Dallas quarterback Chad Hutchinson threw for 301 yards and two touchdowns as the Cowboys survived a late surge to defeat the Jacksonville Jaguars 21-19.
Hutchinson also completed 16 of 24 passes for 301 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions. It was the most yards by a Dallas rookie since Troy Aikman threw for 379 yards in 1989.
The 25-year old rookie quarterback from Stanford engineered a 99-yard scoring drive that was the turning point of the game. It snapped a four-game losing streak by the Cowboys.
Future Hall of Fame running back Emmitt Smith had 20 carries for 73 yards and Troy Hambrick added four carries for 38 yards.
Joey Galloway caught seven passes for 144 yards and two touchdowns. It was the first time a Cowboys receiver had multiple touchdown receptions in one game since Michael Irvin did it against the Washington Redskins in the 1999 season opener.
The Cowboys play the Redskins on Thursday’s Thanksgiving Day game.
The first score came when Chad Hutchinson was hit in the end zone and fumbled. Ross Tucker, a recently acquired offensive lineman, recovered the ball and was tackled for a safety.
Galloway then caught his first touchdown pass – a slant where he caught the ball and cut immediately towards the end zone, splitting two defenders and leaving them clutching for air.
Ex-Cowboy Tim Seder kicked a field goal as time expired in the first half, but he missed an attempt earlier in the second quarter that could have put the Jaguars ahead.
The Jaguars punted their opening possession of the second half, downing the ball inside the Dallas 1 yard line.
Hutchinson went to work, completing 6-of-7 for 88 yards. Smith had a nifty run for a score, but a holding penalty in the end zone negated the score and placed the ball at the 10-yard line. Hutchinson hit Galloway at the one and Smith ran it in again.
After Hutchinson was intercepted, Jacksonville capped off a drive with a 3-yard run by Stacey Mack.
But Hutchinson came back and hit Galloway on an 11-yard touchdown pass in the back of the end zone. A good play-action froze the defense and Hutchinson threw the ball where only a Dallas receiver could catch it.
The Jaguars drove again, but Fred Taylor was hit by rookie Roy Williams at the Dallas 5 and fumbled the ball into the end zone as he tried to break the plane of the goal line. Mario Edwards recovered the ball for the touchback.
Jaguars head coach Tom Coughlin threw the red flag for a review but the play was upheld.
Jacksonville still had a chance as time waned, when Mark Brunell hit Kevin Lockett for an 8-yard touchdown pass with 1:56 left in the game. But the onsides attempt failed and Dallas ran the clock out.
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