Not a bad start

The Cowboys will certainly take the 1-0 start and a seemingly breezy win against the Buccaneers.

With the Giants coming to town, the Cowboys know their defense, at least as constituted against the Buccaneers last week, isn't good enough. Not giving up 450 yards, including 174 on the ground.

"We absolutely have to play better," defensive end Marcus Spears said.

"They ran the ball and we didn't get any sacks," linebacker Bradie James said. "For us, it was like, 'Wow, what defense is this?' We've just got to go back to the drawing board and work harder this week."

The Giants didn't dominate on the ground against the Redskins but do arrive with the same 1-0 record as the Cowboys. To be sure, coach Tom Coughlin knows he need not waste time worrying about his defense this week. In Dallas, there is no such benefit.

The Cowboys blamed the poor defensive effort on getting caught in line stunts and blitzes by the Buccaneers. But they struggled against the run last season, too.

The Giants rushed 200 yards against the Cowboys, who also gave up 161 yards to Redskins, 180 to the Rams and 265 to the Ravens.

"There has to be a sense of urgency," linebacker Keith Brooking said. "I just watched the film by myself, and we can't accept that defensively.

"I know without a doubt we will go in there and get the mistakes corrected and guys will be accountable. I know that all 11 guys on our defense have the right mentality and the right attitude. They are going to focus just like I am going to focus, and we aren't going to let this happen again."

NOTES: Owner Jerry Jones was reportedly fined $100,000 for his comments about the upcoming labor talks in regards to Vikings search for a new stadium. Jones wouldn't confirm the fine. But he didn't back off his statements.

"If my comments were out of bounds, then so be it," Jones said. "There is a scripted plan to have a message because of our unique position in building our stadium and what it means for us and what it can mean for the NFL. It was scripted comments to the fans in Minnesota to ask their leadership to help get a stadium that's good for Minnesota. What is so clear is that the labor agreement itself or any comments like that are intertwined in the new stadium aspect of it."

--Cowboys owner Jerry Jones wants more than 100,000 fans for the inaugural game at the new Cowboys Stadium on Sunday. That's why winning the season opener was special to him; he expects the Cowboys to build on the momentum on the field and off the field for the showdown against the Giants in the home opener.

"We know what a win means on the road in the NFL," Jones said, "but I sure wanted to have a little decent taste in our mouths as we open that new stadium this week."