IRVING, Texas (AP) -DeMarcus Ware’s NFL-leading 20th sack and forced fumble set up Dallas for an early short touchdown but the Cowboys trailed Baltimore 9-7 at halftime in the final regular-season game at Texas Stadium.
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Matt Stover, who grew up in the Dallas area and sold programs as a kid at Texas Stadium, put Baltimore ahead with his third field goal, a 37-yarder on the last play of the first half.
Stover’s go-ahead kick was set up by Ed Reed’s second interception of the game and seventh of the season to match the NFL lead. Reed intercepted a deep ball intended for Terrell Owens. Steelers safety Troy Polamalu also has seven interceptions.
Ware sacked and stripped the ball from Joe Flacco on Baltimore’s second play, and Greg Ellis recovered at the 4. That was the first of five sacks the Cowboys had in the first half, a week after having eight in a victory over the New York Giants.
The first sack set up a 2-yard TD run by Tashard Choice, only the fourth rushing touchdown allowed by the Ravens this season. Choice started again in place of Marion Barber, who was active but still limited by a broken pinkie toe.
Baltimore, bolstered by 41 penalty yards against the Cowboys, responded on its next drive with a 26-yard field goal by Stover that gave him his 12th consecutive 100-point season.
Stover, playing in his 109th consecutive game, added a 29-yard field goal in the second quarter.
mith Tony Dorsett and Randy White were among many former Cowboys greats in attendance – and scheduled to take part in a planned hour-long postgame ceremony.
Dallas got the ball to start the game, with Choice opening with a 7-yard catch before a pair of runs to midfield. Romo then tried to go deep to Roy Williams, but the badly thrown pass was intercepted by Reed.
But the Ravens had the ball only two plays before Ware’s big hit, getting him within three sacks of Michael Strahan’s single-season NFL record.
Baltimore was stopped at the 14 on the kickoff return, but a dead ball personal foul penalty gave the Ravens 15 yards. Then when it appeared they were stopped by an incompletion on third-and-4, Ware was called offsides. A 21-yard pass interference call got Baltimore inside the 10.
While the Ravens can’t clinch a wild-card berth this weekend, the Cowboys can if they win and any of a number of other scenarios play out involving Philadelphia, Chicago, Tampa Bay and Atlanta.
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