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If you like scoring, there was plenty of it. And a win is a win is a win. But if crisp, sharp football is what you're after, well, this wasn't your night.
With the starters taking a seat, the Cowboys, like the Minnesota Vikings, used this final preseason game as an opportunity to make decisions on the last few roster spots. And though the reserves came away with a come-from-behind 35-31 win to push the Cowboys' preseason record to 2-2, the performance, for the most part, wasn't pretty.
Four turnovers, three fumbles and one interception, marred the team's effort as well as a plethora of missed tackles, some special teams struggles and the ever-present penalties. Depth, it seems, is going to be a problem as the regular season now gets underway.
Still, there were some things to feel good about. Patrick Watkins secured his roster spot with a blocked field goal, an interception returned for a touchdown and seven tackles, third on the team; the trio of Mat McBriar, Nick Folk and David Buehler assured the kicking game should be much improved; and in a fitting last hurrah, "Fourth and Long" star Jesse Holley returned a punt 82 yards for the game-winning score.
In all, the Cowboys produced 310 total yards of offensive with rookie quarterback Rudy Carpenter throwing for 125 yards off of 12-for-18 passing. On the ground, Julius Crosslin, working much of the second half as a tailback, led the team with 42 yards on nine carries.
The tight ends held sway in the passing game as John Phillips led Dallas with 75 yards and Martellus Bennett provided another 51 off three catches each. For good measure, Scott Chandler added another two catches for 14 yards.
The Cowboys won the opening kickoff and saw Isaiah Stanback take the return back 20 yards to get the team going at their own 29. On the first play of the game, quarterback Jon Kitna tried to fire a quick pass to running back Tashard Choice and nearly had it picked off.
Choice then went up the middle for three yards with Kitna finding wide receiver Kevin Ogletree on a slant over the middle for a nine-yard gain and a first down. After the Vikings stripped Kitna of the ball, with tackle Doug Free falling on it, Kitna hit Bennett deep for a big 31-yard completion and a first down at the Vikings' 33-yard line.
After a Choice carry went nowhere, Kitna then rolled right and connected with Bennett again for a 12-yard pass and a first down at the 21. A draw play to Choice got four yards with Choice then taking a screen pass for a six more and a first down at the Vikings' 11.
Choice chugged up the middle for six yards, but dropped a pass from Kitna to set up third down. Kitna then found a wide open Ogletree in the back of the end zone to complete the drive and put Dallas on the board. Folk came in for the extra point and Dallas had the lead, 7-0.
The rookie kicker Buehler sent his effort to the four-yard line where Jaymar Johnson returned it 14-yards to give Minnesota a first down at the 18. Tarvaris Jackson took the snap behind center and handed off to Albert Young who was stopped after a one-yard gain. The quarterback then was unsuccessful on his first pass attempt, but an encroachment penalty on the Cowboys gave the home team five yards.
Young took the ball again and went off right tackle for one yard, but on third down Jackson was forced to throw under pressure, his attempt falling incomplete. Out came Chris Kluwe for the punt, who kicked it 38 yards to Willie Reid, the return man getting stopped for no gain.
The Cowboys' next possession wouldn't last long. Kitna and center Duke Preston misplayed the snap, the Vikings recovering the fumble to give their offense great field position at the Dallas 36.
Jackson's first pass was wide of his intended target, but on the very next play he found Jeff Dugan open, the tight end turning into the end zone for the 36-yard touchdown. Kicker Ryan Longwell equaled Folk, the game now tied 7-7.
The trouble's continued for Dallas as Stanback muffed the kickoff in the end zone, the ball tumbling out of bounds for a touchback, the Cowboys taking over on their own 20. Choice was stuffed at the line after a one-yard pickup, then lost that yard on a screen pass. Under pressure, Kitna took off up the middle and picked up the necessary yardage, giving the Cowboys a first down at the 31.
Unsuccessful on his next pass attempt, Kitna handed off to Choice who cut back against the grain and wound up gaining eight yards. On third and two, the Cowboys were called for holding, pushing them back to third and 12. Kitna was able to slip one into Bennett over the middle but fell short of the markers, so Mat McBriar came on for his first punt attempt and boomed one 50 yards that was downed at the Vikings 13.
Young opened the drive with a short three-yard gain before Jackson threw out to wide receiver Darius Reynaud on the right sideline for six more. But on third and one, nose tackle Junior Siavii stopped Young at the line of scrimmage for no gain, preventing the first down. Reid took Kluwe's punt at his own 32 and managed only two yards on the return.
Kitna came out firing again, throwing to wideout Manuel Johnson on the left sideline for an 11-yard completion and a first down. Johnson then took a reverse around the left end for a nine-yard gain with the fullback Julius Crosslin banging up the middle for four yards and a first down as the first quarter came to an end.
Choice went up the middle for one yard and a short pass to Crosslin fell incomplete, but Kitna kept the drive going with an 19-yard completion to Mike Jefferson down the left hash marks. At the Minnesota 24, Choice went around the right end all the way to the Vikings' three, but a holding call on Pat McQuistan brought the play back.
