IRVING, Texas – The Dallas Cowboys finally got some big plays from the old legs in their running game, only they didn’t come from 33-year-old Richie Anderson or 31-year-old Eddie George.

Would you believe 40-year-old Vinny Testaverde?

Testaverde stunned everyone with a 7-yard run on fourth-and-3 to set up a tying touchdown, then scrambled 3 yards for the go-ahead score, leading the Cowboys past the Detroit Lions 31-21 Sunday.

Dallas (3-4) ended a three-game losing streak and did it on the ground. With Keyshawn Johnson the only receiver in the lineup who’d ever caught a pass, the Cowboys ran 41 times – 11 more than in any game this season – for 127 yards. George had season-bests of 31 carries and 99 yards.

Testaverde also came through with his arm when needed, throwing a 38-yard touchdown pass to Johnson with 1:54 left to seal the victory. It was quite a change from the last home game, when his late fumble turned a lead into a loss to Pittsburgh.

Testaverde finished 19-of-24 for 235 yards, offsetting three interceptions with three touchdowns, two by Johnson. He also had a 17-yarder to tight end Jason Witten.

Detroit (4-3) looked more like the team that lost 24 straight road games, not the one that opened this season 3-0 away from home.

The Lions were stopped on third-and-1 and fourth-and-1 from the Dallas 37 while down a touchdown early in the fourth quarter. A false start turned a field-goal try into a punt. They also lost a big punt return because of a penalty; wasted a time out before kicking an extra point; and had a defender falling into the end zone trying to down a punt close to the goal line.

Even more agonizing: With Minnesota getting drubbed by the New York Giants, Detroit could have tied for the NFC North lead.

Joey Harrington, the NFL’s best fourth-quarter quarterback this season, made things interesting with a 50-yard touchdown pass to David Kircus that put Detroit within 24-21 with 5:29 left. Kircus made a fabulous grab, reaching behind him to pull the ball away from defensive back Lance Frazier.

After Testaverde put Dallas back up by 10, Harrington’s next pass was intercepted by Frazier and the Cowboys ran out the clock.

Harrington was 19-of-32 for 255 yards with two touchdowns and an interception. He was hoping for a big game to redeem himself for an awful performance against Dallas last season that got him benched and nearly cost him his job.

He would’ve had a better chance if rookie receiver Roy Williams hadn’t missed the game with an ankle injury.

Testaverde had little sympathy – his receivers included two rookies who moved up from the practice squad Saturday and a veteran who’d never caught a pass.

Testaverde’s first two passes to receivers both produced touchdowns – one for Detroit’s Dre Bly and another to Johnson.

Bly returned an interception 55 yards to put Detroit up 14-7. He made a nice diving catch in the end zone for a second pickoff. Brock Marion had another, killing a Dallas drive inside the 10-yard line just before halftime.

Johnson’s first score came on a drive extended by Testaverde’s 7-yard keeper on fourth-and-3 from the Detroit 35. Testaverde’s TD rushing, his first in 54 games, since December 1998, came at the start of the second half, putting Dallas up 21-14. Billy Cundiff stretched the lead with a 40-yard field goal with 6:59 left.

AP-ES-10-31-04 1646EST