The Dallas Cowboys were at their own nine-yard line with just over four minutes to play, in need of a touchdown trailing 20-13. The offense was having another second half struggle, and it was up to Brandon Weeden to make a play.
He did just that, orchestrating a 91-yard scoring drive to tie the game.
On a fourth and seven at the 17, Weeden looked to his right and heaved a pass towards the back of the end zone. On the other end of it was Terrance Williams, who laid out to make the catch for the touchdown.
New Orleans used their last timeout in an attempt to ice Dan Bailey prior to the extra point, which he calmly drilled between the uprights.
Working with 1:51 remaining and no timeouts, Drew Brees picked apart the Cowboys’ defense down to the 12-yard line. The scene was set for the Saints to pull out an improbable win, spoiling the heroics of Brandon Weeden.
However, Zach Hocker stepped in for a thirty-yard field goal attempt and banged it off the left upright to send the game to overtime.
In overtime, the Saints won the toss and elected to receive. The banged up defense, playing without Sean Lee (concussion in the second quarter), would get another chance to redeem themselves.
Drew Brees, sitting on 399 career touchdown passes, had other plans – launching a wheel route to C.J. Spiller who had nothing but turf in front of him. Just 13 seconds into overtime, Spiller went 80 yards to the end zone to give the Saints their first win of the season.
Final. #DALvsNO pic.twitter.com/H4F99CqhXn
— Dallas Cowboys (@dallascowboys) October 5, 2015
The Cowboys running game once again came out strong, as Joseph Randle and Lance Dunbar ripped off big runs on the team’s first possession. They would settle for a field goal to take an early 3-0 lead.
Randle would later punch in a one-yard touchdown, going over the top on the first possession of the second quarter.
Lance Dunbar was injured on the opening kickoff of the second half and did not return. The team finished with just 115 rushing yards.
The Dallas pass rush, in the first half, was also much improved – pressuring Drew Brees and actually getting home on a few key sacks.
Morris Claiborne was once again solid, but the defense failed to force a turnover for the second straight game. Tyler Patmon dropped an interception on the opening drive.
Christine Michael saw the field for one play and was stopped on a third and short. The Cowboys were just 3-12 on third down. Brice Butler recorded a 67-yard reception but did not return after injuring his hamstring on the play.
Dallas, now in a three-way tie atop the NFC East, will return home to host the Patriots. New Orleans will travel to Philadelphia to face the Eagles.
