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Mike Vanderjagt wanted a chance to show he could handle the kickoff duties, but after Sunday's performance coach Bill Parcells said it's something he is going to have to rethink.

Vanderjagt, who last kicked off regularly in 2003 with Indianapolis, managed a touchback, but he had four kickoffs land outside the 5. He also missed a 26-yard field goal in the second quarter when his kick hit the right upright.

	Cowboys 45, Titans 14
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Asked about his up-and-down day on the kickoffs, Vanderjagt said he struggled when the Cowboys asked him to perform "directional" kicks. He said he was fine when he was told to kick it "straight down the middle."

— Todd Archer

Drew Bledsoe now owns the longest active streak in the NFL with a touchdown pass in nine straight games.

Arizona's Kurt Warner had his streak end at 10 when he went without a touchdown vs. Atlanta on Sunday.

Bledsoe has thrown a touchdown pass in 18 of his 19 games with the Cowboys. He had a touchdown throw in his first nine games last year and has had streaks of 10 (2002 with Buffalo) 11 (1996-97 with New England) and 12 (1993-94 with New England).

Troy Aikman holds the Cowboys' record for consecutive games with a touchdown pass at 16, spanning the 1993 and '94 seasons.

— Todd Archer

Cowboys used two punt returners – Terence Newman and Patrick Crayton – for the second consecutive game. In Week 1, Jamaica Rector returned punts, but he's been inactive the last two games.

Newman had two returns for 21 yards. Crayton fielded one, making a fair catch. Newman is used on returns in the open field where he can make long gains. Crayton fields returns where a shorter gain is more likely.

— Calvin Watkins

Bradie James got his first career interception and it led to his first touchdown, returning the pick 15 yards to give the Cowboys a 38-14 lead with 8:23 to play.

It was the Cowboys' first defensive touchdown since Anthony Henry's interception return for a score vs. Arizona on Oct. 30, 2005.

SMILEY N. POOL / DMN Bradie James (56) celebrates his 15-yard interception return for a touchdown during the third quarter.

"I had to catch it like three times," James said of his bobbling. "But once I caught it, there was no way I was going down."

— Todd Archer

Over the last two weeks, Bill Parcells said starting free safety Patrick Watkins needed to improve his tackling skills or he could get benched.

Watkins said he was battling a left biceps injury that prevented him from wrapping his arms around runners.

Watkins had six tackles, two passes defended and a fumble recovery, which he took back 53 yards, losing his helmet in the process with 6:31 to play in the fourth quarter against the Titans.

"I was just disappointed I didn't take it to the house, but I'm not upset with getting the turnover," Watkins said. "I never had doubts I couldn't tackle, it was more of a mental thing. Just being injured messed with my head a little bit. That week off helped me."

— Calvin Watkins

Strong safety Roy Williams and Titans receiver David Givens got into a shouting and shoving match with about seven minutes left in the game. The players had to be separated.

"I'm not worried about Givens," Williams said. "I'm not even going to talk about him."

— Calvin Watkins

ERICH SCHLEGEL / DMN Marion Barber (left) stiff-arms Tennessee's Lamont Thompson.

Third-down running back Marion Barber rushed for a season-high 55 yards on nine carries with a 1-yard touchdown run in the third quarter.

— Calvin Watkins

The Cowboys had five penalties for 61 yards against the Titans. Four of those were against the offense. On Dallas' first scoring drive, Terrell Owens (offensive pass interference) and Jason Witten (false start) were flagged. Terry Glenn was called for illegal use of hands during Dallas' second scoring drive. Witten was called for a false start in the fourth quarter.

— Calvin Watkins

The Cowboys rushed for a season-high 217 yards, including running back Julius Jones' 122 yards on 23 carries, and three touchdowns.

Dallas lost starting center Andre Gurode in the third quarter when he was kicked in the face by Titans defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth. But the offensive line maintained its control of the line of scrimmage as Al Johnson replaced Gurode.

— Calvin Watkins

For the second time in three games, first-round pick Bobby Carpenter was inactive with rookie free-agent Oliver Hoyte taking his spot on special teams. Receivers Miles Austin and Jamaica Rector, tackle Pat McQuistan, guard Cory Procter, cornerback Nate Jones and nose tackle J'Vonne Parker were also inactive.

Aaron Glenn's diving interception in the third quarter marked the 12th straight year in which the cornerback has recorded at least one pick. ... Tyson Thompson's fourth-quarter TD was the first of his career.

— Calvin Watkins