The highlight of his rookie season was a 27-21 win against the San Francisco 49ers (finished 12-4) in Week 16. Carter showed promise with 241 yards passing and two touchdowns, to become just the second Cowboys rookie to win NFC Offensive Player of the Week honors. He also had an important 20-13 victory over the New York Giants in which he threw for nearly 200 yards, scrambled for a first down late in the game, and threw the game-winning touchdown pass to wide receiver Antonio Bryant.