Jones' talent apparent in dramatic Dallas win

IRVING, Texas -- The Dallas Cowboys can only imagine how different their season might be had Julius Jones been healthy the whole time.

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"It's his fault that we lost seven games. It is," receiver Keyshawn Johnson said, smiling. "Ask him, I tell him that after every time that he scores a touchdown."

If the rookie who missed eight games keeps running like this, the Cowboys (5-7) just might sneak into the playoffs.

Jones ran for 198 yards and three touchdowns Monday night at Seattle, scoring the last on a 17-yard draw play with 32 seconds left in a 43-39 win. That was just more than a minute after Johnson's acrobatic 34-yard catch in the back of the end zone and a recovered onside kick.

With Jones back in the lineup, the Cowboys have won consecutive games for the first time since September and are still in playoff contention. He has 429 yards rushing and five touchdowns on 93 carries in three starts since returning from a broken shoulder blade suffered in his NFL debut in Week 2.

"The running back was pretty good, in case you didn't notice," coach Bill Parcells said. "I told the team this, that we're better off right now as a team that at any point this year.... We've just got more balance in our attack, and we're a bit better now."

Thanks to the rookie whose durability and toughness was being questioned by Parcells earlier this season.

Dallas, which had lost six of seven before the past two wins, still has a chance for its second straight playoff appearance under Parcells. The Cowboys are among six 5-7 teams a game behind in the standings for the NFC's second wild-card spot.

The Cowboys would have the tiebreaker against Seattle (6-6), which is tied with St. Louis for the NFC West lead. They also have wins against Chicago and Detroit, two of the other 5-7 teams, and their regular-season finale is against the New York Giants.

"Hopefully, we can get up enough energy to play the last month good," Parcells said. "I've always told my teams what you do after Thanksgiving, that's what counts."

Jones missed the season opener because of sore ribs, and then had just five carries in his debut against Cleveland before breaking his shoulder. He didn't play again until Nov. 21 at Baltimore.

"I go out every game with a chip on my shoulder to prove something," Jones said.

"This is not a slap to other running backs," Johnson said, "but there are some players in pro sports that have it. Whatever it is, he is one of those guys who has just got it."

Cutlineelaine thompson/associated press

Dallas' Julius Jones runs past Seattle's Ken Hamlin en route to the end zone for a fourth-quarter touchdown. Jones rushed 30 times Monday, giving him 93 carries during the past 3 games.