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With Mike Vanderjagt in Dallas and inactive, Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones took low expectations of his team's kicking game into the opener.

So when Shaun Suisham's 36-yard try hit the right upright in the third quarter, Jones was not upset.

"I went with what we decided for this game and was fine with it," Jones said. "I crossed that bridge that this guy could miss it. I'd already been there. That field goal didn't cause us to lose the game."

	Jaguars 24, Cowboys 17
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Sunday marked the fourth time in Vanderjagt's nine years that he did not play, and Jones was not sure Vanderjagt would be able to go next week against Washington.

— Todd Archer

Left tackle Flozell Adams told coach Bill Parcells all week that he was feeling "fabulous," but it didn't look like it Sunday. In addition to giving up two sacks, Adams drew holding and false start penalties.

He returned to practice last week after missing time with a calf injury.

"He told me he was ready to go, said he was feeling good," Parcells said. "There is no excuse in play here. He just didn't play well."

Adams' backup, rookie Pat McQuistan, was inactive. Veteran Jason Fabini served as the backup at both left and right tackle.

— Matt Mosley

For just the sixth time in team history, the Cowboys opened the season with a rookie free safety in Pat Watkins. But the fifth-round pick was replaced in the fourth quarter by Keith Davis. Watkins finished with five tackles. After a goal-line mix-up on a passing play, Watkins was replaced by Davis, who started 15 games last season.

At times the Cowboys used just one safety, taking Watkins off the field in favor of cornerback Aaron Glenn when the Jaguars used a three-receiver set and having Roy Williams played center field.

— Todd Archer

After averaging 2.3 yards per carry in the preseason, Julius Jones nearly doubled that in the opener, picking up 72 yards on 17 carries, including a 23-yard scoring run in the first quarter.

The Cowboys ran for 88 yards on 22 carries against a Jacksonville defense that featured two top defensive tackles in John Henderson and Marcus Stroud, who had been listed as questionable with an ankle injury during the week.

"Those two guys are tough," Jones said. "Their whole defense is, but I think we did some good things, and there are some things we need to improve on."

— Todd Archer

Jason Witten has been to the last two Pro Bowls, and sometimes Pro Bowlers get the benefit of the doubt. But not Sunday. Witten had a 10-yard catch that would have given the Cowboys a 17-10 lead in the third quarter, but he was called for interference when he pushed off on corner Rashean Mathis.

"I thought that was very questionable," Witten said. "As far as I know the rule, as long as you don't extend your arms, you're OK. It was iffy. I've run that play for a few years, and I think it's a tough call."

— Todd Archer

Bill Parcells was able to overturn what was ruled a 12-yard reception by the Jaguars' Matt Jones in the second quarter, but he lost a timeout when he unsuccessfully challenged a ruling in the fourth.

After a 15-yard catch by Reggie Williams, Parcells challenged the stoppage of the play clock, but official Gerry Austin said that it was not an allowable challenge.

Said Parcells: "I'm just trying to get their attention. I thought by throwing the red flag, I'd get it."

Last season, the Cowboys were successful in overturning the call on three of six replay challenges.

— Todd Archer

Mat McBriar had the fourth-best punting day in club history. He punted five times for a 53.2-yard average and had a long of 62.

"It's weird because we were really worried about the wind before the game," he said. "But everything just felt right coming off my foot."

— Matt Mosley

Bobby Carpenter had a feeling he would be inactive for his first game after talking to Bill Parcells on Thursday, so the first-round pick was not surprised to be a spectator Sunday. Carpenter made the trip to Jacksonville with the team "to get a feel for what goes on when you go on the road," he said.

Carpenter said he was disappointed to be inactive and that he hoped it is a one-week situation.

"Coach Parcells has a certain way of doing things," said Carpenter, a linebacker, "and I've got to earn my way onto the field. Nothing is going to be handed to me."

— Todd Archer

Bill Parcells had said to keep an eye on center Al Johnson. For the first time in his career, Johnson played some at tight end, lining up as an extra blocker four times.

With Andre Gurode handling the center spot, it was the first time Johnson did not play at all at that position in the last two seasons and the first time he did not start there since the 2004 opener.

Receivers Sam Hurd and Miles Austin, cornerback Nate Jones, nose tackle J'Vonne Parker and guard Cory Procter also were inactive. ... With one true nose tackle (Jason Ferguson) active, defensive end Jay Ratliff was the backup. He had his second career sack in the second quarter. ... The players voted Drew Bledsoe and Greg Ellis the team's offensive and defensive captains for the season Saturday.

— Todd Archer

— Jean-Jacques Taylor