Posted by Sabrina B. @gametimegirl
Dez Bryant might be the best punt returner in the NFL, but it was Bryan McCann who broke the Detroit Lions’ hearts.
McCann returned a punt 97 yards for a touchdown as the Dallas Cowboys handed the Lions their 26th straight road loss, 35-19, at Cowboys Stadium.
McCann’s punt return came on a great heads-up play after John Wendling tapped the ball trying to save it from going into the end zone. McCann grabbed it on one hop and tight-walked down the sideline to give the Cowboys a 14-12 lead.
Jerome Felton fumbled on the ensuing series, and the Cowboys cashed in with a 3-yard touchdown pass from former Lion Jon Kitna to Miles Austin.
Kitna and Cowboys receiver Roy Williams were with the Lions when their three-year long road losing streak started in October of 2007.
Kitna finished with 18 of 24 passing for 147 yards and three touchdowns and scored on a 29-yard bootleg with 3:17 to play to clinch the Cowboys’ second straight victory under Jason Garrett.
The Lions (2-8) gave up a 13-play, 98-yard scoring drive to start the game then scored 12 straight points on Dave Rayner’s 47-yard field goal, Shaun Hill’s 9-yard touchdown pass to Nate Burleson and a safety.
Hill found Calvin Johnson from 14 yards to cut Dallas’ lead to 21-19 late in the third quarter, but the Cowboys (3-7) answered with a 16-play touchdown drive.
Hill finished with 32 of 47 for 289 yards, and Burleson caught seven passes for 97 yards.
The Cowboys, 31st in the NFL in rushing entering today, finished with 134 yards on the ground.
By DAVE BIRKETT
