Cowboys Rout Jaguars
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LONDON — Tony Romo and the Dallas Cowboys got healthy at Wembley Stadium, ending a two-game losing streak in a convincing 31-17 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday.
“He really looked like himself,” said Cowboys coach Jason Garrett.
Dallas (7-3) did most of its damage in the first half and ended a two-game losing streak, re-establishing the NFL’s No. 1-ranked rushing offense behind DeMarco Murray, who recorded his ninth 100-yard game in 10 weeks, including 71 yards on 13 carries in the first half.
Backup running back Joseph Randle’s first carry of the game staked the Cowboys to a 31-7 advantage with a 40-yard touchdown scamper in the third quarter. Murray gained 33 of the 47 yards on the drive before Randle spelled him on the scoring play. Murray had 19 carries for 100 yards.
“I felt like there was just a couple of plays here and there, I don’t have any concerns with our effort, with our courage, with our toughness. It’s just those self-inflicted things,” said Jaguars coach Gus Bradley.
The Jaguars moved the ball consistently in the first half but lost two fumbles – one by running back Denard Robinson and the other from wide receiver Ace Sanders – to dig an insurmountable deficit. In the second half, quarterback Blake Bortles was under pressure consistently and the Jaguars failed to produce points until the defense was
credited with a safety in the fourth quarter. The points came as a result of a holding penalty on the Cowboys out of punt formation in the end zone. The Jaguars also blocked a Dan Bailey field-goal attempt.
“We played terrible,” said Jaguars safety Johnathan Cyprien. “We played the way that a college team should be playing. We know, for a fact, that we’re better than that.”
Romo said he took a pain-killing pill before the game. He passed for 225 yards and three touchdowns in the first half, including 35- and 68-yard hookups with Bryant one week after the frustrated receiver went 58 minutes without a reception against the Arizona Cardinals. Bryant’s second score, the 68-yarder, came with 19 seconds left in the second quarter.
“I just felt good,” Bryant said. “Had a great time. Came out here and took care of business.”
He broke four tackles on the 35-yard run, taking a short throw on the right side through the Jaguars’ secondary.
“I think for all of us we’re coming off two tough losses so we know we had to get back on the winning side of things before the bye and get to 7-3,” Cowboys tight end Jason Witten said.
Jaguars wide receiver Cecil Shorts caught five passes for 119 yards. Robinson, who scored on a 1-yard run with 1:58 remaining in the game and put Jacksonville ahead 7-3 midway through the first quarter with a 32-yard run, finished with 60 yards on 15 carries.
Romo left the game in the fourth quarter after completing 20 of 27 for 246 yards and absorbed a big hit in the fourth quarter — the only time he was sacked in the game — with the Cowboys ahead by 24. He said he was “a little banged up” but came through the game fine.
He completed 13 of his first 16 passes and moved with ease in his first game action since the overtime loss to the Redskins on Oct. 27.
“We had to win this game,” Romo said.
