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Cowboys look to improve defense against Dolphins

Sep 16, 2007 - 11:07 AM Dallas (1-0) at Miami (0-1) Sunday 4:05 pm EDT

MIAMI (Ticker) -- The Dallas Cowboys could not have asked for more from quarterback Tony Romo in their season-opening 45-35 victory over the New York Giants.

However, Dallas will be looking for improved play from its defense Sunday against the Miami Dolphins.

Last week, the Cowboys allowed Eli Manning to throw for 312 yards and four touchdowns. It was Manning's first 300-yard game since Week Two of last season.

Dallas may have additional concerns about its defense as nose tackle Jason Ferguson, a 10-year veteran, suffered a torn biceps tendon in the first quarter last week and will be out for the season. Ferguson will have surgery Friday.

"Our coverage overall wasn't good enough, obviously," said Dallas coach Wade Phillips, whose 3-4 defense surrendered 438 yards. "We really had some pressure but we just didn't play our zone stuff well enough. We had guys doubled and they caught it for touchdowns. And those kind of things bother you a little bit."

The Cowboys' defense, expected to be one of the team's concerns this season, could fare better against the Dolphins, who are coming off a 16-13 overtime loss to the Washington Redskins in Cam Cameron's NFL coaching debut.

Trent Green had limited success in his first start for the Dolphins, completing 24-of-38 passes for 219 yards and a touchdown. Miami's rushing game was virtually nonexistent, managing just 58 yards on 20 carries.

Miami also has to be concerned with the Cowboys offense, which moved the ball at will against the Giants.

After taking over for the now-retired Drew Bledsoe midway through last season, Romo sparked the Cowboys to a four-game winning streak that helped them finish the 2006 season 9-7 and make the playoffs as a wild card team.

But the Cowboys are looking for more consistent play from Romo after losing four of their last five games last season, including a 21-20 playoff defeat at Seattle. He got off to a fast start against the Giants, throwing for a career-high 345 yards and four touchdowns.

Romo's favorite target was Jason Witten, who caught six passes for 116 yards and a touchdown. Terrell Owens only had three catches for 87 yards - but two of them went for TDs.

The 45 points matched Dallas' highest total in four seasons under former coach Bill Parcells, who retired after the Cowboys' playoff loss to Seattle.

The Cowboys won only their second season opener in the last eight years. They have not started 2-0 since 1999.