Last-minute TD pass lifts Cowboys

BOYS 28, LIONS 27 Witten snags winner with 18 seconds left

DETROIT – The Dallas Cowboys’ magical season continued.
Tony Romo tossed a 16-yard touchdown pass to Jason Witten with 18 seconds left in regulation yesterday as the Cowboys rallied for a 28-27 victory over the Detroit Lions, clinching the NFC East Division title.
“Ninth time we’ve come from behind this year, and it shows you the character and the heart of this team,” Cowboys coach Wade Phillips said. “It wasn’t the prettiest game for us, but it was the best in that we came out the Eastern Division champs.”
Detroit, which stunned Dallas 39-31 in last season’s regular-season finale, appeared on the verge of beating the Cowboys for the second straight time.
But Romo drove Dallas (12-1) 83 yards on 11 plays in the final two minutes without any timeouts for the winning score, as the Cowboys clinched their first division title since 1998.
“I enjoy being in those situations,” Romo said. “It gets your juices flowing a little bit..”
The Lions had a chance to get back the ball on the Cowboys’ winning drive when Romo fumbled, but guard Kyle Kosier recovered for Dallas at the Cowboys’ 40-yard line.
Witten, who had a huge day with career highs of 15 receptions for 138 yards, made amends for a fumble on the Lions’ 1-yard line earlier in the fourth quarter with the Cowboys trailing 27-21. Colts 44, Ravens 20
At Baltimore, Peyton Manning threw four touchdown passes, including the 300th of his career, as the defending Super Bowl champion Colts routed the reeling Ravens. Packers 38, Raiders 7 At Green Bay, Wisc., Will Blackmon scored two specialteams touchdowns as the Packers clinched its first NFC North Division title since 2004. Giants 16, Eagles 13
At Philadelphia, Eli Manning found Plaxico Burress for a 20yard TD pass in the third quarter, giving the Giants the lead for good and moving New York closer to a playoff berth. Jaguars 37, Panthers 6
At Jacksonville, David Garrard threw a pair of TD passes as the Jags smashed Carolina. Texans 28, Bucs 14
At Houston, Sage Rosenfels completed 27-of-36 passes for 209 yards and three TDs as the Texans doubled up Tampa Bay. Bills 38, Dolphins 17
At Orchard Park, N.Y., rookie Trent Edwards tossed a seasonhigh four TDs as Buffalo pushed Miami (0-13) closer to infamy. Bengals 19, Rams 10
At Cincinnati, Shayne Graham kicked four field goals and Rudi Johnson ran for a touchdown in the Bengals victory. Vikings 27, 49ers 7
At San Francisco, Chester Taylor rushed for 101 yards and a touchdown as Minnesota kept its playoff hopes alive by drubbing the dreadful 49ers. Seahawks 42, Cardinals 21
At Seattle, Matt Hasselbeck threw for four TDs as Seattle clinched the NFC West crown. Browns 24, Jets 18
At East Rutherford, N.J., Derek Anderson threw two touchdown passes and Jamal Lewis sealed the game with a late touchdown run as Cleveland (8-5) continued its march toward a playoff berth. Broncos 41, Chiefs 7
At Denver, Jay Cutler threw four touchdown passes and running-back Selvin Young ran for 156 yards as the Broncos cruised.