#9: Patrick Watkins returns blocked field goal for touchdown
Week 7; Minnesota Vikings versus Dallas Cowboys
After a disappointing loss to New England in week six, the Cowboys needed a good showing against Minnesota as they headed into the bye week. The good news was that while giving up a few big runs early, the Cowboys defense was able to contain the Vikings' top ranked running game. Helping them out was some questionable play calling on the part of Minnesota that took the ball out of the hands of their best weapon. Unfortunately, the Cowboys seemed to be in funk and could never get their powerful offense in sync against the Vikings defense and gave up a fumble return for a touchdown late in the second quarter.
In the second half, the Cowboys scored the the tying touchdown on a short run by Marion Barber. This followed a brilliant series by the defense where the Cowboys put tremendous pressure on the Vikings and didn't allow them to move off their own goal line. Following the Cowboys score, the Vikings proceeded to march smartly down the field and were on the verge of going ahead on the Cowboys once more. On fourth and ten, the Vikings lined up for a 47 yard field goal attempt with the score tied at 14.
Chris Canty was big, strong and most importantly tall, and had gotten close to blocking a few field goals already that season. With some help from Bobby Carpenter, Canty was able to get tremendous penetration on the field goal attempt and easily blocked the kick. The ball flew high up into the air and fell right into the hands of a leaping Patrick Watkins. Watkins immediately takes off down the far sideline and behind a Carpenter block score easily. The touchdown puts the Cowboys up 21-14 and Minnesota never comes close to scoring again.
The score ignites the Cowboys sideline, injecting some much needed excitement into the team. A Nick Folk field goal puts the game out of reach in the fourth quarter and the Cowboys win 24-14. While it wasn't pretty, the win helped the Cowboys rebound and head into the off week with confidence with a record of 6-1. The blocked field goal and touchdown was the key play in the victory, and propelled the Cowboys to six straight victories following the bye week.