Cowboys hand Saints first loss
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}
NEW ORLEANS (Reuters) - The Dallas Cowboys spoiled New Orleans' bid for a perfect season with a 24-17 victory over the Saints on Saturday.
Marion Barber rushed for two touchdowns and Tony Romo stunned the playoff-bound Saints (13-1) with a long touchdown pass early in the game, as the Cowboys (9-5) stayed in the race for a post-season berth.
The result left the Indianapolis Colts (14-0) as the NFL's only unbeaten team this season.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}
"We knew coming in the significance of the game -- that they were undefeated and chasing history," Romo, who completed 22 of 34 passes for 312 yards, told reporters.
"So for us, this feels real, real good."
New Orleans staged a frenzied rally in the fourth quarter, scoring twice after trailing 24-3. But the Saints' bid for a tying touchdown ended on a fumble by quarterback Drew Brees after he was sacked at the Dallas 42 with seconds to play.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}
CONFIDENCE BOOSTER
The win pulled the Cowboys, who have had trouble winning in December in recent years, within a half-game of the Philadelphia Eagles for the NFC East lead.
"This gives us a chance to be the team we want to be," Dallas owner Jerry Jones said. "The guys gained a lot of confidence."
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}
Romo connected with Miles Austin on a 49-yard scoring strike with the game less than four minutes old before Barber scored from the three-yard line six minutes later, giving the Cowboys a surprising 14-0 lead.
New Orleans, one of the league's top offensive teams, could manage only a field goal through three quarters of play and trailed 24-3 after Barber's second touchdown, a two-yard run.
Mike Bell finally got the Saints a touchdown on a one-yard run with 12:35 left in the game.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}
Brees, who completed 29 of 45 passes for 298 yards, had New Orleans back in the end zone four and a half minutes later on a seven-yard pass to Lance Moore.
But the bid for a tying touchdown ended when Dallas' DeMarcus Ware sacked Brees and forced a fumble.
(Reporting by Gene Cherry in Salvo, North Carolina; Editing by Peter Rutherford