(Sports Network) – David Buehler’s 38-yard field goal with under eight minutes left in overtime sent Dallas over Indianapolis, 38-35, at Lucas Oil Stadium.
On the Colts’ second series of overtime, Sean Lee gathered in a tipped Peyton Manning pass for his second pick of the day, and returned it 13 yards to the Indy 36.
Six plays later, Buehler was lined up for a 38-yarder but was quickly iced with a timeout. He calmly booted the game-winner just inside the right goalpost to give Dallas its third road win of the season.
Jon Kitna finished 18-of-26 for 167 yards and a touchdown for the Cowboys (4-8), who moved to 3-1 under interim head coach Jason Garrett.
Tashard Choice posted a season-high 100 yards and a score on 19 carries and Jason Witten caught a key TD pass late in regulation.
Dallas also returned a pair of Manning throws for scores, with Orlando Scandrick going 40 yards for a touchdown before leaving with a concussion, and Lee taking one back 31 yards.
Manning was 36-of-48 for 365 yards and two touchdowns but was intercepted four times for the second straight week for the Colts (6-6), who fell a full game behind Jacksonville in the AFC South.
Reggie Wayne led all receivers with 14 catches for a season-best 200 yards and a score, Pierre Garcon ended with 56 yards and a TD reception on eight grabs and Javarris James rushed for a pair of scores in defeat.
Dallas converted its first drive of the contest into seven points as Choice eluded several tacklers and changed direction more than once en route to a 20- yard touchdown run.
Buehler finished off the Cowboys’ next series with a 30-yard field goal, then Manning was picked off by Scandrick who raced virtually untouched to the end zone for a 17-0 score less than a minute into the second quarter.
Indy finally got on track with 5:57 left in the half as Manning connected with Garcon in the back of the end zone for a 13-yard TD to complete an 86- yard, 15-play drive.
Buehler missed a 48-yard try with two seconds left in the half but it was still a 10-point margin for the visitors.
Manning found Wayne for a 34-yard touchdown reception on the opening drive of the second half and the home team got within three, but Dallas responded on a Buehler 46-yard make with 5:47 left in the third for a 20-14 game.
Lee then found a Manning pass in the middle of the field and just made it inside the right pylon to give the Cowboys a 27-14 edge, but the Colts rallied to close within 27-21 on the first play of the fourth on a one-yard TD plunge from James.
Dallas went three-and-out on its next series, and Indianapolis moved ahead 28-27 when Taj Smith blocked Mat McBriar’s punt and managed to fall on it in the end zone.
Unbowed, the Cowboys marched down the field but couldn’t reach the end zone with 1st-and-goal from the one. A delay-of-game penalty pushed Buehler’s 19- yard try to 24 yards, but on the attempt, the Colts were called for an unsportsmanlike conduct/leverage penalty and Dallas had 1st-and-goal again from the three.
Kitna found Witten inside the left pylon on third down and Dallas went up 35-28 with 2:38 to play when Roy Williams hauled in the conversion pass.
Back came the Colts to tie with 29 seconds remaining when James scored from the two. Two plays prior, Wayne made a diving reception for 17 yards to the Dallas seven that was upheld by review.
Game Notes
Indianapolis posted its first blocked punt for a touchdown since a September, 1989 game against the San Francisco 49ers…The Cowboys also lost special teamer Dez Bryant, who suffered a fractured ankle in the fourth quarter while returning a kick…Dallas has won two in a row over Indy and has taken eight of 11 over the Colts since the 1970 merger…Manning has thrown 11 interceptions in his last three games.