Or at least they did when Romo and Terrell Owens played in the first half.
Romo made up for overthrowing T.O. on a certain touchdown and later getting intercepted in the end zone, completing 15 of 19 passes for 166 yards and a TD in the Cowboys’ 23-22 preseason victory over the Houston Texans on Friday night.
Houston backup quarterback Sage Rosenfels ran 8 yards for a touchdown with 2:05 left. Instead of attempting the tying extra point, the Texans tried for a 2-point conversion, but Jacoby Jones couldn’t handle the pass in the end zone.
The Cowboys, considered Super Bowl contenders by many, had lost their first two preseason games. Romo and the first-team offense were ineffective in two mistake-filled, penalty-plagued drives last week against Denver after scoring on their only possession against San Diego.
Things went so good against the Texans that Romo and Owens, who had four catches for 43 yards, didn’t play after halftime. Coach Wade Phillips had planned to play the starters deep into the third quarter, partly so the offense could get its timing down in the passing game.
“I thought we’ve been pretty efficient,” Romo said at halftime. “It’s exciting to come out in the first half and move the ball like we did.”
Matt Schaub and the Texans’ starters played into the opening minute of the fourth quarter, when Kris Brown kicked his third field goal, a 29-yarder that got the Texans within 20-16. Schaub was 15-of-27 passing for 166 yards with an 11-yard TD to Kevin Walter.
Walter’s scoring catch midway through the second quarter tied the game at 10, capping an 80-yard drive set up when Romo rolled to his right and slung a sidearm pass that linebacker Zac Diles picked off in the end zone.
In the first quarter, Nick Folk kicked a 48-yard field goal after Romo overthrew a streaking Owens.
Texans receiver Harry Williams was taken off the field on a stretcher with a neck injury after colliding with teammate Nick Ferguson. They were covering on the ensuing kickoff after Brown kicked a 44-yard field goal to cap the first drive of the game.
Williams was taken by ambulance to a hospital. The extent of the injury wasn’t known, and Texans officials said they had no update on his condition.
Williams was hurt trying to tackle Isaiah Stanback, who had a 44-yard return to midfield. The Cowboys scored seven plays later when Romo threw a 6-yard TD pass to Patrick Crayton.
Dallas scored twice in the final two minutes of the first half.
Marion Barber leaped into the end zone from a yard out. After the Texans punted with 34 seconds left, Romo scrambled for 13 yards, threw 32 yards to Sam Hurd and completed two short passes before Folk’s 41-yard field goal made it 20-10.
Rookie running back Felix Jones, the Cowboys’ top draft pick, fumbled inside the 10 on the Cowboys’ first possession of the second half after Brad Johnson replaced Romo. The Texans drove 83 yards before Brown kicked a 29-yard field goal.
Still-suspended cornerback Adam “Pacman” Jones made his first start for the Cowboys. He had one tackle and gave up a 23-yard play to Walter, who reached over the shorter defender to make the catch.
Jones had an 18-yard punt return. The Cowboys expect to find out next weekend if NFL commissioner Roger Goodell will fully reinstate Jones from his yearlong suspension.
