Cowboys vs Giants: Dallas' Biggest Winners & Losers from Week 1

Well, this one is pretty easy, isn't it? How 'bout them Cowboys?

Dallas traveled to the city of New York to take on the Giants in the season's opener featuring Super Bowl MVP Eli Manning and a guy with a lacerated spleen in Jason Witten.

The Cowboys were up to the task, as they bested the Giants 24-17 in a game that saw Dallas commit 13 penalties.

Dallas' offensive line was shaky at best, as Romo was sacked twice and pressured into an ill-thrown interception.

No matter the mistakes for Dallas, they won. In the end, that is all that matters.

Here are a few winners and losers from the Cowboys' Week 1 win against the Giants.

Winner: Tony Romo, Quarterback

Romo was masterful on Wednesday night. He was efficient, 22/29, threw for 307 yards and tossed three touchdowns. His rating was 129.5 and he averaged almost 11 yards per attempt.

He did his job and spread the ball around to seven different receivers. His top target wasn't Dez Bryant or Miles Austin. It was slot receiver Kevin Ogletree.

Romo looked like he was in midseason form against the Giants and used his evasive pocket skills as well as that pretty pump fake.

Behind a shaky offensive line, he led his team to victory.

Loser: Cowboys Offensive Line

The Cowboys were flagged 13 times and I must have seen Tyron Smith flinch at least three times against the Giants' vaunted defensive line.

Not that I blame him. Who wouldn't if you were looking across the line into the eyes of Jason Pierre-Paul and Osi Umenyiora?

Even with that much nasty defensive talent facing you, the Cowboys offensive line has to do a better job of protecting the quarterback and performing as a more disciplined unit.

Doug Free was flagged for holding and guard Mackenzy Bernadeau was flattened by Giants defensive tackle Rocky Bernard.

Some of their inefficiency was due to lack of playing time together and getting to know how each player reacts to certain situations.

No excuses for the Cowboys, as their offensive line will have to get better—and quickly.

Winner: DeMarco Murray, Running Back

He started a little slow as he couldn't find a hole, and the Giants defensive just bottled him.

But Garrett stuck with him and allowed him to keep making cracks on the Giants' defensive line.

Murray was sitting on just 35 yards on 11 carries before his big play happened. He broke for a very large 48-yard gain down the right side that set the Cowboys up for a score.

He finished the game with 131 yards on 20 carries and 6.6 yards per rush. I would say that Murray has picked up right where he left off.

Loser: Felix Jones, Running Back

Be honest, how many fans remember seeing him in the game?

Jones was actually injured according to a report on ESPNDallas.com, but the injury is unspecified.

He wasn’t an intricate part of the offense, and the Cowboys did not seem to miss him.  

Jones needs to have a big year if he plans to stay with the Cowboys. He’s working with a one-year deal and he’s always injured. Hopefully this isn’t the end of Jones as we know him.

Winner: Kevin Ogletree, Wide Receiver

Ogletree had zero career touchdowns before Wednesday's game against the Giants. He emerged with two when the night was over.

His final stat line of the night was eight catches for 114 yards and two touchdowns. Romo actually targeted Ogletree more than any receiver on the team, even more than Dez Bryant.

Ogletree won the slot position by the skin of his teeth, and his performance in the season opener just increased the amount of trust that his quarterback and coaches have in him.

Great job by a young guy who was in danger of losing his job this offseason.

Loser: Phil Costa, Center

Costa was in for about three plays before his back tightened and he had to leave the game.

He left the game and never returned.

Dallas seemed to search high and wide for a center to replace Costa. They traded for center Ryan Cook, and he ended up being thrown deep into the fire.

Costa's time in Dallas may be short if he can't stay on the field. Not only that, he has to prove that he's worthy of the job.

Winner: Cowboys Secondary

Brandon Carr and Morris Claiborne did a great job of taking some of the Giants' best receiving targets out of the game.

Victor Cruz had six catches for just 58 yards and no touchdowns. Former Cowboys tight end Martellus Bennett scored the lone receiving touchdown for the Giants. It was a nine-yard pass from Manning around the goal line. 

But for Claiborne and Carr's debut as a duo, they did a great job. Not to mention the over the top coverage by Sensabaugh and Church.

Manning was held to just 6.7 yards per attempt, sacked three times and only 213 passing yards.

A great way to start the season for one of the Cowboys' most expensive offseason projects: the defensive backfield.