Cowboys-Panthers scoreless after first quarter; Felix Jones boosting Dallas in first start

Cowboys-Panthers scoreless after 1st quarter

ARLINGTON, Texas — Felix Jones kept picking up yards in his first career start for the Dallas Cowboys, who still were unable to get any points and were in a scoreless tie with Carolina after the first quarter Monday night.

Jones started in place of Marion Barber, who was out because of a left quadriceps strain sustained in the 33-31 loss to the New York Giants in the inaugural regular-season game at the nearly $1.2 billion Cowboys Stadium.

While there was significantly less pomp and pageantry for the second game in the football showplace, Jones was involved right away after kickoff and tried to jump-start the Cowboys.

Tony Romo threw a screen pass on the opening play to Jones, who slipped outside for a 20-yard gain. Jones was tripped up by a teammate at the line on an 4-yard run the next play and, after a short pass to Jason Witten for a first down, it was Jones’ turn again.

Jones took a handoff to the left side, shuffled his feet to send safety Charles Godfrey spinning and reaching at air, and picked up 18 more yards to the Carolina 30. Roy Williams converted a third down play with a 17-yard catch, but the Cowboys didn’t capitalize.

After Thomas Davis sacked Romo, and an incomplete pass, Nick Folk was wide right on a 40-yard field goal. That ended his streak of 16 consecutive made kicks.

On the second drive for Dallas, Jones had a 16-yard run up the middle and might have gone all the way for a touchdown if not for Quinton Teal’s ankle-grabbing tackle.

Jones had five rushes for 46 yards to go with his opening-play catch.

Romo, coming off a 127-yard passing game with three interceptions against the Giants, was 5 for 8 for 56 yards.

Carolina’s Jake Delhomme was 5 of 7 for 45 yards.

The Cowboys, who led the NFL with 59 sacks last season, were still looking for their first sack of this season. They also haven’t forced a turnover, the only team that went into Week 3 without a sack or a takeaway.

It appeared that DeMarcus Ware had gotten to Delhomme in the closing minute of the first quarter, but the play was instead ruled as an incomplete pass.

The Panthers are trying to avoid an 0-3 start.