IRVING, Texas -- The gap keeps getting wider for the Dallas
Cowboys.
Off to a 4-0 start for the first time since their last Super
Bowl season a dozen years ago, the Cowboys' margin of victory has
increased and they have literally gotten better each game under
Wade Phillips.
Tony Romo and Co. keep scoring at a record pace. And the
defense, bolstered by the return of Terence Newman and Greg Ellis
the past two weeks, has given up fewer touchdowns each game -- from
four in the season opener to none in their latest victory.
"We have a good team right now. We're playing well overall, and
certainly have some talented players that have made plays for us,"
Phillips said Monday. "Anytime your quarterback is playing like
our quarterback's playing, that's a key factor. Our defense is
solid. ... We've done what we can do, and probably a little better
than that."
The Cowboys and Green Bay are the NFC's only undefeated teams
through the first month of the season. Dallas hasn't been in this
position since 1995 with Troy Aikman, Michael Irvin and Emmitt
Smith.
"It's an advantage," owner Jerry Jones said. "This is the way
to buy some insurance. Or this is the way to anticipate not playing
well every week. ... It's unrealistic to not think that that we
might (lose some games). This gives us a better foundation."
While the Triplets led the Cowboys to their fifth Super Bowl
title that season, they didn't make it to 5-0 -- something that last
happened in Dallas in 1983 when Tom Landry was still coach.
The Romo-led Cowboys get their chance Monday night in Buffalo
(1-3), where Phillips had his previous head coaching job. Phillips
went 29-19 with two playoff appearances in Buffalo from 1998-2000
before stints as defensive coordinator in Atlanta and San Diego.
Newman's return at cornerback from a heel injury is timely. NFL
interception leader Anthony Henry (four) is questionable because of
a right high ankle sprain sustained Sunday. Newman might be a
starter again after playing mostly in passing situations his first
two games back.
"We're evaluating, but I think he'd be really iffy," Phillips
said of Henry.
Ellis, whose contract was reworked last week, played Sunday for
the first time since tearing his left Achilles' tendon in November.
The outside linebacker played 15 snaps, getting 1½ sacks and
creating a lot of pressure.
"He came real close on a couple of other sacks," Phillips
said. "I'm real encouraged about where he is. That extra
sack-and-a-half has given us more pressure."
Phillips insists he doesn't have vindication on his mind going
back to Buffalo with an undefeated team.
Instead, he's trying to keep the attention of his players, who
got a rare Monday off after their 35-7 home victory over the St.
Louis Rams, whose only score came on a punt return.
The Rams, Chicago and Miami -- the last three opponents -- are all
among the NFL's four worst offenses. The Rams and Dolphins still
haven't won a game.
"We still have to be realistic. The teams that we have played
have only won three games," Phillips said. "We have some tough
games ahead of us and we know that. ... We can't get
overconfident."
Still, the Cowboys are the NFL's highest-scoring team, their 151
points being 22 more than the NFL record-holding 1998 Minnesota
Vikings had at the same point. Dallas has scored 107 second-half
points, more than the total scoring output of 26 NFL teams.
Romo has an NFL-best 11 TD passes. He already has three 300-yard
games, matching the team season record and giving him six in 12
career games. Only Aikman (13), Danny White (10) and Don Meredith
have more 300-yard games.
Plus, Romo has also been productive with his feet.
Before three TD passes in the third quarter Sunday, Romo scored
the go-ahead TD on a 15-yard run 11 seconds before halftime. He
kept that drive alive with his incredible escape after a third-down
shotgun snap sailed over his head.
Romo was 33 yards behind the line of scrimmage, after initially
knocking the ball further back, when he finally controlled it. He
then turned and started running, recovering all the yards he lost --
plus the four needed for a first down.
Even knowing how the play ended, Phillips had a hard time
watching again on tape.
"I don't want to watch it again," he said. "When I watched it
out there, I said, `Oh, no.' And when I put the tape on, I said
`Oh, no' again."