Brees beats Cowboys and former idol Garrett

Associated Press

ARLINGTON, Texas

Drew Brees was a young Dallas Cowboys fan cheering on Jason Garrett during his amazing comeback victory on Thanksgiving 1994. With Garrett and the Cowboys on the verge of another holiday stunner, Brees and the New Orleans Saints snatched it away.

Brees and the Saints went from leading by 17 to trailing midway through the fourth quarter. The Cowboys were about to seal the victory with a long pass play when safety Malcolm Jenkins swiped the ball back and Brees drove 89 yards for a go-ahead touchdown 1:55 left. Dallas’ David Buehler narrowly missed a 59-yard field goal with 25 seconds left that would’ve tied it, and the Saints held on for a 30-27 victory Thursday.

“It was kind of a gut-check win,” New Orleans coach Sean Payton said.

Payton appeared to be trying to call timeout as the ball was snapped for Buehler’s kick, which would’ve given the Cowboys another chance. But the officials didn’t give it to him, so the play stood.

“Fortunately, I did not,” Payton said.

The Saints, playing on the holiday for the first time, won their fourth straight and fifth in six games to improve to 8-3. Dallas (3-8) lost for the first time in three games since Garrett became interim coach.

“I think we demonstrated again what we’ve done the last few weeks — battle and fight,” Garrett said. “There were a lot of things to be proud of. Guys played with a lot of passion, energy and enthusiasm. ... But you’ve got to get the bottom line right. We didn’t get it done.”

Sixteen years ago, Garrett was a third-string quarterback making a rare start in place of Troy Aikman when the Cowboys fell behind Brett Favre and the Packers 17-3. Garrett rallied them a 42-31 victory that’s among the most stirring in team lore.

This one would’ve been up there, too. Instead, it may go down with Leon Lett’s snowy gaffe in 1993 as one that got away.

“This is a game that, if you let it, it will rip your heart out,” Dallas quarterback Jon Kitna said. “You feel like you played well enough to win — you just didn’t.”

The Cowboys trailed 17-0 after the first three times the Saints had the ball. New Orleans also were up 20-3 just before halftime.