What we learned ...
Marion Barber is a beast: The Cowboys' Pro Bowl running back wore down the Texans defense with his bruising running style, lowering his shoulders to gain extra yards after contact. Barber carried the ball 13 times for 75 yards and a touchdown, and looked like he couldn't be brought down without a fight, rarely being fazed by the first defender.
Cowboys' air game shines: Romo looked sharp, going 15-of-19 for 166 yards with a touchdown and an interception, while spreading out his completions to seven different receivers.
Matt Schaub struggles: Schaub, looked shaky, especially in the first half, going 15-of-27 for 166 yards and a touchdown. He launched a number of passes over potential receivers' heads and just couldn't seem to find any sort of rhythm.
Slaton stands out: Houston's rookie running back gained 44 yards on 10 carries. The 5-foot-9, 201-pound back showed off not just his great quickness, but also some power, gaining some tough yards. He even pushed Dallas safety Roy Williams to the ground on a 13-yard run in the third quarter.
