Week 3 Recap - Carolina (7) @ Dallas (21)

Last week I declared that this team is not ready to make a run at the playoffs. After this victory against Carolina, I didn't totally change my opinion of them, but this game gave me glimpses of a truly great team.

The entire first half can be practically disregarded figuring the only good drive ended with a missed field goal. It was also filled with plenty of penalties that definitely hurt drives. The only memorable occurrence was the first interception of the season by Mike Jenkins, which unfortunately resulted in only a punt.

The first half ended with a Carolina touchdown, and the score of 7 - 0, which apparently made Dallas pretty mad heading into the locker room.

The second half is when the Cowboys unleashed, especially the defense. They forced four straight 3 and outs and kept constant pressure on Jake Delhomme. Jay Ratliff recorded the first sack of the season. Terence Newman grabbed his second career pick six, and rookie Victor Butler got two more sacks on Delhomme and forced the game clinching fumble to secure Dallas' victory with only a minute left to play.

The offense is still a bit shaky and the penalties have to be cut down if they want to stop killing themselves in close games. The receivers seem to have a hard time getting open and I have to criticize some of the play calling... I mean c'mon... I understand the 2nd and goal fade to Roy Williams... ok, they almost had it... next play... a fade to Martellus Bennett in the same spot?!... When you're averaging about 5 or more yards per run?!? I just don't get why they didn't try to pound it up the middle on 2nd down... horrible decision.

Regardless of the imperfections, it was a win... and a win always makes the imperfections disappear... Dallas is now 2-1 and will be heading up to Denver next Sunday to face the 3-0 Broncos... this game should tell us a lot about both of these teams.

Cheers to the 'W' but there's a lot that needs to be tightened up.