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Cowboys look to rebound from first loss

Sep 30, 2008 - 10:05 PM Cincinnati (0-4) at Dallas (3-1), 4:15pm, EDT

IRVING, Texas (Ticker) -- For the first three weeks of the season, there was nothing but smooth sailing in Big D. That changed last week when the Dallas Cowboys fell, 26-24, at home to the Washington Redskins.

Last season, Dallas did not drop its first game until a Week Six loss to New England, which went on to complete a 16-0 regular season. This year, the first loss came in Week Four.

The Cowboys (3-1) look to take out their frustrations this week when they host the Cincinnati Bengals, one of the league's four winless teams.

In a comment that was as predictable as the sun rising, Terrell Owens complained after the loss to the Redskins that he was not getting the ball enough. Owens caught seven passes for 71 yards and a touchdown.

"I think all good players want the football," Dallas coach Wade Phillips said. "We still had 24 points, 300 yards passing. It wasn't a great game for us because we've had better games. I would like for it to have been different, but it wasn't."

Actually, the Cowboys have been tempting fate. They won their first three games with a negative turnover differential, but the odds caught up to them against the Redskins.

Tony Romo is averaging one interception per game and the Cowboys' secondary has yet to come up with a pick this season.

"You need turnovers," Phillips added. "We've only turned it over six times offensively, which isn't bad, but when you have a minus-four, it isn't good."

The Cowboys also will be hoping for a bounce-back game from Marion Barber, who was held to 26 yards by the Redskins after rushing for a career-high 142 yards the previous week in Green Bay.

The reeling Bengals dropped to 0-4 following last week's 20-12 loss to the previous winless Cleveland Browns. They have matched their worst start since 2002, when Cincinnati posted a franchise-worst mark of 2-12.

Making matters even worse, Carson Palmer did not play due to a sore passing elbow, missing a game for the first time since 2004.

Ryan Fitzpatrick, who had not started a game since 2005 as a member of the St. Louis Rams, replaced Palmer, but threw three interceptions. He also was the Bengals' leading rusher with 41 yards.

While Palmer wants to return this week, coach Marvin Lewis has not yet named a starter.

Whomever starts, the Bengals need to be more productive. They are 31st in total offense (231.8 ypg) and scoring offense (13.0 ppg) - ahead of only the Browns in both categories.

In an attempt to boost their offense, the Bengals have signed former Chicago Bears running back Cedric Benson. who was released after he was arrested on a pair of alcohol-related charges in the summer.