By Greg Beacham
The Associated Press
San Francisco – In a rivalry with this much history, it was only fitting for Keyshawn Johnson to borrow a move from a former great to score the dramatic winning touchdown.
Only the Dallas receiver’s inspiration played for the other team – which could make the furious 49ers even more frustrated.
Johnson caught a 14-yard touchdown pass from Drew Bledsoe with 1:51 to play, and the Cowboys rallied from a 12-point deficit in the fourth quarter for a 34-31 victory over San Francisco on Sunday.
Johnson’s score capped a precise 76-yard scoring drive by the Cowboys (2-1), who fell behind early but rallied late in their third straight nail-biting game of the season. After losing their composure and their 13-point lead in the final four minutes of last Monday’s loss to Washington, Johnson’s catch finished an impressive display of late-game poise.
Johnson said the play was a “speed-out.” “I think it’s taken out of Jerry Rice back in the day,” he said.
Bledsoe, the veteran acquired for his calm leadership as much as his arm, was 24-of-38 for 363 yards, passing Joe Montana for eighth place on the NFL’s career yards passing list with his first 300-yard game since Sept. 14, 2003. Terry Glenn had 137 yards receiving and Julius Jones rushed for two scores for the Cowboys.
Dallas won its opener with an end-zone interception on the final play at San Diego, but Washington rallied for a 14-13 win last week.
“I think we proved we can take a punch and still win in the end,” Dallas coach Bill Parcells said. “You take ’em any way you can. That’s three of these right to the wire.”
Johnson also caught a 2-point conversion pass after his TD, and Dat Nguyen intercepted Tim Rattay’s tipped pass at midfield with 54 seconds left.
Brandon Lloyd caught an 89-yard touchdown pass and another scoring toss from Rattay for the 49ers (1-2), who seemed ready to match their win total from last season, when they finished with the NFL’s worst record.
Instead, coach Mike Nolan was enraged by his first home defeat.
“It’s unacceptable to lose that game,” Nolan said. “They ought to feel the same way. It’s unacceptable. We’re not a 2-14 football team. When you all of a sudden think that you’re a 2-14 football team, that’s an OK performance.”
Safety Tony Parrish returned one interception 34 yards for a score, and his second pick set up Lloyd’s 13-yard TD reception late in the third quarter to put San Francisco up 31-19. Rattay was 21-of-34 for 269 yards and three TDs, but the 49ers scored just once after a second-quarter flurry.
“We never felt it slipping away,” Rattay said. “I couldn’t make any plays near the end, and I take full responsibility for this loss.”
