HOUSTON — The Dallas Cowboys did not accomplish everything they were hoping to Sunday. Houston’s Arian Foster had more than 100 yards rushing by the end of the third quarter - more than Marion Barber and Felix Jones combined - and Matt Schaub completed more than 70 percent of his passes.
But, as Cowboys fans have said so many times the last two years, thank goodness for that Roy Williams trade.
Maybe those aren’t the exact words they have used. Maybe, in fact, they have never said that and, after Sunday, they never will again.
Doesn’t matter. For one afternoon, at least, Williams was more than worth having around.
In his biggest day as a Cowboy - his first 100-yard game in a victory since leaving Detroit - Williams helped save the Cowboys’ season in a 27-13 victor over the Houston Texans.
Houston’s Andre Johnson may be the league’s best receiver and Dallas’ Miles Austin might be climbing the charts right behind him. But Williams was the game’s leading receiver with 5 catches for 117 yards and 2 touchdowns, including the 63-yard score that sealed the victory and kept Dallas from an 0-3 start.
“We’re still a 1-2 football team,” Williams said. “That’s not good. We just needed to get the ball rolling.”
Lots of folks didn’t expect that to happen in Reliant Stadium. The Texans, who beat Dallas here in the franchise’s first game in 2002, are becoming a good team.
But Dallas’ defense turned bigplay happy for a change, forcing three turnovers and collecting four sacks to keep Houston out of the end zone until garbage time.
And Tony Romo was more efficient than Schaub, completing 23 of 30 passes with no turnovers, no sacks and 2 touchdowns to a man who has often appeared to be his least favorite receiver.
The absence of chemistry between Romo and Williams almost two years after the receiver’s arrival from Detroit has puzzled not only the fans and media but those who have tried hard to pretend all is well.
But even coach Wade Phillips sounded like a man who was wondering when this day would come.
“In the past, for some reason, Roy ran those slants and the pass was behind him or Roy cut it short,” Phillips said, shaking his head. “They got it in sync today.”
Just how shocking was Williams’ sudden production?
Williams had 13 100-yard receiving days in 60 games with the Lions. He had one in his previous 27 games for Dallas, and that came in a loss at Green Bay last year.
It was also just Williams’ second two-TD game for the Cowboys. The other came against the Giants last season - another Dallas defeat.
Even before he delivered the touchdowns, Williams helped jump-start the offense when Dallas was trailing, 3-0, in the second quarter. Struggling early on third downs, the Cowboys converted a third-and-9 when Romo hit Williams on the sideline for 21 yards.
Williams made two more catches on that scoring drive that ended with a Barber 1-yard run. The other Dallas touchdowns came when Williams caught a 15-yard throw from Romo in the third quarter, then beat rookie cornerback Kareem Jackson’s single coverage for 63 yards in the fourth.
“I am particularly pleased that Roy Williams was such a significant factor,” owner Jerry Jones said. “I understand where he gets his criticism, but the way he handled it, I think needs to be pointed out again and again.”
Williams understands it, too. He’s a highly paid former first round pick who cost the Cowboys two first-round picks yet rarely delivers.
“I haven’t done what’s expected of me my first year or two here,” he said. “This year, I’m just trying to work hard be productive when I get my chances.”
The opportunities came Sunday. In a game the Cowboys needed to win to avoid their worst start since 2001, Williams made himself the Texans’ biggest headache.
That doesn’t have to happen every week for the Cowboys to be successful. Just knowing that it can happen might make a significant difference to a team that just began digging its way out of a hole Sunday afternoon.
Sports, Pages 16 on 09/27/2010