Romo guides Cowboys past Panthers

The Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo pitches the ball to running back Felix Jones in the first half of their game against the Carolina Panthers.

ARLINGTON, TEXAS // The Dallas Cowboys, led by an improved Tony Romo, produced a strong second-half effort to claim a 21-7 victory over the Carolina Panthers on Monday. After conceding a 7-0 half-time deficit, Dallas's quarterback Romo engineered three successive scores after the break while the cornerback Terence Newman returned an interception 27 yards to seal the home team's first win at the new Cowboys' Stadium.

Romo, who had a poor game in last week's 33-31 loss to the New York Giants, gradually worked into the game on Monday to find a rhythm and finished with 255 passing yards. The Carolina quarterback Jake Delhomme continued his early-season struggles and threw his second interception of the game, and seventh of the season, as the Panthers were trying to mount a comeback with less than six minutes to play.

Delhomme had connected with Dante Rosario on a 25-yard touchdown pass with 1:10 remaining in the second quarter to give the Panthers their lead. Carolina however, then failed to convert a first down on their first four possessions in the second half and were forced to punt. Newman then intercepted on Carolina's next possession to run the ball back for his touchdown to end the scoring late in the fourth quarter.

* Reuters