John Nestor

Daniel Bailey kicked a 39-yard field goal in overtime after counterpart Graham Gano missed from 52 yards as the Dallas Cowboys edged the host Washington Redskins 27-24 Sunday afternoon.

Tony Romo thew two fourth-quarter touchdown passes to rally Dallas from a 17-10 deficit, but the Cowboys narrowly avoided a fourth loss this season when leading in the fourth quarter.

Washington took the opening kick of the extra session and moved the ball down to the Dallas 34, but Gano missed his second field goal of the game wide right.

The Cowboys took over at their 42 and got a 15-yard pass from Romo to Martellus Bennett to get into Washington territory. Two plays later on a 3rd-and-13, Romo eluded the rush, moved to his left and hit Dez Bryant in the left flat at the Washington 23 for a first down to set up Dallas' second overtime win this season.

Dallas (6-4), which beat Washington 18-16 in Week 3, moved within one-half game of the NFC East-leading New York Giants (6-3), who play the Philadelphia Eagles Sunday night. Dallas will host the Miami Dolphins in its annual Thanksgiving Day game Thursday.

Washington lost its sixth straight game - the 'Skins longest losing streak since 1998 - after a 3-1 start.

After Romo's 59-yard TD to Jason Witten with 8:48 left gave Dallas a 24-17 lead and Orlando Scandrick's interception of Washington quarterback Rex Grossman provided Dallas some cushion, Grossman rallied the Skins.

Grossman drove the Redskins 89 yards on the last drive of regulation, completing 8-of-10 passes for 92 yards to tie the game 24-24 with 14 seconds left. He hit Donte Stallworth on a 4-yard fade pattern in the left corner of the end zone to cap the drive.

Stallworth, who was released by Washington and re-signed this week, scored his first TD since 2008.

Dallas rookie running back DeMarco Murray was held to 73 yards on 25 carries and Romo struggled against a Washington pass rush that sacked him four times and upset the timing with his receivers by forcing him to throw off-balance.

But, trailing 17-10 late in the third, Romo and his receivers started to click.

Romo capped a 61-yard, 14-play drive by hitting Laurent Robinson for a 7-yard TD with 14:32 left to tie the game 17-17. Dallas kept alive the drive by converting a fourth down, and Romo found Robinson in the end zone after scrambling to his left and throwing across his body.

After forcing a Washington punt and taking over at his own 11, Romo moved Dallas 30 yards on two completions, then scrambled again to his left and found Witten crossing the middle for the go-ahead score. Witten caught the ball around the Washington 35 and ran untouched into the end zone.

Romo completed 23-of-37 passes for 392 yards with three TDs and no interceptions.

Grossman was 25 of 38 for 289 yards with two TDs passing, one running and an interception. Washington has scored just one TD in its previous 40 possessions before Grossman guided the Skins to two straight TDs that provided Washington a 14-10 halftime lead.

 

NFL 2011 Week 11 - Overtime Field Goal Gives Dallas Cowboys Third Straight Win