Hot start for Cowboys, 23-10
By TODD ARCHER
The Dallas Morning News
IRVING – For an opening act, Thursday wasn't bad.
The Cowboys' first-team offense lasted 27 plays and scored six points. The Cowboys' first-team defense lasted 15 plays and gave up three points.
The final – a 23-10 Cowboys' win against Indianapolis at Texas Stadium – was almost irrelevant.
"It's not a regular-season game, but it's nice to come in and play well at home," said Wade Phillips, who made his debut as Cowboys coach. "I think we did some things well. Hard work can pay off, and I think winning whatever kind of game is important a lot of ways. I thought it was in this one."
Unlike last year when Tony Romo played the entire preseason debut at Seattle and completed 19-of-25 passes for 235 yards and a touchdown, Romo lasted the first two series, completing 10-of-11 passes for 93 yards. He had a 103.4 quarterback rating.
"All the work we put in during training camp showed up," Romo said. "We had two good drives to start, but we've still got a long way to go."
What frustrated Romo, however, was that both drives stalled inside the Colts' 15 without a touchdown. The first trip was halted at the 6 after Romo chose a safer pass underneath to DeSoto's Patrick Crayton. The second trip ended when Romo missed an open Anthony Fasano in the end zone and settled for Marion Barber on a dump off.
Instead of touchdowns, the Cowboys settled for field goals of 24 and 25 yards from Martin Gramatica and rookie Nick Folk.
"You try and avoid doing some of the things you do in the red zone until you get to the regular season," Romo said. "We've got time to work on that, and we will. I was just taking what the defense gave me."
Romo's nine completions went to seven different receivers at three positions, starting with receiver Terrell Owens and ending with running back Marion Barber, while mixing in tight ends Jason Witten and Fasano.
And Romo did it with the starting tackles (Flozell Adams and Marc Colombo) watching as rookie Doug Free and second-year man Pat McQuistan started. The Colts, though, were without three starters: defensive end Robert Mathis, defensive tackle Anthony McFarland and safety Bob Sanders.
Last November, the Colts saw their dreams of an undefeated season end at Texas Stadium thanks to an interception return for a touchdown by Kevin Burnett off Peyton Manning.
Manning, the Super Bowl MVP a little more than two months later, lasted one series Thursday but was able to fend off any pressure, including a completion of 28 yards to Marvin Harrison that set up the Colts' field goal.
On the next three plays, Marcus Spears came up with a stop after a 1-yard run, cornerback Anthony Henry deflected pass intended for Reggie Wayne and DeMarcus Ware forced an errant throw into the end zone with outside pressure.
Working against Indianapolis' second-team offense on the next drive, the Cowboys came up with a fourth-down stop when linebacker Bradie James popped running back DeDe Dorsey on fourth and 1 from the Dallas 35.
The second-team defense came up with points, however, when safety Keith Davis picked off a Jim Sorgi pass that linebacker Alex Obomese deflected and returned 41 yards for a score.
For the night, the defense allowed 13 first downs (many late in the fourth quarter) and 204 yards, much to the delight of the new coach.
"It's not about me," Phillips said "It's about this team and getting them ready for the season. That's what we're trying to do."
The Dallas Morning News
IRVING – For an opening act, Thursday wasn't bad.
The Cowboys' first-team offense lasted 27 plays and scored six points. The Cowboys' first-team defense lasted 15 plays and gave up three points.
The final – a 23-10 Cowboys' win against Indianapolis at Texas Stadium – was almost irrelevant.
"It's not a regular-season game, but it's nice to come in and play well at home," said Wade Phillips, who made his debut as Cowboys coach. "I think we did some things well. Hard work can pay off, and I think winning whatever kind of game is important a lot of ways. I thought it was in this one."
Unlike last year when Tony Romo played the entire preseason debut at Seattle and completed 19-of-25 passes for 235 yards and a touchdown, Romo lasted the first two series, completing 10-of-11 passes for 93 yards. He had a 103.4 quarterback rating.
"All the work we put in during training camp showed up," Romo said. "We had two good drives to start, but we've still got a long way to go."
What frustrated Romo, however, was that both drives stalled inside the Colts' 15 without a touchdown. The first trip was halted at the 6 after Romo chose a safer pass underneath to DeSoto's Patrick Crayton. The second trip ended when Romo missed an open Anthony Fasano in the end zone and settled for Marion Barber on a dump off.
Instead of touchdowns, the Cowboys settled for field goals of 24 and 25 yards from Martin Gramatica and rookie Nick Folk.
"You try and avoid doing some of the things you do in the red zone until you get to the regular season," Romo said. "We've got time to work on that, and we will. I was just taking what the defense gave me."
Romo's nine completions went to seven different receivers at three positions, starting with receiver Terrell Owens and ending with running back Marion Barber, while mixing in tight ends Jason Witten and Fasano.
And Romo did it with the starting tackles (Flozell Adams and Marc Colombo) watching as rookie Doug Free and second-year man Pat McQuistan started. The Colts, though, were without three starters: defensive end Robert Mathis, defensive tackle Anthony McFarland and safety Bob Sanders.
Last November, the Colts saw their dreams of an undefeated season end at Texas Stadium thanks to an interception return for a touchdown by Kevin Burnett off Peyton Manning.
Manning, the Super Bowl MVP a little more than two months later, lasted one series Thursday but was able to fend off any pressure, including a completion of 28 yards to Marvin Harrison that set up the Colts' field goal.
On the next three plays, Marcus Spears came up with a stop after a 1-yard run, cornerback Anthony Henry deflected pass intended for Reggie Wayne and DeMarcus Ware forced an errant throw into the end zone with outside pressure.
Working against Indianapolis' second-team offense on the next drive, the Cowboys came up with a fourth-down stop when linebacker Bradie James popped running back DeDe Dorsey on fourth and 1 from the Dallas 35.
The second-team defense came up with points, however, when safety Keith Davis picked off a Jim Sorgi pass that linebacker Alex Obomese deflected and returned 41 yards for a score.
For the night, the defense allowed 13 first downs (many late in the fourth quarter) and 204 yards, much to the delight of the new coach.
"It's not about me," Phillips said "It's about this team and getting them ready for the season. That's what we're trying to do."
posted by The Gryphon at 5:01 PM
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