On a night that saw Kellen Moore take over for Matt Cassel at quarterback, the Dallas Cowboys were unable to pull off the upset, falling to the New York Jets 19-16 at AT&T Stadium.
Cassel started for the Cowboys’ and the offense actually came out firing on all cylinders on their first drive. The opening drive stalled out, though, and they had to settle for a 27-yard Dan Bailey field goal and an early 3-0 lead.
The Jets would take their first lead at the end of a seven-play, 60-yard drive, when Bilal Powell ran in a touchdown from 12 yards out, but Jets kicker Randy Bullock missed the extra point to leave it at 6-3. New York added a field goal to extend their lead to 9-3 after Kellen Moore replaced Cassel—who was benched after four possessions—and was intercepted on his second career attempt to give the Jets a short field.
Moore got some redemption on his third career possession though, leading the Cowboys 55 yards in just 30 seconds, and hitting Dez Bryant on a screen that went ten yards to paydirt. Moore’s first career touchdown gave Dallas a 10-9 lead going into half.
After intermission, the Cowboys extended their lead to a touchdown at 13-6 on another Bailey field goal, but the Jets rallied in the fourth. Eric Decker caught a touchdown pass from Ryan Fitzpatrick to take a 16-13 lead. Bailey his a 50-yarder with two minutes remaining to tie it up, but Fitzpatrick and co. took the kick off and promptly drove into Bullock’s range and turned it over to the Texas A&M product, who hit the 40-yard game-winner.
Fitzpatrick was 26-of-39 for 399 yards, a touchdown and an interception.
Moore finished his first ever official NFL game having gone 15-of-25 passing for 158 yards, a touchdown and three interceptions. Cassel was 3-for-8 for 37 yards and an interception before being pulled.
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The Cowboys are now officially eliminated from playoff contention.
