11/22 — The Jets open on defense, and on the game's second play from scrimmage, former Cowboys DE Kenyon Coleman makes a nice stop of no gain on Julius Jones.

But then the Jets defense gives up chunks of yards: 17 yards from Tony Romo to new third WR Miles Austin in front of Andre Dyson on third-and-9, a 19-yard burst off left tackle by Julius, 13 yards from Romo to Terrell Owens on Darrelle Revis.

Finally, Marion Barber III, the son of the former Jets RB of the same name, bursts off his left side for 7 yards and the opening-drive TD.

Cowboys 7, Jets 0

It's the third TD by Jets opponents on their opening drives this year. New England and Philadelphia did it previously.

Then when it rains it pours, Leon Washington gets his hands on a kickoff after the Steelers kicked short of him all day Sunday, and at the end of his return, he fumbles when Dallas' Sam Hurd gets his hands on the ball. It doesn't look good early for the Green & White as they go back on defense from their 35.

But just as quickly, the Jets strike back. Tony Romo playfakes and drops back looking for T.O. It looks promising, dangerous. It's also thrown into double coverage, and Kerry Rhodes has it all the way. He picks off the pass falling into his end zone, then gets up and runs it back to the Jets 22. This disaster averted.

Chris Baker makes a phenomenal one-handed grab on the Jets' first offensive play for 22 yards, but that's all there is on the visitors' first drive to midfield. On comes Ben Graham, who wouldn't mind out-kicking his countryman, Cowboys punter Mat McBriar — both, in fact, hail from Melbourne, Australia. Graham draws first blood with a dandy drop punt, 39 yards with a 4.5-second hang time, that Terence Newman has to fair-catch at his 12.

McBriar comes on after a three-and-out — the last play of which Darrelle Revis, his body slightly turned, can't come up with a gift interception from Romo on a slant to Owens. The punt is short but Leon Washington can't get to it until it hops twice and is dropped at the Jets 26.

Kellen Clemens is getting no time to set up and find his receivers. He is sacked for the second time when Greg Ellis gets past RG Brandon Moore, and Graham's next punt isn't as impressive as his first as Newman takes it on the run to the Jets 48.

The Jets get some payback with a sack of Romo as C.J. Mosley and David Harris team up to force the ball loose, although the Cowboys recover. Another punt, a fair catch by Washington at the Jets 12.

Graham doesn't get all of his third punt, which goes out of bounds after 32 yards. And with Abram Elam flagged for being ineligibly downfield, the 'Pokes take over at their 44. The team with the star on the helmet and on the 50 is overpowering the Jets on defense and winning the field position battle. Not a good combination as the first quarter comes to a close.