a deep pass to Bowe sailed incomplete. On third and eight, Cassel missed Bradley, so out came Succop for a 38-yard field goal. His boot was good, pushing the Chiefs' lead to 13-3.
Ogletree hauled in the kickoff at his own three and darted upfield for a 26-yard return. He fumbled at the end of the play, but the ball bounced out of bounds at the Dallas 28.
Romo's first pass was dropped by Crayton, which was followed by Barber picking up four off right guard. Romo avoided the sack and then threw to Austin over the middle, the receiver making a nice leaping catch for nine yards and the first down.
After Barber was stopped for no gain, Romo's pass to Barber netted only two yards. But an illegal hands to the face call gave Dallas five yards and the first down.
A sack of Romo lost three yards, although Choice scampered up the middle for 12 to set up third and one. Romo drilled a strike into Crayton, a gain of nine for a first down at the Kansas City 36.
Choice then broke through the middle, bolted to the outside and hustled all the way to paydirt, a 36-yard score. The play was challenged by Kansas City, but the touchdown stood. Folk's extra point was good, Dallas narrowing the score to 13-10.
After the Buehler touchback, Kansas City got going on their own 20, Johnson taking the first snap off left guard for a short three yards. Cassel was unable to connect with the fullback Mike Cox, but a pass interference penalty gave the Chiefs 10 yards and a first down.
Johnson was able to get five yards, his longest run of the day so far, which was followed by Cassel failing to connect with a fallen Ryan. A fluttering pass then fell incomplete as well, the possession coming to an end. Culquitt's punt was downed by the Chiefs at the 24-yard line.
On the final play of the third quarter, Romo immediately came out and hit Austin on the right sideline for 14 yards and a first down. He got the final frame started with a handoff to Barber that gained two, then threw deep to Austin, the receiver taking the ball away from safety Jarrad Page for a great 34-yard catch.
Barber continued the drive with a 17-yard run off right guard to set up first and goal, although a false start penalty on Flozell Adams pushed them back five yards. Choice picked up one yard with Romo throwing quickly to Austin for three more. On third and goal, Romo threw high to Austin, but the ball went through his target's hands. On came Folk for the 28-yard field goal, his kick good to tie the game 13-13.
Charles got Buehler's kick at his own seven and fought his way out to the Kansas City 27 for a 20-yard return. A lateral back to Johnson lost seven yards, then Cassel was forced to scramble, gaining only one. A false start pushed them back five more yards with a delay of game then marching them back again, creating a third and 26.
Cassel tried to go over the middle to Wade, who was hit hard by safety Alan Ball. But, Ball was called for unnecessary roughness, which resulted in a 15-yard penalty and an automatic first down.
A delayed handoff went nowhere, Cassel then going to Bowe on the left sideline for 11 yards and a first down. Johnson went up the middle for eight yards, then took the ball around the right end for 10 yards and a first down at the Dallas 46.
Johnson continued the drive with three yards off right tackle. Cassel had an open Wade over the middle, missing his target, but yet another defensive offsides call gave the Chiefs five yards. Johnson went up the middle for no gain, setting up third and two. Cassel used the quarterback sneak for six yards and a first down at the Dallas 32.
Cassel's throw to Wade was high for an incompletion and a false start penalty pushed them back five yards. A swing pass to Charles around the right side gained three.
Another pass to Charles on the left side was negated after a pass interference call on Kansas City. The play pushed them back 10 yards, giving them a third and 22. Cassell went to Wade for nine yards, setting up Succop for a 53-yard field goal. The kick was blocked by a hurdling Ratliff, Dallas taking over at their own 36.
Choice went up the middle for five yards with Romo missing tight end Martellus Bennett on his next pass attempt. But then Austin took a short pass from his quarterback, broke two tackles and sprinted 59 yards to the goal line, giving Dallas their first lead of the day. Folk's extra point was good, and Dallas was up 20-13.
Charles took Buehler's kick back to the Kansas City 26 where Cassel started with 2:10 left on the clock. His first attempt to Wade fell incomplete, but he then threw a 17-yard connection to Charles as the two-minute warning sounded.
Ware and Jason Hatcher powered in for the sack and a four-yard loss, the Chiefs calling timeout. Newman nearly picked off a pass intended for Bowe, but Cassel then went deep over the middle for a 25-yard completion to Wade, giving the Chiefs a first down at the Dallas 25.
Cassel's pass to Bowe added another 17 yards for a first down at the 19. Newman was shaken up on the play and Dallas was charged with a timeout. Newman did return to the game.
The quarterback went deep to Bradley, the receiver catching the ball, but out of bounds in the back of the end zone. On second down with 58-seconds left, Cassel threw underneath to Charles who managed only three yards.
Cassel then missed on a pass to Wade, setting up fourth and seven with 29 seconds left. But Cassel then threw over the middle to Bowe who hauled in the catch in the end zone between two Dallas defenders. Succop's extra point was good and the score was tied, 20-20.
Austin went back for the kickoff at his own four, faked a reverse and brought it out 24 yards to get Romo and Co. started at their own 28. With 17 seconds left on the clock, Romo missed his first attempt to Crayton, then took a knee, content to send the game to overtime.
Kansas City won the toss and elected to receive the overtime kick. Charles took a bouncing Buehler effort at his own eight and carried it out to the 27. Cassel then hit Bradley on a curl route who turned upfield for 14 yards and a first down at the 41.
A holding penalty pushed the Chiefs' back 10 yards, and a Johnson run managed only one yard. Cassel then went over the middle to Wade for three yards, setting up third and long. A Bowe reception picked up 10 yards, bringing out Colquitt for the punt. Crayton called a fair catch at his own 16.
Barber took the handoff and picked up one yard, then Romo missed an open Witten downfield. On third and nine, the quarterback tried to go deep down the left sideline, but threw the ball out of bounds, the team going three and out. McBriar kicked the ball 41 yards, Wade taking the return back eight to the Chiefs' 49-yard line.
A throw to Bowe was broken up by cornerback Mike Jenkins, and Johnson might have picked up one yard. A scrambling Cassel tried to dump off to Charles, but threw high incomplete, another punt in order. Crayton called for the fair catch at his own 21.
Choice got the Cowboys' final drive started with a run around the right end for 24 yards and a first down, then went up the middle for five yards. Romo had Choice for a short four-yard pass, but a holding penalty on Adams instead pushed the team back 10 yards.
On second and 15, Romo threw what looked to be a simple curl route to Austin, but the speedy receiver turned to the sidelines, broke a tackle and flew 60 yards for the game-winning touchdown.
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