Romo leads comeback in Dallas win

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Tony Romo waited four years to get his first NFL start. It looks as if he’ll have the job for some time.

Romo rallied Dallas from a 14-point first-quarter deficit, throwing for 270 yards and a touchdown, and Julius Jones ran for 94 yards and a score to help the Cowboys beat Carolina 35-14 on Sunday night. Dallas set a team record with 25 fourth-quarter points.

Romo, starting in place of Drew Bledsoe, led the Cowboys (4-3) back, with poise, using a variety of short passes to a number receivers.

Early in the fourth quarter, facing a third-and-12 from the Carolina 21, Romo sidestepped pressure and fired a 16-yard pass to Jason Witten. But the drive stalled when Romo misfired to Witten in the end zone on third down, and Mike Vanderjagt kicked a 24-yard field goal to cut the Panthers’ lead to 14-13.

On the ensuing kickoff, Sam Hurd ripped the ball from Brad Hoover and recovered the fumble at the Carolina 14. On the next play, Jones ran untouched up the middle for the touchdown. The Cowboys added the 2-point conversion when Romo faked a draw and threw a pass to Terrell Owens to make it 21-14.

Dallas sealed the win when Roy Williams intercepted Jake Delhomme’s throw on the next possession. Delhomme lost another fumble with under 2 minutes to go, Carolina’s third turnover in the fourth quarter.