ARLINGTON, Texas -- Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones says it would be a mistake to put too much emphasis on his team losing the first game in its new stadium.
As for Tony Romo, whose three interceptions led to three touchdowns for the New York Giants last Sunday and helped spoil the grand opening of Cowboys Stadium, Jones still has full confidence the quarterback will one day do what Troy Aikman and Roger Staubach accomplished as Cowboys: win a Super Bowl.
"I couldn't feel better about who I'm lining up with, Romo at quarterback," Jones said Friday. "We're going to be good there and all right. If you're going to ask Tony, which we are, to make plays, then you will have interceptions. There's no doubt in my mind he will be improved, and his arrow is still going up in that improvement area."
One week after having a career-best 353 passing yards and no turnovers in the Cowboys' season-opening victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Romo had one of his worst games in one of the most visible settings of his career, going 13 of 29 for 127 yards. He did throw a 1-yard TD pass and ran for a 3-yard score.
"He has had some great days. Someday he will have the greatest day of all," said Jones, who then was asked to clarify if he meant winning a Super Bowl. "I do. I do. To the extent I feel like that will happen, it is in no small part due to his skill level because of his ability to come back from adversity because of his hard work."
Jones didn't predict when Romo would win a Super Bowl. But remember that the Super Bowl at the end of the 2010 season will be held at Cowboys Stadium.
While Jones certainly was disappointed about the Cowboys' 33-31 loss to the NFC East rival New York Giants, who kicked a field goal on the final play of the game, he said Friday that the loss is "all behind us now."
Jones says the emphasis put on the hoopla and pageantry that surrounded the grand opening of the nearly $1.2 billion stadium was justified. As for the loss for the Cowboys, Jones says he has put that into perspective -- it was only the second game of the season.
"The opening of this grand stadium, it's appropriate to place the interest," Jones said. "It would be a mistake to put too much emphasis relative to the team on the loss of that game. That wouldn't be right, that wouldn't be constructive and it really wouldn't be fair to this team."
Jones insisted that the loss to the Giants puts no extra pressure on Monday night's matchup with the Carolina Panthers -- another nationally televised game to highlight the new stadium -- or the rest of the season.
Jones also said he's not concerned about the Cowboys' defense, even though the same unit that led the NFL with 59 sacks last season is the only team heading into Week 3 without a sack or a forced turnover. Coach Wade Phillips took on the additional role of defensive coordinator during the offseason, but the Cowboys rank 30th in the NFL, having allowed 877 yards.
"I'm not concerned," Jones said. "It has everything to do with Wade. It has everything to do with our front seven. I know what we are trying to do and the quality of our players and coaches in the secondary. I am not concerned. We will get this right."
Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press