NFL Game Summary - Dallas at Tennessee
Nashville, TN (SportsNetwork.com) - The Dallas Cowboys are almost perfect when DeMarco Murray gets 20 or more carries in a game.
Murray carried the ball 29 times for 167 yards and a touchdown in the Cowboys' 26-10 victory over the Tennessee Titans on Sunday.
The Cowboys (1-1) improved to 12-1 in the aforementioned scenario involving Murray. The lone loss was last week against the 49ers.
Tony Romo completed 19-of-29 passes for 176 yards and a touchdown. The veteran quarterback bounced back after throwing three interceptions during last week's 28-17 defeat.
Dez Bryant battled through a shoulder injury and ended with 10 catches for 103 yards and a score. Dan Bailey made four field goals.
Jake Locker connected on 18-of-34 passes for 234 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions for the Titans (1-1), who failed to build off last Sunday's 26-10 win over the Chiefs.
Delanie Walker caught 10 passes for 142 yards and a score, while Shonn Greene carried the ball five times for 40 yards.
Tennessee went three-and-out after Murray fumbled early in the first quarter.
"This game will humble you quickly. It's what you do after that," said Romo of Murray's early fumble.
Dallas moved the ball to the 11-yard line of the Titans before shooting themselves in the foot. A sack and two penalties forced the Cowboys to settle for a 48-yard Bailey field goal with 13 seconds left in the first quarter.
Locker was picked off by Barry Church in the opening seconds of the second stanza. Murray followed with four consecutive carries for 40 yards, including a 3-yard TD plunge.
Bailey tacked on two field goals before the break to make it 16-0 Dallas.
"I was disappointed we did not player better today, especially at home," said Titans coach Ken Whisenhunt. "It really hurts and we got a lot of things that we can correct and work on from this game. So, too many mistakes in the first half. I think one of the things that really hurt was when we forced the turnover and we did nothing with it. Of course, getting 0-for-third downs in the first half that's not something that is characteristic of us."
The Titans got on the board early in the third period when Ryan Succop made a 47-yard field goal. After the Cowboys went three-and-out, Walker caught a pass and broke a tackle before sprinting for a 61-yard score.
Dallas responded with a 12-play, 80-yard scoring drive that was aided by a defensive pass interference penalty. On 3rd-and-4 from the Tennessee 33, Blidi Wreh-Wilson was called for interference. Bryant kept the march alive with an 18-yard catch on 3rd-and-15, then caught a 3-yard TD pass a few plays later.
Cowboys linebacker Rolando McClain made an acrobatic interception on the second play of the fourth quarter. Henry Melton tipped Locker's pass at the line and McClain got his hand under the ball to prevent it from hitting the ground. The ruling on the field of an incomplete pass was reversed.
Bailey followed with a 48-yard field goal to make it 26-10.
Titans wide receiver Nate Washington almost caught a 6-yard TD pass with about 6 1/2 minutes to play. Upon further review, it was determined the ball hit the ground. Tennessee turned the ball over on downs after Locker threw an incomplete pass on the next play.