Denver Broncos Edge Cowboys In Shootout, Remain Unbeaten

The Denver Broncos and Dallas Cowboys put on a scoring exhibition, but in the end the surging Broncos prevailed.

The visiting Broncos outlasted the Dallas Cowboys tonight in Arlington, Texas, by a record-setting score of 51 to 48

In a losing effort, Cowboys QB Tony Romo threw for 506 yards and five touchdowns. Romo’s effort was the first 500 yard game in Cowboys history. Peyton Manning finished the game with four TDs and 414 yards overall. He also threw his first interception of the season The Cowboys jumped out to a 14-0 led before Manning and Co. got going.

A Romo interception set up the Broncos winning field goal as time expired. Denver linebacker intercepted Romo with less than two minutes remaining in the fourth quarter, setting a Matt Prater 28-yeard field goal.

As USA Today summarizes the outcome, “But unlike last week’s blowout win against Philadelphia, Manning and the Broncos needed every one of those points Sunday to beat Romo on one of the best days of his career.”

According to ESPN, the Denver Broncos and Dallas Cowboys “combined for 1,039 yards of total offense in the second-highest scoring game in regulation since the NFL-AFL merger in 1970.” Manning also set a personal mark in breaking the NFL record for most TD passes NFL games. Manning now has 19 touchdowns. He also scored a touchdown on a bootleg at the end of the second quarter, his first rushing touchdown in five years. Manning has also moved into second place (just ahead of Dan Marino) for all-time NFL career passing yards behind Brett Favre.

The undefeated Denver Broncos are now 5-0 in the AFC, tied with the surprising Kansas City Chiefs. Despite its 2-3 record, Dallas is tied with the Philadelphia Eagles for first place in the NFC East.

Dallas faces off against the Washington Redskins in another home game next Sunday, while the Broncos play host to the winless Jacksonville Jaguars.

[image credit: Jeffery Beall]