It's been said that if you block a punt for a touchdown, you'll win the game. Usually, that's the case. On this day, though, the Indianapolis Colts managed to block a punt for a TD and take a lead in the 4th quarter, but they didn't win the game. Thanks to a Dallas Cowboys drive that lasted 18 plays and covered 81-yards eating up most of the 4th quarter, Dallas was able to grab a 35-28 lead with under three minutes to play. Dallas took a field goal off the board when the Colts were penalized for a leverage violation on the kick and Jason Witten put a touchdown on the board. That wasn't enough as Peyton Manning drove the Colts for the tying touchdown. In overtime, the teams exchanged punts before the Cowboys picked off Peyton Manning for the fourth time on the day. Dallas converted the field goal and leave Lucas Oil Stadium with a gritty win built on a punishing ground game and an opportune defense.
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The Colts can't run the ball, on this day they couldn't defend the run either. The Cowboys rushed for 217 yards on 46 attempts. That's 4.7 yards per attempt. Tashard Choice didn't let opportunity pass as he had 100 yards on 19 carries plus a touchdown. Felix Jones added 83 yards on 22 attempts. The Cowboys punished the Colts defense with pulling guards on runs up the gut.
On the other side of the ball, the Cowboys defense did what the previous two opponents of Peyton Manning did, turn him over. Manning had four interceptions on the day. Two of them were returned for touchdowns (thanks Orlando Scandrick and Sean Lee), another one set the Cowboys up for the game-winning field goal (thanks again Sean Lee, and Mike Jenkins). Another led to a field goal (thanks Alan Ball).
The bad news is Dez Bryant was reported to have a fractured ankle by FOX. That hurts.
But on this night, we celebrate a Cowboys victory. All praise to Jason Garrett for turning this team around.