Tensions in Dallas should ease after victory

After all he and the Dallas Cowboys went through the last week, Tony Romo was one clutch play from the ultimate peacemaker: a victory.

And, for that clutch play, he threw to good pal Jason Witten.

This time, Terrell Owens was fine with that.

Witten gained 11 yards on a third-and-9 late in the fourth quarter, keeping the New York Giants from getting the ball back with time to pull off a comeback. Then rookie Tashard Choice followed with a 38-yard touchdown run and the Cowboys beat the Giants 20-8 on Sunday night in Irving, Texas, to help their playoff chances and, perhaps, ensure at least a week's worth of locker-room harmony.

"It was just something we had to deal with," said Owens, no stranger to controversy. "We just stuck together. We knew what was important and that was the game today."

While the soap-opera offense gets all the attention, the defense is doing much of the work in keeping the Cowboys (9-5) in the playoff hunt.

DeMarcus Ware sacked Eli Manning on New York's first snap and the pressure never stopped. Ware finished with 3 sacks, upping his NFL-leading total to 19, and Dallas rang up a season-high 8. It was the unit's third straight game with at least 5.

Cornerback Terence Newman intercepted 2 passes and the Cowboys kept New York (11-3) without a touchdown for the first time since November 2004.

The Giants locked up the NFC East title last Sunday, but have lost consecutive games for the first time since starting 0-2 last season.