SportsDirect Inc. staff
Oct 21, 2012
Cowboys 19, Panthers 14: Dan Bailey gave Dallas the lead with a 28-yard kick with 3:25 left, and Cam Newton was unable to rally host Carolina.
The Cowboys (3-3) have won nine straight over the Panthers, but that streak was in jeopardy when Mike Tolbert's 2-yard touchdown run put Carolina ahead 14-13 with 11:38 left.
Tony Romo led the Cowboys back down the field, setting the stage for Bailey's go-ahead field goal. Dallas' Morris Claiborne broke up a fourth-down pass to get the ball back, and Bailey - who missed a potential game-winning field goal last week - tacked on another three points as the Cowboys held on to snap their two-game losing streak.
Romo was 24-of-34 for 227 yards and a touchdown.
Newton, who passed for 233 yards with a touchdown and an interception and had a game-high 64 rushing yards on six carries, drove the Panthers (1-5) to their own 46 in the final minute but was sacked on third down, thwarting any chance for a comeback.
GAME NOTEBOOK: The Panthers haven't beaten the Cowboys since the teams' first
meeting in 1997. Carolina has lost four straight and is all but out of
the NFC South race. ... The Panthers are 7-8 when tied or leading in the fourth quarter under coach Ron Rivera. ... Carolina has lost four games this season by six points or less. ... Miles Austin had five catches for 97 yards and a touchdown for Dallas.