Broncos top Cowboys with FG in overtime

IRVING, Texas -- Maybe all Ron Dayne needed was a chance.

Filling in for injured Tatum Bell, Dayne rumbled 55 yards on the second play of overtime and Jason Elam followed with a 24-yard field goal to give the Denver Broncos a 24-21 victory over the Dallas Cowboys on Thursday in a game that lived up to its billing.

Two teams near the top of their conferences fought hard and close for more than four quarters, with the margin never wider than a touchdown. Both defenses came up with big plays and each team downed a punt inside the 2. There was a close call by the officials, and the Cowboys missed a go-ahead field-goal try midway through the fourth quarter.

"I'm disappointed with the outcome, I'm not disappointed with the effort," Dallas coach Bill Parcells said. "We just have to regroup a little bit."

Denver (9-2) never trailed in winning its fourth straight, but the Broncos were hardly in control. Their running game struggled until Dayne's big burst and Jake Plummer threw his first interception since Week 2.

The Cowboys (7-4) had their three-game winning streak snapped and, like all their other losses, this one was decided late. Their four losses are by a total of 13 points, with the last two coming on game-ending field goals.

Billy Cundiff missed a chance to put Dallas ahead when he pulled a 34-yard field goal wide left with 7:42 left in regulation.

Falcons 27, Lions 7

DETROIT -- Michael Vick's arm, Alge Crumpler's hands and Warrick Dunn's legs were too much for the Detroit Lions.

Vick threw two touchdown passes to Crumpler and Dunn ran for 116 yards to lead the Atlanta Falcons to a 27-7 victory over Detroit on Thursday.

Atlanta (7-4) took advantage of playing the lowly Lions (4-7), closing the gap behind NFC South co-leaders Carolina and Tampa Bay to a half-game after losing two straight at home.

-- From wire reports