Carter Saves Cowboys and His Job

Standing on the blue star at midfield, his head and arms pointed at the hole in the Texas Stadium roof, Quincy Carter let it all go.

Whatever anger, bitterness or other emotions he had felt all week didn’t matter anymore. He had just thrown his second touchdown pass and was leading the Dallas Cowboys to a 21-13 victory over the Tennessee Titans on Sunday, securing his job and possibly saving the team’s season.

Both were in jeopardy after Dallas was humiliated by the expansion Houston Texans in last week’s opener. But as Carter danced to the sideline after his best pass of the season, his display showed that he knew he was back in charge.

“I’m starting to be a leader on this team,” said Carter, who was 14 of 24 passing for 240 yards, one shy of his career best, with no interceptions.

Carter won his third consecutive game at home and improved to 5-6 as a starter for a team that’s 11-23 since the start of the 2000 season. His status was questioned, though, after he threw for only 131 yards against the Texans with as many near-interceptions as completions.

Critics were after him too, and Carter seemed to be listening for the first time. His trademark confidence had been replaced by defensiveness.

“I think Quincy is a competitor, and I’ll go into war with a competitor any day,” Dallas Coach Dave Campo said.

The Titans (1-1) were in control the first 2 1/2 quarters, despite quarterback Steve McNair suffering a mild concussion when he ran into an equipment trunk on the Dallas sideline midway through the second quarter.

“It kind of stunned me,” McNair said. “My neck was a little sore, but I was OK after that. It didn’t hinder me at all.”

He returned for the third quarter with Tennessee leading 10-7. In the second series of the half, McNair threw the game-changing pass when safety Darren Woodson hit his arm as he threw. Linebacker Dexter Coakley caught the wobbly ball and returned it 52 yards for a touchdown, giving Dallas its first lead of the season.

The Cowboys were expecting big plays from their defense this season, but didn’t get any against the Texans. This game featured Coakley’s return and Greg Ellis’ sack of McNair for an eight-yard loss on third-and-nine with 2:31 left.

Emmitt Smith had 59 yards in 18 carries, moving him 414 yards from becoming the NFL’s career rushing leader.