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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Home News Latest Stories Emergency Services Missing girl's family, friends, want more info from police Couple's creativity and hard work fuel Kid Time! preschool expansion LNG project: Where the gas would flow, so would the money Time for a little winter prospecting Crime, Courts and Emergency Services Emergency Services Missing girl's family, friends, want more info from police Emergency Services Suspect in high-speed chase still unaccounted for Emergency services Politics and Elections State certifies recount showing failure of GMO-labeling measure Time running out for O&C funds GMO vote recount still shows little change GMO labeling votes recounted under careful watch in Jackson County Kent Bush: First Amendment doesn’t mean what you think it means Education Traveling artist sets the stage for Ruch School amphitheater Ruch school class focuses on the natural environment Bethel Church helps families at McLoughlin Middle School Logos may offer students 'fifth year' at RCC or SOU St. Mary's plays host to youth robotics tournament Environment Monument expansion expected to increase tourism, protect resources Biologist resigns over LNG reporting failure Bird flu discovered in Winston backyard flock Jackson County holds back on enforcing GMO ban for now No fish, no funding for problem dams State News Oregon missionary deported back to U.S. faces molestation charges Poverty rate in Oregon schools jumps since 2007 Northwest poultry producers fear bird flu outbreak may hurt exports John Day loggers, conservationists cut a deal to save a mill Seaside man accused in child's death Nation - World Obama makes Maduro’s ‘insolent Yankees’ line harder to sell Obituaries Patricia Ann Burton Alan Leslie Kenmoen Sharon Kay Boldt David A. Schneider Dovie Mae Stout Weather Photo Galleries Since You Asked Videos Web Cams Mail Tribune 100 Shareable Sports Latest Stories Harbaugh, 49ers agree to part ways Beavers' Andersen hires offensive coaches No. 10 Beavers fall to No. 8 Vols Falls comes up big for South Medford UCLA isn’t looking back after Kentucky shellacking Varsity 541 College Sports Beavers' Andersen hires offensive coaches No. 10 Beavers fall to No. 8 Vols UCLA isn’t looking back after Kentucky shellacking No. 1 Kentucky holds off No. 4 Louisville Winston is in his 'sanctuary' at Rose Bowl Pro Sports Harbaugh, 49ers agree to part ways Raptors halt Clippers' home streak NBA’s trading season has started early Ryan cleans out office, awaits his fate Garrett refused to give up on Cowboys Community Sports Keeping Fit: Runners need to do more than run to stay in shape Business Latest Stories LNG project: Where the gas would flow, so would the money Southern Oregon Surrogacy Center opens in Medford Silvio Calabi: GLA250 is a Merc for the masses Blog: The Holidays Have Arrived Falling gas prices help spur travel at Medford airport Real Estate News Rental owners group reports 2.48 percent vacancy rate More sales, but no change in residential housing median price People In Business People in Business, Dec. 3 Transportation Falling gas prices help spur travel at Medford airport Agriculture K-BAR ignites agriculture boom beneath Table Rocks Southern Oregon wine industry had a robust 2013 Opinion Latest Our View: Council is barking up the right tree Letters to the Editor, Dec. 28 Another View: Jeb Bush's Republican primary hurdles Dana Milbank: Larry Klayman's legal massacre Robert Samuelson: The best stats of 2014 Editorials Our View: Council is barking up the right tree Other Views: Roseburg VA director sets the right goals Our View: Thanks to four departing leaders Other Views: Yes, Virginia ... Our View: Small post offices no longer practical Letters to the Editor Letters to the Editor, Dec. 28 Letters to the Editor, Dec. 26 Letters to the Editor, Dec. 25 Letters to the Editor, Dec. 24 Letters to the Editor, Dec. 23 Guest Opinions Guest Opinion: Loved one chose death with dignity in Oregon Guest Opinion: Forest thinning means water for the future Guest Opinion: Suit threatens family farms and democratic vote Guest Opinion: SOU pool decision short-sighted Guest Opinion: It's time for biologists to let OR-7 go dark Lifestyle Latest stories Time for a year-end memory workout This local dog has his say Blog: BOOK IT! Friday: Last 3-Team Parlay of 2014 Keeps the Empties in the Garage Longer Community blog: Why New Year�s Resolutions Don�t Work and What to Do Instead Fishing