ARLINGTON, Texas -- The Cowboys again were faced with rallying from a double-digit hole. But unlike the Thanksgiving Day loss to the Washington Redskins, Dallas managed to catch up to the Philadelphia Eagles.
Dallas defeated Philadelphia, 38-33, to end an eight-game losing streak on Sunday Night Football and keep its playoff hopes alive, slim as they are.
What it means: The Cowboys are back to .500 and are one of three NFC teams at 6-6. They are fighting for a possible NFC East title and possibly a wild-card berth. The New York Giants currently command first place in the division. Getting the sixth seed of the final wild-card spot might prove difficult. Seattle holds the sixth spot, and the Cowboys would lose a tie-breaker to the Seahawks as a result of the Week 2 loss. The Cowboys most likely will have to win out to reach 10 wins and possibly earn the division title to make the playoffs.
Murray returns: After missing six games, starting running back DeMarco Murray returned and finished with 83 yards on 23 carries and one touchdown. Murray, who was out with a sprained left foot, gained 14 yards on his first carry of the game. The Cowboys medical staff monitored Murray throughout the game to make sure he could maintain the workload. Not only did Murray start the game, but the Cowboys also turned to him to close the game.
Romo becomes franchise TD leader: The Cowboys tied the score when Tony Romo did what he does best, scramble away from trouble. Dez Bryant also did what he does best, and that's outrun defenders. Romo moved from pressure and on a short throw found an open Bryant, who outran three defenders to the end zone for a 23-yard reception. Romo's touchdown gave him 166 for his career, surpassing Hall of Famer Troy Aikman on the franchise's all-time touchdown list. The touchdown made it 17-17, with 11:18 to play.
A perfect second half: Romo was fantastic in the second half, completing 10 of 10 passes for 169 yards and three touchdowns. It was Romo's best game of the season, better than the Week 1 victory over the Giants. Overall, Romo completed 22 of 27 passes for 303 yards with the three scores. Romo didn't make a bad throw all night despite getting knocked around in the first half and didn't encounter much pressure in the final 30 minutes.
Defense did what? The Cowboys defense was banged around in the first half and couldn't contain quarterback Nick Foles or running back Bryce Brown. However, the tune changed in the second half. Guess what? The Cowboys defense forced a turnover. Nose tackle Josh Brent forced a Brown fumble. Cornerback Morris Claiborne scooped it up and returned it 50 yards for the game-clinching score. It was the Cowboys' third defensive touchdown of the season. Brandon Carr returned an interception, thrown by Foles, for a touchdown on Nov. 11.
What's next: A road trip to Cincinnati (7-5), where the Bengals still have playoff hopes. The Cowboys lost 26-3 in their last visit to Cincinnati, in 2004.