IRVING, Texas - The Dallas Cowboys followed a big win over the New York Giants in the opener with a worrisome loss on the road - just like last year.
Tony Romo had a big turnover, the defense didn't get a takeaway and couldn't make a critical stop in the final minutes - just like last year.
Defensive tackle Jason Hatcher is certain this isn't just like 2012.
"I'm not worried about last year's woes or whatever: 1-1 and then you go downhill," Hatcher said after Sunday's 17-16 loss at Kansas City. "That will not happen. We're going to be a contender when this is all said and done."
Hatcher did his part to make sure this showing was better than last year's loss in Seattle, getting six tackles, a sack, another tackle for loss and a batted pass. But Hatcher was also in the middle of a defense that couldn't stop the Chiefs in time to give Romo one more realistic shot at a winning drive.
Dallas struggled getting touchdowns from inside the 20 - another issue a year ago. But the biggest problem was the running game. It was decent against the Giants, then disappeared against the Chiefs. DeMarco Murray bounced away from the line where the hole was supposed to be on his first play and lost 2 yards. He finished with 25 yards on 12 carries, with a long of just 6. Lance Dunbar had 12 yards on his only carry, then fumbled at the end of a pass play and didn't get another chance.
The Cowboys had one of the worst rushing attacks in team history last year. This year's pace doesn't even match that.
"You've got to run the ball better, you've got to score when you're down there. You've got to stop people. Every team's doing the same thing after this week that lost, and we're going to be included in that," said Romo, who had 298 yards passing and a touchdown to Dez Bryant.
"A lot of us are down right now because of the time and effort all the way through the summer, and we all know that how we played today is not acceptable," Bryant said.
After the Rams, the Cowboys head back on the road to San Diego, which, like Kansas City, is looking better than it did a year ago.
Original Print Headline: Week-two loss brings up talk of 2012 woes
Pro Football (NFL)
Alex Smith is still winning in red. He's just doing it for the Chiefs these days.
The NFL expects the most expensive tickets for the Super Bowl to be about $2,600 each for 9,000 premium seats for the Feb. 2 game at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J.