On second and 20, Kitna had his arm hit as he was throwing, the ball bouncing up in the air with defensive tackle Letroy Guion grabbing it and rumbling back the other way 24 yards. He fumbled at the end of the play, but the Vikings recovered for a first and 10 at the Dallas 25.
Running back Ian Johnson took the next two handoffs, gaining a combined eight yards for a third and two. Jackson then skirted around the right edge for a five-yard pick-up and a first down.
Johnson found a big hole off right tackle for eight yards then moved the pile three more to set up first and goal. The back completed the short drive, Johnson plowing into the end zone for the score. Longwell's kick was good and the Vikings had the lead, 14-7.
After Stanback took Longwell's kick at the six and returned it 19 yards to the 25, rookie Rudy Carpenter took over quarterbacking duties for the Cowboys. Carpenter immediately came out throwing, trying to dump a pass off to running back Keon Lattimore, the toss bouncing out of his target's hands.
Lattimore took the handoff on the next play and managed one yard with Carpenter then floating one out to Lattimore again for a five-yard pick-up, McBriar getting the call. The punter's kick was taken by Reynaud at his own 19, who weaved through the Cowboys coverage unit, taking the return 81 yards for a touchdown. The extra point was good, Minnesota's lead now 21-7.
Ogletree was shaken up on the play and had to be helped off the field. His injury was not considered serious, although he did not return to the game.
An excessive celebration penalty was tacked on to the kickoff, and although Stanback bobbled the catch, he took off at his own seven and returned it 33 yards to give Dallas possession at their 40. Crosslin turned a short pass up the middle for nine yards with Lattimore then collecting the three yards for a first down.
Carpenter hit Jefferson over the middle for nine yards, but on the next play Lattimore was stripped of the ball, defensive end Jayme Mitchell recovering for the Vikings, their third takeaway of the night.
Starting at the Dallas 44, Sage Rosenfels came in at quarterback and quickly threw out to Ian Johnson for a five-yard completion with Johnson then going around the left end for one. Head coach Wade Phillips threw a challenge flag as to whether Johnson fumbled, but the play stood.
Rosenfels threw out to Jaymar Johnson on the left sideline, a missed tackle breaking Johnson free for a 28-yard gain and a first down at the Dallas 22. On the next play, Dallas was called for too many men on the field, giving the Vikings five more yards. The offending party was cornerback DeAngleo Willingham, who was signed by the Cowboys just three days earlier.
After Mickens broke up a pass, Young went up the middle for no gain with Rosenfels then hitting Reynaud for seven yards to set up a first and goal at the 10. Young was hit behind the line of scrimmage, but made it back for no gain before Rosenfels zipped one into to wide receiver Vinny Perretta for an eight-yard strike.
On third and goal at the two, Young got stuffed at the line, managing one yard as the two-minute warning sounded. With the Vikings going for it on fourth down, Rosenfels faked a handoff up the middle, then rolled to his right, but Watkins was there to corral him, giving Dallas the ball on downs.
Starting at his own five, Lattimore took the next two snaps and actually lost a yard combined. Scrambling in his own end zone Carpenter then was able to throw out to Jefferson for six yards, giving McBriar a little more room. The Aussie's punt went 56 yards, Jaymar Johnson's return going 13 the other to give Minnesota possession at their own 47.
With 53 seconds left on the clock, Rosenfels first pass went out of bounds, but his next one to Young over the middle earned 13 yards. With 25 seconds left, Young took a screen pass for seven yards, Minnesota then calling their final time out.
On second and three at the Dallas 33, Rosenfels missed his target then tried to go deep to the tight end Garrett Mills but overthrew him. On fourth and three with nine seconds left, Longwell came out for a 51-yard field goal, but Watkins blocked the kick. Courtney Brown nearly picked it up with open field ahead, but instead had to fall on it.
With four second left, Carpenter lofted a "Hail Mary," the tight end Phillips somehow coming down with the jump ball. Despite his effort, he fell just short of paydirt, tackled at the five as time expired.
The Cowboys certainly got the second half off to a good start. After Buehler boomed his kickoff six-yards deep into the end zone for a touchback, Watkins was there again, intercepting Rosenfels pass on the very first play and waltzing into the end zone untouched. Folk's kick was good, closing the gap to 21-14.
Again Buehler boomed one into the end zone, although this time Jaymar Johnson brought the ball out and made it back to his own 24-yard line. Ian Johnson took the handoff up the middle for five yards, then dove forward for four more. The first down was picked up with a three-yard gain by fullback Nehemiah Broughton.
Back to work went Johnson for three yards on the ground , but on the very next play, Cowboys linebacker Steve Octavien got his turn, intercepting quarterback John David Booty's pass and thundering into the end zone 44 yards for the touchdown. Folk's extra point tied the game, 21-21.
Jaymar Johnson took Buehler's kick at his own goal line and made it out to the Minnesota 21. With Rosenfels back at quarterback, Young took the handoff for a quick three-yard gain, then went around the right end for 12 more and a first down. Minnesota continued to ride Young, the back running two more times for a combined nine yards before Broughton got the first down with a two-yard punch.
