IRVING, Texas, Nov. 24 (UPI) -- Joey Galloway had seven catches for a season-high 144 yards and two touchdowns and rookie safety Roy Williams recorded an interception and forced a fumble Sunday as the Dallas Cowboys snapped their four-game losing skid with a 21-19 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Galloway's 43-yard touchdown reception with 2:17 to go in the first half marked the 50th of his NFL career and put Dallas ahead for good, 7-2
"It was a slant call," Galloway said. "He (Chad Hutchinson) made a good pass and I was able to split the defenders and get to the end zone."
The eight-year receiver notched his second 100-yard game in three career outings against Jacksonville, combining to average 20.6 yards per catch.
The Cowboys (4-7) managed to tally 21 points despite entering the contest ranked last in scoring offense with just 11.8 points per game. The Cowboys had been held to 14 or fewer points in eight of their previous 10 games.
"This feels a lot better than the last four games," Cowboys Coach Dave Campo said. "I have always felt that if we could keep the offensive line together and build some consistency, that we could start having some things come together."
The Cowboys' secondary appeared to be vulnerable, taking the field without Pro Bowl safety Darren Woodson due to an abdominal injury and with a unit possessing a combined three years of NFL experience. But Williams filled the void.
Dallas owned a 21-12 lead with 7:48 left in the game when Jacksonville's Fred Taylor appeared to be heading for a score. But Williams smacked the ball loose on the Cowboys one and cornerback Mario Edwards recovered it in the end zone for a touchback to maintain Dallas' nine-point cushion.
"Coming in, we knew we were at a disadvantage with the loss of Darren Woodson," first-year cornerback Derek Ross said. "(Williams) played real well. He was very vocal in the secondary with Woody being gone. We talked about him stepping up today and he definitely did that and showed us what he can do."
"The fumble I had out there, that was seven points," Taylor said. "I was just trying to fight and get over the (goal line). I didn't know until he (the referee) called it (after reviewing the play). I thought that my knee was down."
Jacksonville wasted its opportunities, turning the ball over three times and missing a field goal.
"We had too many penalties and mistakes that cost us the game," Jaguars Coach Tom Coughlin said. "We knew coming into the game that Cowboys game are decided in the fourth quarter. To have a drive late in the game down to the goal line only to fumble and get no points, I just don't know what to make of it."
Taylor rushed for 100 yards on 20 carries for the Jaguars (5-6), who had a two-game winning streak snapped.
Hutchinson threw for 301 yards, completing 16 of 24 with a pair of touchdowns and two interceptions.
The Cowboys were leading, 7-5, when Hutchinson engineered a 13-play, 99-yard drive on their first possession of the second half. He hit Emmitt Smith and tight end Mike Lucky with passes of 12 and 22 yards and found receiver Kenyon Rambo for 18 yards on third and 11 to keep the drive alive.
Smith capped it with a one-yard touchdown run. The NFL's all-time leading rusher picked up 73 yards on 20 carries.
Meanwhile, Troy Hambrick had four carries for 38 yards as he continues to battle Smith for playing time.
Campo remained diplomatic regarding the running back controversy.
"Emmitt and Troy made a good combination today," he said. "I thought Emmitt Smith was as productive today as he ever has been. I have said all along that Emmitt can help us win games. He showed that today."
Off a play-action fake with 11:09 remaining in the game, Galloway caught an 11-yard TD pass, capping a six-play, 65-yard drive and giving the Cowboys a 21-12 advantage.
"The second touchdown was a direct result of our success running the ball," Galloway said. "Today, everything finally worked. You wonder when an offense will click and now that we see it works, we just have to get real good at it."
Jacksonville quarterback Mark Brunell completed 22 of 40 passes for 202 yards with a touchdown and an interception.
Brunell connected with receiver Kevin Lockett on an eight-yard touchdown strike with 1:54 to play as the Jaguars pulled within 21-19. But they failed to recover the ensuing onside kick.
