An offensive line that has been dominant the first three weeks of the season stumbled badly in this loss. Five sacks. An average of three yards a rush. Penalties at the worst possible moments. When the linemen weren't tripping over themselves, they were tripping the Broncos – illegally, we might add. The line didn't receive the credit it deserved in the 2-1 start. But it deserves plenty of blame for this one.

Offensive coordinator Jason Garrett will spend the week in the cross hairs of critics. The league's top rushing team, one that held a lead for most of the afternoon, rushed the ball only seven times in the second half. A healthy Marion Barber had one carry after halftime. On the final two plays of the game, the Cowboys attacked one of the league's best corners with back-to-back throws to Sam Hurd.

The Cowboys are 2-0 when Tony Romo doesn't turn the ball over. They are 0-2 when he does. Sense a trend? After the loss to the New York Giants, Romo said he hoped the turnovers proved to be a hiccup. The thing about hiccups is they're tough to stop. His fumble on a safety blitz – he didn't even know the player was there – gave Denver an easy touchdown, and his interception kept the Cowboys from a score.

Fault Terence Newman on Denver's game-winning play if you want. Even with that 51-yard touchdown dagger in the final two minutes, the defense gave the Cowboys an outstanding chance to win. It sacked quarterback Kyle Orton as many times (three) as he had been sacked in the previous three games combined and shut down the run early.