IRVING, Texas — Take away a couple of bad throws by Tony Romo, and the Dallas Cowboys finally resembled the team that everybody is expecting to see this season.

At least when Romo and Terrell Owens played in the first half.

Romo made up for overthrowing T.O. on a certain touchdown and later getting intercepted in the end zone, completing 15 of 19 passes for 166 yards and a TD in the Cowboys' 23-22 victory over the Houston Texans last night.

Houston backup quarterback Sage Rosenfels ran 8 yards for a touchdown with 2:05 left. Instead of a tying extra point, the Texans went for a 2-point conversion, but Jacoby Jones couldn't handle the pass in the end zone.

Things went so well against the Texans that Romo and Owens, who had four catches for 43 yards, didn't play after halftime. Coach Wade Phillips had planned to play the starters deep into the third quarter, partly so the offense could get its timing down in the passing game.

"I thought we've been pretty efficient," Romo said at halftime. "It's exciting to come out in the first half and move the ball like we did."

Texans receiver Harry Williams was taken off the field on a stretcher with a neck injury after being hit in the head during a collision with teammate Nick Ferguson.

Williams was kept in the hospital and was expected to have surgery this weekend to fuse two vertebrae. The operation was to be performed by Dr. Drew Dossett, one of the Dallas Cowboys' team physicians who is a nationally recognized spine surgeon.

Williams, who was trying to make a tackle on a kickoff return by the Cowboys, was face down on the field when the play ended. Medical personnel immediately called for a stretcher and the game was delayed for about 10 minutes while they tended to Williams.

"He's got movement throughout his body," Texans coach Gary Kubiak said. "All the feedback I'm getting is that Harry will be fine."

EAGLES 27, PATRIOTS 17

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — Philadelphia returned two kicks for touchdowns in the last 1:35 of the first half, Donovan McNabb led three long drives, and backup Kevin Kolb directed a 90-yard march to David Akers' second field goal on its opening series of the third quarter.

BRONCOS 24, PACKERS 20

DENVER — Green Bay's Aaron Rodgers completed 18 of 22 passes for 193 yards and a touchdown in the Packers' win over Denver. Rodgers led four scoring drives in his five possessions and was 16 for 19 for 178 yards against the Broncos' starters.

FALCONS 17, TITANS 3

ATLANTA — Matt Ryan, making his first preseason start, opened the second half with a go-ahead touchdown pass as Atlanta beat Tennessee. Ryan, the third pick in the draft, continued his bid to start as a rookie. He completed 15 of 21 passes for 102 yards with a 1-yard scoring pass to another rookie, Harry Douglas, and no interceptions.