PRO FOOTBALL : Pelluer’s New Ending Beats Atlanta

Steve Pelluer found a different script for the final 2 minutes.

Pelluer, whose interceptions in the final minutes cost Dallas two possible victories, hit Ray Alexander with a 29-yard scoring pass with 1:48 left Sunday to give the Cowboys a 26-20 victory over the Atlanta Falcons.

“That could be a pivotal play for Pelluer’s career,” Dallas Coach Tom Landry said. “It’s got to be a big confidence booster. He didn’t pay attention to all the boos and the bad ink.”

Pelluer read the Atlanta blitz on the game-winning play but stayed in the pocket and waited for the play to develop.

It did, but he never saw it.

“I wanted to wait until the last second,” Pelluer said. “I didn’t see Ray make his break. I just threw it where I hoped he would be.”

Atlanta (1-3) lost quarterback Chris Miller with an ankle injury late in the third quarter when he was tackled by Danny Noonan for a safety, but X-rays revealed no fracture. Miller completed 10 of 21 passes for 218 yards and 2 touchdowns before being replaced by ex-Ram Steve Dils.

Still, the Falcons nearly pulled out the victory, but Dils, facing fourth and 1 on the Dallas 10, was sacked by Jim Jeffcoat and Michael Downs on the last play of the game. Bill Bates recovered Dils’ fumble after the double hit.

The Falcons also lost running backs Gerald Riggs and Sylvester Stamps with leg injuries.

The Falcons rallied from a 2-touchdown deficit to take a 17-14 halftime edge on Miller’s touchdown passes of 68 yards to Stacey Bailey and 12 yards to Floyd Dixon, and Greg Davis’ 43-yard field goal.