Matt Slocum / AP

Dallas Cowboys running back Marion Barber (24) crosses the goal line with a 1-yard touchdown run against the Indianapolis Colts during Sunday's game.

It sure didn’t start out that way.

Romo lost a fumble on a sack by Dwight Freeney on the opening drive, then threw an interception soon after. He didn’t get the Dallas offense inside the Indianapolis 20 until the final 30 seconds of the third quarter.

However, once he did, the Cowboys grabbed control for good.

Marion Barber III scored from the 5 to tie it early in the fourth, capping a 68-yard drive. Then Romo followed with an 80-yard series, again capped by a Barber TD, that put Dallas ahead for the first time. His last possession might’ve been the best because he kept Manning and the Colts from getting back on the field, using up the final 2:59.

“This is big,” said Romo, who went 19-of-23 for 226 yards. “We’ve been trying to get ourselves a little momentum for awhile. We needed this win badly. ... This isn’t our goal. This week it was, today it was. But our goal is much higher. This is a step in that direction.”

Earlier this week, Romo found out he was the NFL’s second-rated passer, behind only Manning. When Sunday’s game ended, Romo walked off with the game ball in one hand and gave Manning a consoling pat on the head with his other hand.

Manning went 20-of-39 for 254 yards and was off from the start, failing to get any points out of Romo’s early turnovers.

He put together a long drive just before halftime for a 7-0 lead, then had a chance to build on it at the start of the second half. Instead, his second pass was tipped and intercepted by linebacker Kevin Burnett, who returned it 39 yards for the tying score.

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Manning put the Colts back ahead with another Manning-like drive, but his last two series had surprising finishes — an incompletion on a deep ball on third-and-1, then passes into the end zone that weren’t anywhere close to being caught after reaching the Dallas 8 with a little over three minutes left.

“We’ve been in similar situations and made plays in the past,” Manning said. “Tonight we didn’t make them.”

Notes: Former Indianapolis kicker Mike Vanderjagt missed from 43 and 46 yards in the first half. Fans were so upset they booed a commercial he appeared in that was shown on the stadium monitors. ... Vanderjagt’s last two-miss game was Nov. 17, 2002, when he and the Colts beat the Cowboys. ... Dallas safety Roy Williams had his second interception of Manning, impressive for someone with 16 in his career. ... Rocky Boiman, cut by the Cowboys in training camp, was one of the Colts’ team captains.

NFL game stories Quick look at Week 4 games STEELERS 23, RAVENS 20, OT: Baltimore loses first game of season REDSKINS 26, COWBOYS 24: Dallas can't contain Portis in 1st loss BEARS 24, EAGLES 20: Goal-line stand boosts Chicago JETS 56, CARDINALS 35: Favre throws career-high 6 TDs BUCS 30, PACKERS 21: Ryan's 3 FGs lift Tampa CHARGERS 28, RAIDERS 18: San Diego tops rival 10th straight time BILLS 31, RAMS 14: Buffalo 4-0 for first time since 1992 CHIEFS 33, BRONCOS 19: Johnson rushes for 198 yards for K.C. BROWNS 20, BENGALS 12: Anderson throws TD TITANS 30, VIKINGS 17: Tennessee 4-0 for first time ever PANTHERS 24, FALCONS 9: Smith honors Lucas after TD JAGUARS 30, TEXANS 27, OT: Scobey kicks game winner SAINTS 31, 49ERS 17: McAlister scores first TD of year

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