But there the drive stalled. Rosenfels tried a screen pass, the ball falling incomplete, then went to Young again who was able to earn only one yard. On third and nine, Rosenfels pass was off target again, bringing on the punt units. Kluwe's boot traveled 32 yards, Reid calling for the fair catch at the Dallas 20.
Now working at tailback, Crosslin banged around the right end for a seven-yard carry with Carpenter then ducking under a sack but throwing incomplete down the left sideline to Jefferson. Working out of the shotgun, Carpenter handed off to Crosslin on third down, who had the ball knocked out of his hands, the Vikings' Marcus Walker recovering the fumble at the Dallas 30.
Ian Johnson carried the next three times and moved his team down to the Cowboys 14. After a Rosenfels pass fell incomplete, offsetting penalties required a replay on third and nine. Rosenfels was then flushed out of the pocket and threw it out of the back of the end zone, but a pass interference call on Brown moved the ball to the five-yard line and a first and goal.
Two plays later and Ian Johnson surged into the end zone to put Minnesota back on top. The extra point was good, giving the Vikings a 28-21 advantage.
Stanback took Longwell's kick out to the 23, but a false start penalty pushed the Cowboys back five yards. Crosslin went off right tackle to gain the five back plus one with a defensive holding penalty then giving Dallas another five yards and a first down.
The see-saw continued, the false start penalty on the Cowboys pushing them back five. Carpenter was able to get a throw off to Manuel Johnson, but the receiver stepped out of bounds, the play incomplete. Not to worry, a roughing the passer penalty by Minnesota on the next play provided 15 yards and a first down.
Crosslin picked up three yards, but Carpenter was sacked on the next play, losing two. On third and nine, the quarterback tried to go deep down the left sideline to Johnson, the pass going over his wideout to end the possession. McBriar's punt bounced into the end zone, Minnesota taking over at their own 20.
The Vikings at first went backwards, a false start penalty losing five, but Young went around the right end on second down for six. Rosenfels then went deep, hitting his man, wide receiver Bobby Williams, for a 47-yard completion down to the Dallas 32.
Young went around the end for five yards, then carried the stack for another three. On third and two, Young was kept to just one yard as the third quarter came to a close. With the final frame underway, out came Longwell for a 41-yard field, the kicker splitting the uprights to give the Vikings a 31-21 lead.
Stanback took the kickoff back 19-yards to the Cowboys 23 where Carpenter quickly threw out to Holley for a gain of five. Crosslin went up the middle for a nice 14-yard run, but then lost three on a short pass. Carpenter was just barely able to get the handoff to Crosslin, the play gaining only one, which was followed by Carpenter scrambling down the right sideline for a nine-yard pick-up and a first down.
Crosslin rumbled up the middle for three yards with Carpenter going outside to wideout Holley for five more. A 19-yard pass to Phillips moved Dallas down to the Minnesota 21. Carpenter then tried to go to Johnson in the end zone, but the play was broken up. On second and 10, Carpenter threw a lob out to Johnson on the left sideline, but the receiver stepped out of bounds for another incompletion.
Carpenter was able throw into the tight end Chandler for 10 yards, setting up a first and goal at the 10. Crosslin carried up the middle for three, then Carpenter, able to escape trouble, went back to Phillips for four yards. The drive was complete when Carpenter found Chandler for the touchdown, bringing the Cowboys to within three, 31-28, after Folk's extra point.
Buehler's kick came up a little shorter, but a block in the back penalty helped the Cowboys' cause, Minnesota starting out at their own 14.
With Booty back at quarterback, Ian Johnson took the ball one yard before Booty threw out to Perretta, who broke up the sideline for 16 yards. Johnson then ran on the next two plays, gaining eight yards before Booty threw out to receiver Nick Moore for an 18-yard gain and a first down at the Dallas 43.
Young went right, then left for a total of eight yards and a Booty pass fell incomplete to set up fourth down. Kluwe kicked a short punt that Holley was going to let go, but the ball bounced back up field, behind the defense, and into the hands of Holley, who took it and ran the distance, an 82-yard touchdown to give Dallas the lead again. Folk's kick was good, the score 35-31.
Jaymar Johnson brought the kickoff back 18 to the Minnesota 21 with Booty throwing seven yards to Ian Johnson and then six more to Bobby Williams for a first down at the 34. Booty next slipped a screen pass into Ian Johnson again for a 14-yard pickup as the two-minute warning sounded.
Booty scrambled to the sideline for five yards with Young taking a handoff up the middle for one as Minnesota called timeout. With 1:48 remaining, Booty threw incomplete to Moore, but then on fourth down found Perretta over the middle for a big 20-yard gain and a first down at the Cowboys 26.
After throwing away his next attempt, Booty missed his target on second down. Booty then went outside to Moore for four yards, but the receiver couldn't get out of bounds, the Vikings forced to use their final timeout.
On fourth and six with 58 seconds left, Booty overthrew his receiver again, the Cowboys taking over on downs. Carpenter provided the kneel downs, sealing the win for the team.
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