Kellen Moore to start vs. Bills
IRVING, Texas --Kellen Moore will be the Dallas Cowboys' starting quarterback Sunday against the Buffalo Bills.
Coach Jason Garrett confirmed the move Monday morning, speaking on 105.3 The Fan in Dallas after Moore completed 15 of 25 passes for 158 yards, 1 touchdown and 3 interceptions in the Cowboys' 19-16 loss to the New York Jets.
"Just the evaluation of how he did in the ballgame and where we want to be right now offensively," Garrett said of the decision to start Moore. "We felt like he did good things for us. Unfortunately, the turnovers he made weren't good, but hopefully he'll learn from the experiences and gives us a chance to move the ball and score some points up there."
Sunday's loss to the Jets officially eliminated the Cowboys from the playoff chase. The Cowboys' first two backup choices --Brandon Weeden (0-3) andMatt Cassel (1-6) -- combined for a 1-9 record after regular starterTony Romo went down twice this season with a fractured left collarbone.
This will be the first time since 2001 that the Cowboys have started four quarterbacks in a season. Quincy Carter, Anthony Wright, Ryan Leaf and Clint Stoerner combined for a 5-11 record that year.
Moore was signed to the Cowboys' practice squad at the start of the season and called up to the active roster after Romo first broke his collarbone on Sept. 20. Moore served as Weeden's backup for two games and was released and re-signed to the practice squad Nov. 12. After Romo suffered a hairline fracture of the collarbone on Thanksgiving against the Carolina Panthers,Moore was re-signed to the active roster Dec. 2 to serve as Cassel's backup.
He took first-team snaps with the offense for the first time last week. After Cassel struggled to a 3-of-8, 37-yard, one-sack, one-interception start against the Jets, the coaches called on Moore.
His second pass was intercepted, but Moore rebounded with a touchdown on his third drive. He was intercepted twice in the second half, including once in the end zone.
Moore is the first left-handed quarterback to throw a pass for the Cowboys in team history. Now he will be the first lefty to start a game for the Cowboys.
