ROMO BLINKS IN DUEL

Broncos outlast Cowboys in thriller

Peyton Manning spent all afternoon putting the Broncos in the end zone during a wild shootout with Tony Romo and the Cowboys.

The last time he got the ball, Manning kept Denver out of the end zone — and that was the best way to win the game.

The fourtime MVP kept up his record pace for touchdown passes, Matt Prater kicked a 28yard field goal as time expired after an interception by Romo spoiled the first 500yard game in Dallas history, and the Broncos stayed unbeaten with a 5148 victory Sunday in Arlington, Texas.

“It was pretty amazing that it came down to the defense making a big play at the end,” Denver coach John Fox said. “Thank God our offense kept us in the game all day long.”

In the waning seconds of one of the highestscoring thrillers in NFL history, Manning ensured that his kicker — not Romo — had the last chance to score.

And with that, the Broncos ran their total to 230 points this season — the most by an NFL team through the first five games.

The Broncos had moved the ball to the Dallas 2 after Danny Trevathan’s diving interception at the 24 in the final 2 minutes.

Needing a first down but not a touchdown so they could run out the clock, Moreno managed to pull off the first down without scoring, and Manning took three snaps to drain the clock to 2 seconds for Prater, who also had a 50yarder among his three field goals.

For the Cowboys, Romo was 25of36 for 506 yards and five touchdowns, breaking Don Meredith’s franchise record of 460 yards. He is the fifth quarterback in NFL history to pass for at least 500 yards and five touchdowns in a game.

Romo’s 79yard pass to Dez Bryant set up a 4yard scoring toss to Cole Beasley for a 4841 lead.

Manning, who threw for 414 yards and moved past Dan Marino for second on the career passing list with 61,371 yards, answered by leading a nineplay, 73yard drive to Moreno’s tying 1yard score with 2:44 remaining.

Romo’s interception came two plays later, when Trevathan dived in front of tight end Gavin Escobar.

“I was baiting him,” said Trevathan, who scared his teammates with a knee injury in practice last week that turned out not to be serious.

AP AT THE PICK OF TIME: Danny Trevathan stretches out for a game-saving interception against the Cowboys Sunday. Neither defense could stop the opposing offense until the closing minutes, when Trevathan dove in front of Gavin Escobar to seal the Denver win.