IRVING, TEXAS - If head coach Wade Phillips sticks to last year's preseason finale plan, you won't see the majority of the Cowboys' starters again until the Sept. 7 season opener at Cleveland.
Based on their two-plus quarters of work in Friday's third preseason game against the Houston Texans, Phillips' regulars look ready for the regular season anyway.
Quarterback Tony Romo and the Cowboys' offense chewed up 266 yards in the first half, and the starting defense held Houston to a single touchdown in a 23-22 victory at Texas Stadium that ended the club's preseason winless streak and sent the Governor's Cup back to Dallas.
"It was one of those games that you needed to turn it on," Phillips said. "I thought everybody was right on that we needed to be able to turn it on and I think we did."
Both starting units looked more efficient than last week's loss to Denver, in which the offense was held scoreless in three series and the defense allowed Jay Cutler to complete his first 12 passes en route to a quick two-touchdown deficit.
Friday night, the starters played into the second half with the exception of five players: Romo, wide receiver Terrell Owens, tight end Jason Witten, running back Marion Barber and linebacker Zach Thomas. The offense in particular found its rhythm with extended time and built an early lead off stalled Houston drives, though two contributors - starting left guard Kyle Kosier (sprained foot) and second-year receiver Isaiah Stanback (shoulder subluxation) - were injured and will have MRIs on Saturday.
There were plenty of reasons for Phillips to be pleased:
The offensive line created gaping holes for Marion Barber, who plowed through the Texans' defense for 75 yards and a touchdown on 13 carries.
Romo completed 15 of 19 passes for 166 yards and led the offense on two touchdown drives, including a six-yard TD pass to Patrick Crayton in the first quarter. His lone significant mistake was an interception in the end zone with the Cowboys poised to score from the one-yard line.
The defense held Houston to six total yards on its first three series, allowing only a field goal on the opening drive after Texans return specialist Andre Davis ran the kickoff to the Dallas 37. The Texans did finish with 309 total yards, however, thanks in part to 73 second-half rushing yards.
Nick Folk drilled field goals of 48, 41 and 35 yards, adding to his perfect preseason. His second make came after the offense drove 52 yards in the final 34 seconds of the first half.
The team committed only five penalties for 38 yards, including one offensive infraction (five yards for illegal formation).
Take away Romo's interception and his overthrown deep pass to a wide-open Owens (team-high four catches for 43 yards), and the Cowboys likely would have scored 31 points by halftime instead of 20.
"I was trying to bait the guy a little bit and he did a great job," Romo said of trying to force the ball to tight end Tony Curtis on the run, leading to the interception. "I've just got to put it out in front."
Houston scored its first 16 points off Cowboys' miscues: The poor coverage on the opening kickoff, Romo's interception, Isaiah Stanback's fumbled kickoff return at the start of the third quarter and rookie Felix Jones' fumble at the Houston nine.
The Cowboys' reserves held off a Houston rally late in the fourth quarter. The Texans scored with 2:12 remaining and could have tied the game with an extra point, but head coach Gary Kubiak called for an unsuccessful two-point conversion attempt.
Cowboys backup quarterback Brad Johnson played the entire second half, completing nine of 13 passes for 107 yards. Jones, the Cowboys' top draft pick, had five carries for 10 yards and didn't play until the second half.
"We were in a rhythm and we wanted to see Barber get some work in," Phillips explained. "He needed to carry the ball some. If you put Felix in you're going to share it a little bit and we really didn't need that this game. We'll need it during the regular season, certainly."
Jones likely will get the bulk of the carries in next Thursday's preseason finale against Minnesota. Final roster cuts come two days later on Aug. 30.
Last year, all but six of the projected 22 starters did not dress for the finale. Phillips said he hasn't decided on playing time yet, but typically prefers to evaluate fringe players fighting for the final roster spots.
Friday's game was the classic "dress rehearsal" for his first-teamers. And for the most part, they delivered.
"We came out and jumped on those guys, and didn't wait around until the second half," guard Leonard Davis said. "I think that's kind of where we caught them off guard."
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