Dec 17, 2017; Oakland, CA, USA; Dallas Cowboys kicker Dan Bailey (5) shakes hands with punter Chris Jones (6) after scoring a field goal during the fourth quarter at Oakland Coliseum. Photo Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports
OAKLAND, Calif. — Dan Bailey kicked a tiebreaking 19-yard field goal with 1:44 left, and the Dallas Cowboys held on for a 20-17 victory over the Oakland Raiders on Sunday night at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum.
The Raiders then drove to the Cowboys’ 8-yard line, taking advantage of a 55-yard pass-interference penalty. However, on third-and-3 from the 8, Raiders quarterback Derek Carr fumbled while diving at the end of a scramble along the right sideline, and the ball went into the end zone and out for a touchback.
Dallas took over with 31 seconds left and ran out the clock.
The Cowboys (8-6) improved their slim hopes for an NFC wild-card playoff berth. They moved into a tie with the Detroit Lions and Seattle Seahawks, a half-game behind the Atlanta Falcons (8-5) for the second wild-card spot in the conference.
Despite the loss, the Raiders (6-8) are still barely alive in the AFC West race and for a wild-card berth. They fell two games behind the first-place Kansas City Chiefs (8-6) and one game behind the Los Angeles Chargers (7-7) in the West.
Dallas quarterback Dak Prescott completed 18 of 27 passes for 212 yards and no touchdowns with two interceptions. He carried six times for 31 yards and one score.
Carr completed 21 of 38 passes 171 yards and two scores with no interceptions. Marshawn Lynch rushed for 76 yards on 16 carries, and Oakland cornerback Sean Smith had two interceptions.
On the winning drive, the Cowboys faced fourth-and-1 at their 39 with 5:09 left. Prescott got the first down by less than an inch on a 1-yard sneak.
Three plays later from the Oakland 45, Prescott hit Dez Bryant for 40 yards down to right sideline, giving the Cowboys first-and-goal from the 5.
Cordarrelle Patterson’s 100-yard kickoff return for an Oakland touchdown to open the second half was wiped away because of a holding call on Xavier Woodson-Luster. However, the Raiders drove 90 yards on 11 plays and cut Dallas’ lead to 10-7 on Carr’s 2-yard touchdown pass to Michael Crabtree with 8:03 left in the third quarter.
On Dallas’ ensuing drive, Smith made a diving interception along the sideline, got up and raced 22 yards for an apparent touchdown. After a video review, it was determined that Cowboys wide receiver Cole Beasley touched Smith while he was on the ground, nullifying the touchdown.
The Raiders settled for Giorgio Tavecchio’s 39-yard field goal, making it 10-10 with 6:14 left in the third quarter.
Dallas moved back ahead 17-10 on Prescott’s 5-yard touchdown run with 45 seconds left in the third quarter, capping a wild 11-play, 75-yard drive.
Punter Chris Jones ignited the scoring drive with a 24-yard run up the middle to the Cowboys’ 48 on a fake punt.
Prescott had a 19-yard completion to Bryant and a 17-yard run on the drive.
Oakland pulled even at 17 on Carr’s 2-yard touchdown pass to Crabtree with 10:35 left, capping a 10-play, 53-yard drive.
The Cowboys’ opening drive ended when Smith intercepted Prescott’s pass in Oakland territory.
Dallas took a 3-0 lead on its next drive when Bailey kicked a 45-yard field goal with 4:56 left in the first quarter.
The Cowboys extended their lead to 10-0 on Rod Smith’s 1-yard touchdown blast with 14:04 remaining in the first half. The Cowboys marched 65 yards in eight plays for the touchdown.
Prescott’s 31-yard strike to tight end James Hanna gave Dallas a first down at Oakland’s 21.
The Raiders drove to the Cowboys’ 11 late in the first half but came up empty. Carr’s 11-yard touchdown pass to Jared Cook was nullified by an offensive pass-interference call on the tight end. Tavecchio missed a 39-yard field goal try on the final play of the half.
NOTES: Raiders RT Donald Penn left the game in the first quarter with a foot injury and did not return. … Cowboys RB Ezekiel Elliott served the sixth and final game of his suspension for violating the NFL’s personal-conduct policy. … Raiders WR Amari Cooper (ankle) was inactive for the second time in the past three weeks. … Raiders DT Treyvon Hester sustained an ankle injury in the first quarter and did not return. … Cowboys starting CB Orlando Scandrick (back) and DT David Irving (concussion) were inactive. … Raiders starting DE Mario Edwards (ankle) was inactive for the first time this season.