report: Friday, Dec. 26 Food Food for Thought: Wintertime wining and dining Kitchen Call: The comfort of creamy soups Community blog: Baking contest finalists combine cookies, candies Community blog: 'Cookbook Book' digests genre's past 300 years Community blog: Liver pat� an easy nosh for Hanukkah and beyond Home and Garden Dear Monty: Can a rookie real estate agent be a good choice? Bathtub or shower: What’s best for you? Home Help: Home safety tips for a safe and happy winter season How NOT to install drywall Dear Monty: Siblings dispute inherited real estate Health Community blog: Why New Year�s Resolutions Don�t Work and What to Do Instead Community blog: I Get It. Took a While. Health Watch: Small diet changes can make a big difference Community blog: Removing Barriers Is Good Insurance Health Watch: Change up your treadmill workout Hiking Biking Faith (No heading) Churches, synagogs host seasonal events Bethel Church helps families at McLoughlin Middle School Milestones and Achievements Pear Blossom queen has open heart surgery Hundreds enjoy Christmas dinner, gifts at St. Vincent de Paul SinceYou Asked: SBA would work with Mt. Ashland Ski Area about loan Fans, friends and family welcome home victorious SOU team at airport Wedding: Boldt-Mahon Columnist for a Day Rogue Healthy Aging Tempo Latest stories Dobra Tea menu offers hundreds of brews SugarBeats headline an all-ages dance party at Historic Ashland Armory In the Pocket releases 'I Got News' Live Music in Local Clubs Celebrate winter solstice with the Bad Film Society Theater ACT presents reading of 'The Quality of Life' Meet the real Jacob Marley This Nutcracker ballet will have a superhero twist Plumbing the depths of meaning TMTO presents 'A Christmas Carol: The Musical' Music SugarBeats headline an all-ages dance party at Historic Ashland Armory In the Pocket releases 'I Got News' Live Music in Local Clubs Southern Oregon Repertory Singers present 'The Holly and the Ivy' Tomaseen Foley's "A Celtic Christmas" returns to the Craterian Theater Community Events Celebrate winter solstice with the Bad Film Society Tomaseen Foley's "A Celtic Christmas" returns to the Craterian Theater Stefan Baumann and Eugene Bennett highlight Third Fridays Dancing People Company celebrates the solstice Dance to the Southern Oregon Jazz Orchestra Dining Dobra Tea menu offers hundreds of brews Food for Thought: Wintertime wining and dining Coffee shops roll out holiday-inspired drinks Over Easy serves 'pop-up' brunch Sundays Ooblies Artisan Waffle Sandwiches Tempo Videos Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » Obituaries Blogs TV Listings Movie Listings Oregon Outdoors Oregon Healthy Living Magazines & Special Sections NEWS NOW Our View: Council is barking up the right tree ... Suspect in high-speed chase still unaccounted for ... Southern Oregon Surrogacy Center opens in Medford ... Our View: Council is barking up the right tree ... Suspect in high-speed chase still unaccounted for ... Southern Oregon Surrogacy Center opens in Medford ... NFL Garrett refused to give up on Cowboys Season-opening loss to 49ers seemed like a disaster Comment By Drew Davison Fort Worth Star-Telegram MailTribune.com By Drew Davison Fort Worth Star-Telegram Posted Dec. 27, 2014 @ 7:12 pm By Drew Davison Fort Worth Star-Telegram Posted Dec. 27, 2014 @ 7:12 pm » Social News IRVING, Texas — Tony Romo showed rust. DeMarco Murray coughed up a fumble early that was returned for a touchdown. The defense had trouble keeping Vernon Davis out of the end zone and containing rookie running back Carlos Hyde in his NFL debut. They trailed 28-3 at one point in the second half and only a couple of late touchdowns made the scoreboard look somewhat respectable for the Dallas Cowboys in their 28-17 season-opening loss to the San Francisco 49ers. That appeared to signal that a disappointing season loomed ahead for the Cowboys, with a lame-duck coach and uninspired fan base that let opposing fans take over AT&T Stadium. “We played horrible that game,” wide receiver Cole Beasley said. “It was terrible.” Romo even admitted having some doubts after that game. He had gone through a limited training camp and played like a quarterback coming off a second back surgery. Everybody, it seemed, was ready to write off the Cowboys for 2014. Sure, it was only one game, but the Cowboys weren’t getting the benefit of the doubt with three consecutive 8-8 seasons. But one person within the organization viewed it differently. He saw something nobody else saw and, maybe, he was being overly optimistic about his team’s chances, considering he entered the season squarely on the hot seat. “I’m the only guy around that I know who felt good after the San Francisco game,” coach Jason Garrett said. “When I watched that game in detail — and I told our team this — I said, ‘That game told me what we were capable of doing. But it also told me what we had to do as a football team.’ “They beat us handily, but we also did some positive things. We did a good job on defense, slowing them down. We ran the ball fairly well against a good defensive team. To me, if you get in there and you say, ‘Let’s take these plays away. Let’s not play that way to give good teams these kinds of opportunities. Let’s go play this way. Let’s defend the run. Let’s run the ball. Let’s take advantage of some opportunities in the passing game when we get some favorable looks to throw it. That’s the kind of team we can be.’ “I expressed that to our staff after the game. I expressed that to our team.” The most important postgame conversation Garrett might have had was with Romo. Romo had one of his worst days, completing 23 of 37 passes for 281 yards with one touchdown and three interceptions. His 60.8 passer rating ranked as his worst since the season-ending loss at Washington in 2012. “Playing in the first game of the year, I felt maybe I wasn’t as good as I once was,” Romo said. “That was tough. I didn’t physically feel right. Since then, with the stuff that I’ve done, it’s been great to see all the stuff technically that I’ve worked at came back when the physical stuff did. “Then you just keep trying to get better. It’s been a really good year.” All it took was Romo taking Wednesdays off and receiving pain-reducing injections before most games. It’s paid off for Romo, who has responded by playing the best football of his career and leading the Cowboys to an NFC East title. Romo reiterated this week the meeting with Garrett helped, saying, “It was just great to hear from the head coach that he felt very comfortable with what was going to happen going forward.” That unique approach served Garrett and the team well. Most teams use wins as turning points in the season such as the Cowboys overcoming a 21-point deficit in St. Louis in Week 3, or knocking off the defending champion Seahawks in Seattle in Week 6. But Garrett’s message resonated with the team that week and ended up setting the tone for a surprisingly successful season to date. Romo and Murray went on to have MVP-type seasons. The defense has flourished despite having the makings of a ragtag group. Young players such as safety J.J. Wilcox and defensive tackle Tyrone Crawford are coming into their own, and after-thoughts such as linebacker Rolando McClain and defensive end Jeremy Mincey are playing at higher-than-anticipated levels. “The defense has grown night and day,” safety Barry Church said. “We’ve jelled and learned how to play off the strengths and weaknesses of one another.” In the end, it’s culminated into a division title and postseason berth, an opportunity they know doesn’t come along too often. The Cowboys aren’t overlooking the Washington Redskins on Sunday, deciding to play their healthy starters. The team wants to keep the winning ways and momentum going in their direction, feeling it sets them up best for a longer postseason run. After all, nobody is ready to call this a successful season yet. “We’re not content to just get in,” cornerback Brandon Carr said. “We want to win this thing. We’ve gone through rough patches in our season, like the season opener, but every team goes through things like that. “It’s the character that comes out if you can get through it and survive it. We have, and now we’ve got to keep the momentum going down the stretch. That’s what we plan to do.” By Drew Davison Fort Worth Star-Telegram MailTribune.com By Drew Davison Fort Worth Star-Telegram Posted Dec. 27, 2014 @ 7:12 pm » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. fantasy football Week 17 Start 'Em, Sit 'Em Dec. 28, 2014 at 10:00 am Last-Minute Outlook for Fantasy Flex Players Dec. 28, 2014 at 9:00 am Last-Minute Fantasy Advice for Week 17 Dec. 28, 2014 at 7:00 am Start 'Em, Sit 'Em Week 17 Dec. 27, 2014 at 12:00 pm Final NFL Week 17 Odds Projections and Fantasy Stars to Watch Dec. 27, 2014 at 10:00 am Fantasy Football Daily League Guide to Week 17 Dec. 27, 2014 at 8:06 am calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. 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