Dallas Cowboys: Five Positives From the 17-10 Loss

It is never easy losing a game when you held the lead for three quarters.  Even worse, this Cowboys team continues to baffle fans with incredibly inconsistent play, and more than anything, a propensity to falter when the game is on the line (whether it is, giving up a game-winning drive to the Giants a couple of weeks back, giving up a sick Brandon Marshall TD catch, or throwing twice to Sammy Hurd with the game on the line). 

Whereas one has to wonder where was Roy "I'm not T.O." Williams on the last two plays, these are five positives from the game that the team ought to build on (and yes, you will notice the lackluster offense is nowhere to be seen, despite their solid first quarter):

1. Mike Jenkins finally looked like the CB the Cowboys, and himself, thought he could be.  Jenkins played solid coverage and even better, made good tackles.  If anything, Jenkins outplayed Terrence Newman.

2. Keith Brooking not only lead the team in tackles with nine, one of which was on a 4th- and-1 that killed a Denver drive, but also seems to be the heart of the D (no offense to DeMarcus Ware).  Brooking is playing with the intensity and leadership this team sorely lacks.

3. Turnovers (one) and sacks (three) finally show up.  The D kept the pressure coming to Orton and the fumble created by DeMarcus Ware should've set up at least a FG that would have extended the lead had Miles Austin not ran the wrong route.

4. Special teams play continues to be strong.  Sure, there was a sub-par punt by Matt McBriar, but the kickoffs (thanks David Buehler) and coverage teams continues to aid in the field position battle.

5. The D held the Broncos to only 2-10 on third down conversions. 

In the end it was a loss punctuated by Anthony Spencer's almost pick on Knowshon Moreno's TD catch, and the hideous coverage and tackling on the Marshall game-winning TD, but if the offense can stop giving up short fields and be more consistent at establishing drives, this team could finally get that playoff win lots of folk have been craving for.