(Editor's Note: Each day we will take the 2 best questions for our staff writers to answer from the Mailbag. "Click here" to email questions now.)

DANIEL PEVETO, VIDOR, TX: Against the Redskins, the Cowboys looked to have played a more conservative offense. They ran pitches, screens and crosses instead of throwing and praying. Yes, it lacked the "awe" factor, but it worked. Do you think this is something the Cowboys will do more of, or do you believe it was to simply protect Romo's pinkie?

Nick: I think it was the pinkie to some degree. I also think it was the wind at the stadium. It wasn't easy to throw the ball. You're going to see more conservative game plans this time of year.

Mickey: The NFL is about matchups, not about doing this one thing all the time. Throwing and praying? That might be a tad over-simplification of an offense that was pretty darn potent last year. I think the Cowboys simply reacted to how the Redskins defense was playing and countered what they were doing against the run by forcing the ball to the outside.

Rob: I think it's both. Romo admittedthe injured finger affected his grip at times. Be it Romo's limitations or the fact they ran it only 11 times in the first meeting, offensive coordinator Jason Garrett did a great job of establishing a balanced attack this time around. Of course, it helped that the Cowboys ran well early -- Marion Barber had eight carries for 45 yards in the first half. You can't run just for the sake of running.

PAT STASIO, HORSHAM, PA: Once again poor special teams hurt the Cowboys right before the half. One, we cannot kick the ball into the end zone on a regular basis. I think we would be better off kicking it very high even if it came down at the 10 so at least we would be able to cover that. Two, it again appears that Mike Jenkins is afraid of contact and I think we need to replace him on special teams. Your thoughts?

Nick: Replace him with who? Backup players need to play special teams. If they can't do it well, they need to be taught. Kicking off high only works if you tackle. That seems to be the problem.

Mickey: Well, first of all, did anyone kick the ball into the end zone on that cold, windy night? Secondly, the kick-off returned 58 yards went to the five. There is nothing wrong with that. Just cover it. And to me, Jenkins was doing his job keeping containment to the outside and forcing Rock Cartwright to cut it back inside. Problem was, after Alan Ball overran the coverage, there was no one else there. Someone didn't fill their lane.

Rob: Nick Folk's kickoff landed at the 5-yard line, which is decent considering the windy conditions, but Wade Phillips said the ball was meant to go right. After watching the replay again, it looked like Jenkins was trying to do his job by containingthe outside. Jenkins hedged to the outside, but Cartwright read his blocker and cut up the middle, which was wide open. Not sure if he played that correctly. But you're right -- the Redskins shouldn't have been able to get three points in the final minute of the half without any timeouts. That return ate into the momentum from the 80-yard touchdown drive.

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