Harris says gut-wrenching loss to Saints diminishes joy of making first career NFL touchdown catch

Cowboys receiver Dwayne Harris grabbed his first touchdown pass as an NFL player, a 16-yard strike from Tony Romo with 3:35 remaining in the fourth quarter. But the joy was short-lived.

“It felt good to get my first touchdown as a receiver. But it was a tough loss,” said Harris, a second-year pro who scored his first career TD on a 78-yard punt return at Philadelphia on Nov. 11. “So I can’t really enjoy it like I want to.”

Harris later added a 28-yard punt return to set up the Cowboys’ game-tying, 64-yard touchdown drive that sent the contest into overtime. It marked Harris’ fourth punt return of 20-plus yards this season.

Asked about the play, Harris said: “We needed a big play and I took advantage of it. I’m not timid or scared to catch and ball and run with it with the game on the line.”

But he admitted the setback to the Saints proved gut-wrenching, event though the Cowboys (8-7) remain in position to play a winner-take-all game against Washington (9-6) next week for the NFC East title.

“We’ll just prepare for Washington and go play,” Harris said. “And we’ll let the rest handle itself. If we get in, or if we don’t get in, we’re just going to go play and give it our best.”

_ Jimmy Burch