Randy Bullock booted the game-winning field goal with 36 seconds left as the New York Jets kept themselves in the NFL playoff hunt with a 19-16 win over the Cowboys in suburban Dallas.
The Jets’ fourth straight win saw them improve to 9-5. They hold a half-game lead over Kansas City and Pittsburgh in the American Football Conference Wild Card race, with both the Chiefs and Steelers scheduled to play on Sunday.
Bullock atoned for a missed extra point and field goal by nailing the 40-yard game-winner.
The Cowboys had tied the game 16-16 on Dan Bailey’s 50-yard field goal with 1:55 to play.
Jets quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick moved the offense 58 yards, most of it coming on a 43-yard pass to Kenbrell Thompkins.
A series of running plays set up Bullock’s game-deciding kick.
Fitzpatrick completed 26 of 39 passes for 299 yards, with one touchdown and one interception.
Jets receiver Brandon Marshall had 74 yards on four catches. Fellow receiver Eric Decker had 55 yards on six receptions, including a three-yard touchdown catch that put the Jets up 16-13 earlier in the fourth quarter.
The Cowboys fell to 4-10 and were officially eliminated from playoff contention.
Already eliminated from the National Football Conference Wild Card race, they would have had to win the NFC East division to reach the post-season.
With Saturday’s loss they are out of the running in a division in which the other three teams all own losing records of 6-7 going into Sunday’s games.
Cowboys quarterback Matt Cassel, starting in place of injured Tony Romo, was pulled in the first half in favor of Kellen Moore, a fourth-year pro who saw his first NFL game action.
The move to Moore marked the first time since 2001 that the Cowboys have used four quarterbacks in a single season.
Moore led the Cowboys to 13 points, but his third interception of the night sealed the Jets’ victory.