ARLINGTON, Texas _ The drama-filled quarterback controversy is over for at least a week.
And the Dallas Cowboys are back in the win column.
But not thanks to dueling rookie sensations Dak Prescott and Ezekiel Elliott, though both played well in the 26-20 victory against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at AT&T Stadium Sunday night.
It was the maligned defense that stood tallest of all, as the Cowboys upped its record to 12-2 while snapping Tampa Bay's five-game winning streak.
Time and time again, the Cowboys defense turned the Buccaneers (8-6) away with the game on the line in the fourth quarter.
It was Orlando Scandrick's interception of Jameis Winston with 24 seconds left that sealed the victory.
The Cowboys remain ahead of New York Giants (10-4) in the NFC East race and still control their own destiny for home-field advantage throughout the playoffs.
But they can't blink and getting back on the winning track after last week's 10-7 loss to the New York Giants, snapping their franchise record 11-game winning streak, was a must.
Prescott will get credit for his fifth fourth-quarter comeback.
He completed 32 of 36 passes for 279 yards and had a rushing touchdown.
Elliott rushed 23 times for 159 yards and a touchdown.
But it was even more important for Prescott to play well and quell a mini-quarterback controversy, considering some fans and media had started calling for former starter Tony Romo to replace the rookie after last week's effort when he completed 17 of 37 passes for 165 yards with one two touchdown and two interceptions and a quarterback rating of 45.4.
It was Prescott's third consecutive game of less than 200 yards passing, causing panic among some fans.
Prescott opened the game completing his first 10 passes to seemingly stave off the controversy and calm the crowd.
But the Cowboys and the crowd had to sweat things out after they saw a seemingly comfortable 17-6 halftime lead dissipate quickly in the third quarter.
Winston hit Adam Humphries for a 42-yard score on the first drive of the third quarter.
A questionable reverse on third and 2, resulted in a botched handoff between Elliott and receiver Lucky Whitehead to kill the ensuing Cowboys drive.
The Buccaneers then took the lead when they went 81 yards on 10 plays, caped by a 10-yard touchdown pass from Winston to tight end Cameron Brate.
Down 20-17 at the start of the fourth quarter, the Cowboys tied the score on a 40-yard field goal from Dan Bailey.
The Cowboys had to settle for the field goal because of another questionable call to Whitehead on a first and 10 at the 21. He was knocked for 7-yard loss, thus killing the drive.
But it the Cowboys defense that the turned the tide in the fourth quarter.
Defensive end David Irving put the Buccaneers behind the chains with a sack. And then on third and 14, he tipped a Winston pass that ended up on the hands of safety Jeff Heath.
A potential 20-yard touchdown pass from Prescott to running back Lance Dunbar was nullified by a holding penalty on tackle Tyron Smith.
Bailey's 38-yard field goal made it 23-20.
Another stop by the defense was offset by an offensive miscue when tight end Jason Witten fumbled for only the fifth time of his career.
But the Cowboys defense came up big again, forcing a three-and-out possession.
A punt put the Cowboys at their 4, but Prescott and Elliott took over from there.
A 19-yard pass to Dez Bryant was followed by runs of 42 and 10 yards to Elliott.
But to show how much Garrett trusted the defense on this night, he shunned going for it a fourth and 1 at the Tampa Bay 15.
Bailey's 33-yard field goal made it 26-20 at the 2:58 mark, but it gave the Buccaneers a chance to win the game with a touchdown.
The defense forced another three and out, thanks to a sack by Irving on first down.
And then Scandrick and the defense came up big one more time at the end of the game.
