CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) – With Terrell Owens watching the second half from the locker room, the Dallas Cowboys had to depend on their running game and their defense to avoid a second straight upset loss.

Tony Romo threw for 257 yards and a touchdown and the Cowboys overcame the loss of Owens to a left ankle injury in a 20-13 victory over the Carolina Panthers on Saturday night.

While Dallas (13-2) moved a step closer to clinching home-field advantage throughout the playoffs, the Cowboys were dealing with another injury to a key offensive player.

Last week it was Romo, who bruised his right thumb and was ineffective in a loss to Philadelphia. Now it’s Owens, who left in the second quarter after his left leg got caught underneath him after a catch.

The Cowboys made it 14-0 a play after Owens left, but failed to score another touchdown.

After the Panthers (6-9) cut it to 20-13 on John Kasay’s 25-yard field goal with 3:01 left, the Cowboys put it away on Barber’s 11-yard run with 1:45 left.

Barber rushed for 110 yards on 22 carries to help Dallas match the 1992 team for the most victories in franchise history.

But despite improving to 7-0 on the road, the Cowboys struggled to put away the Panthers, who started undrafted rookie Matt Moore for a second straight week.

Moore, who like Romo went undrafted and spent training camp with the Cowboys, threw for 182 yards. He threw his first NFL touchdown pass to Steve Smith in the second quarter, and connected with Smith on a 57-yard pass play that led to Kasay’s final field goal.

But Moore was sacked five times, twice by DeMarcus Ware and the Cowboys’ defense was strong despite the absence of Roy Williams, who was serving a one-game suspension for an illegal “horse-collar” tackle.

Smith caught nine passes for 137 yards, but the Panthers managed only 67 yards rushing and were officially eliminated from playoff contention.

The Cowboys will clinch home-field throughout the playoffs if Green Bay loses at Chicago on Sunday, but there are concerns about when Owens will be able to play again.

Owens had his team-record 15th touchdown catch of the season in the first quarter. After grabbing a sideline hitch pass, Owens barreled over cornerback Richards Marshall for a 10-yard score and a 7-0 lead.

Owens’ fifth catch midway through the second quarter was his last.

After Romo’s 4-yard pass near the goal line, Owens’ left leg caught underneath him when he was brought down by Jon Beason.

Agitated, Owens limped to the sideline, then later walked to the locker room. He was seen later seen walking outside the locker room without his left shoe, and he remained in the locker room for the rest of the game.

Romo, shaking off the distractions from last week’s poor play and the publicity over girlfriend Jessica Simpson’s appearance, completed 28 of 42 passes and had one interception. There was no sign of Simpson at Saturday’s game.

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