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By Art Garcia
ARLINGTON, Texas—If the Dallas Cowboys are going to make a playoff run, they need to rack up wins in the soft part of their schedule.
The Cowboys got the ball rolling Sunday afternoon with a 23-13 home victory over the struggling Seattle Seahawks that won't earn many style points, but is crucial going into the second half of the season.
Dallas (4-4) began a five-game stretch with Seattle that will go a long way to determining their postseason chances in the NFC. Of those five opponents, four went into Sunday with losing records.
Buffalo is the only team currently on the plus side that Dallas will face until the New York Giants on Dec. 11. The Cowboys get the Bills at home next week.
"We had to win this football game," Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo said. "It was important, like they all are. But we really needed To get back on track and start going here."
The offensively-challenged Seahawks (2-6) were in position to steal one on the road Sunday before falling apart in the third quarter. Seattle, the NFC West winner last season, has dropped three straight.
"It doesn't feel good at all," Seahawks safety Earl Thomas said. "We knew we still have a lot more games to play. All we can do is just keep preparing and hope we can turn the season around."
The Cowboys bounced back from last week's 34-7 pasting at Philadelphia by scoring 17 consecutive points to start the second half. Dallas scored twice off Tarvaris Jackson interceptions and blocked a field goal to pull away.
Romo (279 yards passing) had touchdown tosses to Jason Witten and Laurent Robinson in the second half. Rookie running back DeMarco Murray had 139 yards rushing and another 47 receiving in his third straight strong outing.
Dez Bryant, the subject of much media attention during the week due to his sideline behavior, caught four balls for 76 yards. Witten added 71 yards on four receptions.
"I like the attitude of our team and we're hopeful to take advantage of the opportunities going forward," Dallas coach Jason Garrett said.
The Seahawks never led. Marshawn Lynch did rush for 135 yards, including a 4-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter. Jackson, under constant pressure, was 17 of 30 for 221 yards and three interceptions.
The first half was a series of missed opportunities in the red zone for the Cowboys, which kept Seattle in the game. Dallas twice had the ball inside the Seahawks 10-yard line, but settled for field goals, and Bryant fumbled the ball away in the shadow of the goal line.
The first two Dallas scoring drives petered out just short of end zone, with both resulting in 20-yard field goals from Dan Bailey. The second was especially maddening for Dallas after a first-and-goal at the 1.
An even better scoring chance was lost when Bryant was drilled in the back just as he was going down near the goal line midway through the second quarter. Seattle took advantage of the change in momentum and mounted its own long drive, resulting in Steven Hauschka's second field goal and 6-6 halftime tie.
Garrett wasn't discouraged by the squandered scoring chances early.
"They have a good defense," he said. "I felt like we were having some success on offense. They made some plays down in close. We didn't make those plays. You have to keep banging away."
The Seahawks had to be pleased being in a low-scoring game considering their offensive struggles all season. The Cowboys had a 170-yard edge in total offense at halftime (304-134) but it didn't matter on the scoreboard.
Game notes: The Cowboys inducted Drew Pearson, Larry Allen and Charles Haley into the team's Ring of Honor at halftime. … Cowboys starting LB Sean Lee (wrist), RB Felix Jones (ankle) and P Matt McBriar (foot) were among the inactives. P Chris Jones was called up from the practice squad. … Seahawks DT Alan Branch, a question all week with hip and knee injuries, was active. … Dallas WR Miles Austin (hamstring) was injured in the first half and didn't return.
