Cowboys Become Consolation Prize

For the New Orleans Saints, Donte’ Stallworth’s big day was too little too late. For the Dallas Cowboys, it was a negative end to a positive turnaround.

Stallworth’s 76-yard touchdown reception in the Saints’ 13-7 victory over the Cowboys on Sunday sent Dallas into the playoffs on a down note and allowed New Orleans to finish its season on a high note.

“I’m just disappointed,” Dallas Coach Bill Parcells said. “When you don’t get your best and you don’t do your best, it’s disappointing.”

The Saints (8-8), who will not be in the playoffs for the third consecutive season, responded to some pointed criticism from owner Tom Benson and a team meeting Friday night.

Dallas (10-6) had already clinched a playoff spot, but the loss dropped the Cowboys to the sixth seed in the NFC. The real winner was Seattle, which sneaked into the No. 5 seed under the NFL’s “strength of victory” tie-breaking factor.

After three consecutive 5-11 seasons, the Cowboys have had a remarkable turnaround in Parcells’ first season as coach. Dallas clinched its first playoff spot since 1999 last week, which might have led to a letdown against the Saints.

Dallas plays at Carolina on Saturday.

The Cowboys limited running back Deuce McAllister to 49 yards rushing. The Dallas defense, which led the league in allowing 251 yards per game, gave up 291 to New Orleans. Saint quarterback Aaron Brooks completed 15 of 32 passes for 243 yards and a touchdown.

The Saints sacked Quincy Carter and intercepted three passes. Jay Bellamy’s second interception of the game stopped the Cowboys at the New Orleans 27 with 1:33 left.

The Saints had an eight-minute opening drive that ended with John Carney’s 24-yard field goal. Dallas came back with its own time-consuming drive, using 8:32 in the second quarter to go 93 yards, capped by Richie Anderson’s three-yard touchdown reception

But the lead lasted only 27 seconds as Brooks connected with Stallworth for the 76-yard touchdown. Stallworth, who sat out five games and most of a sixth because of injuries, caught the ball in traffic and outran everyone.

Horn, who sat out the game because of a shoulder injury, was among the first to congratulate Stallworth. The play happened in the same end zone where Horn’s cell-phone stunt got him a $30,000 fine.