FINAL: Cowboys 35, Rams 7 - Dallas improves to 4-0.

After a slow start, another 300+ yard performance by Tony Romo, another fine performance by the ground game, and a dominant defensive showing led Dallas to a comfortable win over St. Louis and made the Cowboys 4-0 for the first time since 1995.

Romo posted his third 300+ yard game in four games, going 21 of 33 for 339 yards and three touchdowns, and he also added 24 rushing yards and a score. He was also involved in one of the game’s biggest plays. In the final minute of the first half, with the game tied at 7 and the Cowboys facing a third and three from midfield, Romo turned a potential disaster into a first down, recovering a kicked snap and scrambling four yards for a first down. It was only four yards, but it was the biggest four yards of the game, as the drive would capped off five plays later by a 15-yard touchdown run by Romo that put the Cowboys up for good.

And, the Rams would be put away early in the second half, as Romo threw two long touchdown passes to Patrick Crayton, and then tossed another one to Jason Witten late in the third for what would be the final margin.

The defense didn’t allow a touchdown, as the Rams scored their only points on an 85-yard punt return by Dante Hall that tied the game after a Julius Jones touchdown run.

The offense was clicking on all cylinders yet again, going over the 500-yard mark, as the Cowboys’ O racked up 502 total yards (171 on the ground). The defense held the Rams to only 187 yards and left the Rams offense feeling blue yet again.

Offensive MVP: Romo’s gotten it three games in a row, so it’s time to give it to someone new. And that someone is Crayton, who had a huge game, making seven catches for 184 yards and the two back-breaking touchdowns in the third, of 59 and 37 yards. With Terry Glenn still on the sidelines, it’s great to see quality contributions from Crayton and Sam Hurd.

Defensive MVP: The defense as a whole had a great afternoon, but there’s one player that deserves the award. Welcome back Greg Ellis! After a wait that was as agonizing for all of the fans as it was for him, Ellis made his return to the field, and made a huge impact, picking up 1.5 sacks. If there are any questions about his effectiveness following the long layoff, they were quickly answered.

Offensive Analysis: I think we’re all getting used to these performances by Romo. Maybe today’s kick and scramble will make people forget the bobble in Seattle. It’s easy to forget that he was actually tackled only a little bit short of a first down on that play, but a 4-0 record, 1,200 yards, and 11 touchdowns in four games make that a distant memory.

The running game didn’t get a big performance by a single person, but it was three backs who gained at least 47 yards (Jones - 13 for 52, Barber - 8 for 50, Tyson Thompson - 8 for 47), and it was an added bonus to see Romo moving well. Certainly a difference from the Drew Bledsoe and Vinny Testaverde days, right?

Defenisve Analysis: Ellis’ return, and Terence Newman’s cointinued return to health definitely make the defense a whole lot more formidable now, and it shows today, though the beat-up (and even more so after today) Rams might not be the fairest indication of how good the defense really is.

Overall Analysis: There’s no let-up in this team, and that’s what makes them so good. Anytime they’ve needed a play so far, they’ve gotten it. When the Giants pulled close multiple times, the offense had a response each time and put the G-men away. When the Dolphins took a third-quarter lead, the offense and defense took over the game, leading the way to 20 straight points and a second straight win. After the Bears tied the game at 10 in the third, the Cowboys scored on the next drive, and it wasn’t long before the win was signed, sealed, and delivered. And today, after Hall’s punt return tied the game at 7, Romo used the two-minute drill to perfection, and instead of the game being up for grabs in the second half, Dallas had a 14-7 lead going into the break, stopped the Rams on the first drive of the second half, and then blew it open with two touchdowns in three minutes.

LOOKING AHEAD

Next up, the Cowboys take their unbeaten record to Buffalo for a Monday night game against the Bills. The Bills got their first win of the season today, knocking off the Jets 17-14. Rookie Trent Edwards made his first career start in place of an injured J.P. Losman and gave the offense a huge lift, completing 22 of 28 passes for 234 yards and a score.

The Bills’ pass defense is giving up a ton of yards each game, and gave up 290 to Chad Pennington today, so that means that Romo could be on tap for yet another 300-yard outing.

It’s yet another one of those games that Dallas can’t overlook, as a showdown with New England is looming in two weeks, and both teams are expected to be unbeaten going into the game. But, as the Steelers found out today, it doesn’t take much to get knocked off of your cloud.

But, if the Cowboys continue to play as they have thus far, next week’s trip to the northeast will result in a fifth straight win and an unbeaten mark going into the season’s biggest test.