For the second consecutive week, an NFL team has had to play a game on the day after a tragedy. For the second consecutive week, that team has found a way to win. Last week, the Kansas City Chiefs defeated the Carolina Panthers 27-21 on the day after inside linebacker Jovan Belcher shot and killed his girlfriend before taking his own life in front of head coach Romeo Crennel and GM Scott Pioli at the team's headquarters. On Sunday, the Dallas Cowboys beat the Cincinnati Bengals 20-19 on the day after practice linebacker Jerry Brown was killed in a car accident that has nose tackle Josh Brent in custody on $500,000 bond on an intoxication manslaughter charge. Paul Brown Stadium observed a moment of silence before the game in honor of Brown, whose jersey was laid upon the Dallas bench throughout the game. "Well first of all, I think that our team is grieving , and they know that" owner Jerry Jones told the FOX pregame show (via the Dallas Morning News). "They also know that they can handle that better if they will go out and do their work and do it to the top of their abilities. So it is a way for them to respond and to some degree, I am sure that many of them are proud that they have this to do this afternoon." To get the season-saving win, the Cowboys needed to dig deep in the fourth quarter.
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