Recap: Dallas vs. Seattle

By Sports Network

Irving, TX (Sports Network) - Tony Romo threw three touchdowns as the Dallas Cowboys destroyed the Seattle Seahawks, 34-9.

Romo went 22-for-34 with 331 yards and an interception and his favorite target was Jason Witten, who caught nine passes for 115 yards and a score for the Cowboys (8-4), who have won three straight.

Marion Barber had 10 carries for 32 yards and a touchdown, but left in the third quarter with an undisclosed injury. DeMarcus Ware had three sacks and now has 15 on the season to lead the NFL, but he sprained his left knee late in the third quarter and did not return.

The win moves Dallas ahead of Washington and Atlanta for the final wild card spot in the NFC. The Redskins host the Giants on Sunday while Atlanta plays in San Diego on Sunday.

Matt Hasselbeck went 22-for-38 with 287 yards and an interception while John Carlson had five catches for 105 yards for the Seahawks (2-10), who have lost their past five games.

Trailing by 18 points, Seattle started the second half with the ball and put together an impressive drive and had a 1st-and-goal, but were unable to punch the ball in and had to settle for a 25-yard field goal from Olindo Mare to make it a 24-9 game with 9:37 left in the third.

Romo was picked off in the Seattle end zone on Dallas' next touch, but the Seahawks were unable to take advantage of the opportunity.

Later in the third, Dallas increased its lead with a four-play drive as Romo found Terrell Owens in the end zone from 19 yards out for a 31-9 advantage with 2:19 to play in the third. On the play before the score, Romo and Owens connected for 33 yards.

A 42-yard field goal from Nick Folk a bit over six minutes into the fourth quarter gave the Cowboys a 34-9 lead to account for the final score.

The Cowboys started the game with the ball and wasted no time taking the lead as Romo found Martellus Bennett in the end zone from 16 yards out for a 7-0 lead just 2:24 into the game. The big play of the drive occurred right before the touchdown as Romo hooked up with Witten for 36 yards.

Seattle was driving on its ensuing possession, but Julius Jones fumbled at the Dallas 28 and the Cowboys recovered.

Dallas methodically went down the field and from two yards out Barber punched the ball into the end zone to cap the nine-play drive for a 14-0 lead with 4:50 left in the first.

The Seahawks put points on the board on their next touch as Mare put the ball through the uprights from 44 yards out to cap an eight-play, 43-yard drive with under a minute to play in the first quarter.

However, the Cowboys continued to move the ball with impunity as the Seattle defense got no pressure on Romo. An eight-play, 80-yard drive that took a bit less than four minutes was capped when Romo found Witten in the end zone from seven yards out for a 21-3 lead.

The Cowboys got a 41-yard field goal from Folk with 7:34 left in the second, but the Seahawks got the points back on their next drive thanks to a 38-yard field goal from Mare with 1:31 remaining in the first half.