I really hoped this 'Terrell Owens may just be griping' story would not really start up, but I think it's going to have a little bit of juice as the day goes on. Whether or not it gains any real steam is yet to be determined.

Matt Mosley says one of his teammates thinks the Cowboys were trying too hard to get him the football, read here.

Did the Cowboys' obsession with T.O. backfire on them?

First of all, let's give the Redskins' secondary its proper due. In the first half, cornerback Shawn Springs jammed Terrell Owens at the line of scrimmage and pretty much took him out of the game. T.O. finished with only two catches for 11 yards, which may have caused offensive coordinator Jason Garrett to overcompensate in the second half.

After all, Patrick Crayton and Jason Witten combined for nine catches, 110 yards and a touchdown in the first half. On the first drive of the second half, Romo completed three passes to T.O., the third going for a 10-yard touchdown. Romo ended up throwing to T.O. six times in the third quarter and five more in the fourth quarter.

The most telling drive came right after the Redskins took a 23-17 lead early in the fourth quarter. The Redskins broke up three consecutive passes to T.O., the last two by Carlos Rogers, who was covering him because Springs left the game with a calf strain.

Of the Cowboys' 58 offensive plays, they either threw or handed the ball to T.O. 19 times. In my mind, that smacks of a team trying too hard to make one player happy. In the first half, he appeared to give up on a few routes when he knew the ball wasn't coming his way. It was pretty obvious that Springs was frustrating him.

After the game, a Cowboys starter on offense said he thought the team tried too hard to involve T.O. in the second half. It's not good when a player senses that coaches are calling plays in order to keep a teammate happy. It's not time to panic if you're a Cowboys fan, but I'd certainly keep your eye on that situation. It's a slap in the face to Witten, Patrick Crayton, Miles Austin -- and especially rookie Felix Jones to freeze them out in order to please T.O.

I wrote earlier today that I do think Romo was trying too hard to get him more involved and it's the wrong thing to do. Romo has been great when he just gets in the pocket and finds the open guy and I hope he remembers that when he does that he will be successful.

I agree with JJT because there is no excuse in the world to me why the Cowboys abandoned the running game, read here.

After the game, I heard all of the usual excuses.

You know, the ones about playing from behind meant the Cowboys couldn't run the ball. And running only 58 plays kept the Cowboys from establishing a running game.

And my personal favorite: The Cowboys took what the defense gave them because the Redskins stacked the line of scrimmage, daring Dallas to pass against one-on-one coverage.

"The style of defense they were playing was forcing us to do some other things," Garrett said. "We have to execute better in those other areas to be able to get back to some of those things you want to do. You have to aggressively take what the defense gives you."

Sometimes, you need to take what you want. Dallas isn't going to win many games with Barber gaining 26 yards and Jones getting the same number of carries as me.

Exactly! The offensive line really disappointed me yesterday. They didn't get much push at the line of scrimmage when the Cowboys tried to run and they made Romo move around in the pocket way too often and he never really got into a rhythm.

Isn't this the same coaching staff that told us after the Philadelphia game a couple of weeks ago that even when you don't run the ball well early in the game, you have to persevere because it pays big dividends in the second half?

"It wasn't hard to run the ball against them," guard Leonard Davis said. "We had a game plan based on the looks they were giving us, and that dictated we stick with the passing game."

Then it was a suspect game plan.

Suspect and lame are the two words that come to mind. Since when did the Skins become such a dominate defensive unit that you had to try and find ways to have success against them? And did I mention that Jason Taylor didn't even play yesterday.

Nick Eatman makes a very good point in his article on the lack of a running game, read here.

But what I don't understand is why Jones just can't get his own series. Even Julius Jones got a few of those last season, and I think we're all in agreement that Felix is a better fit for this offense.

But the Cowboys need to give Felix Jones a designated series where he is THE running back. Not a change-of-pace back. Not a third-down back and not a complimentary back. Not for this one series or two.

He's a playmaker. He's one of the fastest players on the offensive side of the ball and he needs touches.

Just because he may not be an every-down back, doesn't mean he's not an any-down back.

"He has a specific role that he plays," head coach Wade Phillips said of Jones, whose only touches came on four kickoff returns, for a total of just 54 yards. "The plays that he works on, they aren't really come-from-behind plays. They are more normal-game situation plays. We will be more and more comfortable with him as he learns more."

Learns more? He knows sweep left. He knows halfback dive. Again, I didn't remember when the Redskins were so far in front that the Cowboys had to abandon the run, especially from a player who is considered your best home-run hitter. If he has the talent and skills to take it to the house on any play, then feed him the rock.

"I was ready today, but there's really nothing I can do," Jones said. "I just wait until my number is called. I can't really get (upset) about it. I always want the ball. But I just have to be ready all the time. Today, we just didn't get many opportunities."

Makes no sense to me. But OK, if you don't feel as comfortable with giving the ball to Felix, then at least get it more to Barber.

Makes no sense to me either Nick. They drafted Felix Jones to play football in the NFL and for some they are handling him with 'kid gloves' as if they are saving him for something. This is why I was so annoyed when Wade said back in training camp that he wasn't going to let him return kicks.

Kevin Sherrington from the Dallas Morning News isn't too high on the defense right now, read here.

"We had 12 men on the field," Ken Hamlin said. "You can't have 12 people on the field."

No, Ken, you can't.

"It's not Pop Warner," Bradie James said. "It's the NFL."

Right, Bradie.

Wade Phillips probably figured the previous points made by his safety and linebacker were obvious, but now he knows better.

"I can't understand how two players playing the position could be standing out there," Phillips said, clearly flustered. "I can't fathom that.

"They were standing right next to each other."

Hey, Patrick Watkins: Did it seem odd to you?

"I was talking with one of my teammates, and I thought the play was set, but apparently it was changed," he gamely confessed.

"It was on me."

While I think this was a seriously boneheaded move by Watkins I also think Wade has gotten just a little too cute by having '25 defensive packages' so he can 'put guys in position to succeed'. This isn't rocket science, it's football and sometimes it's just about manning up and getting the job done.

"We're not living up to that tag you guys have given us about being a great defense," he said.

If it's any consolation, Terence, we're taking it back. As of right now.

A great defense doesn't let Clinton Portis run through it for 121 yards on 5.8 yards per carry. A great defense doesn't let Santana Moss catch eight passes for 145 yards, an 18.1-yard average.

A great defense doesn't let Moss get behind it when it's in a three-deep zone.

A great defense isn't tied with the likes of Detroit for last place in interceptions.

A great defense forces more than two turnovers in four games.

Complain about the lackluster offensive performance Sunday if you want, because it was certainly uninspiring. But they're not going to light it up every Sunday. Tony Romo won't always dazzle. Marion Barber won't always trample. T.O. won't always act interested.

Occasionally, the defense has to win a game on its own. Knock a ball or two loose. Pick off a pass.

Maybe even score a touchdown.

I never gave them that tag for one and as the games go by I am start to really give up more and more on the idea that this set of defensive players will ever be an elite unit who can control a game.

Here's the talking heads at ESPN doing what they do best...