Mike Mccarn / AP

Terrell Owens reacts after being injured the second quarter of the Cowboys' 20-13 win over the Panthers on Saturday night.

Romo, shaking off the distractions from last week’s poor play and the publicity over girlfriend Jessica Simpson’s appearance, completed 28 of 42 passes and had one interception.

There was no sign of Simpson, although a trio of portly male fans wore blond wigs and a handful of others wore Simpson masks.

They cheered when Romo fumbled the first snap of the game from fill-in center Cory Procter, who replaced Pro Bowl pick Andre Gurode (knee).

But Romo quickly found a rhythm, with the assist from a ground game that had disappeared of late.

The Cowboys rushed only 15 times for 53 yards against the Eagles, but Dallas targeted Carolina’s defensive line, which was without Julius Peppers (knee), by rushing for 148 yards.

The Panthers cut it to 14-7 on Moore’s first touchdown pass of his career, an 11-yard pass to Steve Smith, his first TD catch since Week 6.

Trailing 17-7 early in the third quarter, the Panthers drove to the Dallas 1. Then center Justin Hartwig sprained his right knee. He was replaced by rookie Ryan Kalil, and Moore was sacked on the next two plays. Kasay kicked a 37-yard field goal to make it 17-10.

Notes: Dallas improved to 7-1 against Carolina in the regular season. Carolina is 2-0 against Dallas in the playoffs. ... Peppers had his streak of 78 straight games played snapped, missing a game for the first time since a four-game suspension to end the 2002 season for violating the NFL’s banned substance policy .... Smith’s second-quarter TD catch was his team-record 45th of his career.

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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