Tony Romo knows how to win a close game, something Cam Newton and the Panthers still haven’t figured out.
Romo led the Cowboys into field-goal range and Dan Bailey converted a 28-yarder with 3:25 remaining to lift the Cowboys to a 19-14 triumph yesterday in Charlotte, N.C.
Bailey had four field goals and Romo threw for 227 yards and a touchdown as Dallas defeated the Panthers for the ninth straight time in the regular season. The win snapped a two-game losing streak for the Cowboys (3-3) and helped ease some pressure from their highly criticized 31-29 loss to Baltimore last week in a game marred by poor clock management.
“When you think about some of the adversity we’ve encountered this season, our focus remains on just getting better,” said Cowboys defensive end DeMarcus Ware. “We have been doing that, and this week being able to go out and close a game let us know that hey, we can do it.”
Romo said the Cowboys, who host the Giants on Sunday, never bought into the idea that the sky was falling after last week’s loss.
“You know that every week you’re either great or terrible — or at least semi-terrible or semi-great,” Romo said. “What you find in this league is all you need to do is figure out how to get better and play your best football when it counts.”
Newton, who finished 21 of 37 for 233 yards with one touchdown and an early interception in the red zone, said he doesn’t know why the Panthers (1-5) can’t win close games.
“Whether it’s me, I don’t know. Whether it’s the coordinator, I don’t know. Whether it’s the players overall, I don’t know,” Newton said. “[But] we’ve got to change that, man.”
Packers 30, Rams 20
Aaron Rodgers and the Packers made themselves right at home in St. Louis.
Backed by a huge contingent of cheeseheads who were every bit as loud as the real home fans, Rodgers passed for three touchdowns and Green Bay’s depleted defense clamped down on the Rams.
Randall Cobb caught two touchdown passes and Jordy Nelson had eight receptions for a season-best 122 yards for the Packers (4-3). Rookie Casey Hayward made his first start in place of injured Sam Shields and intercepted his fourth pass in three games.
Rodgers was 30 for 37 for 342 yards in his fourth 300-yard game this season.
Steven Jackson ran for his first touchdown of the year, and just the 10th overall for the the Rams (3-4).