DENVER—In my self-proclaimed "pivotal game" of the season for the Dallas Cowboys, played here on one of those postcard Sundays a mile high, this is absolutely, unequivocally the wrong way to start the game.

Cowboys first-and-goal at the Denver 3-yard line on their first possession but ending up at the 1, kicking a 24-yard field goal when they knew good and well they must score touchdowns to cover for their leaky defense, thus only taking a 3-0 lead.

Mistake No. 1.

Then on the Broncos' second possession – the first ending with a Cowboys' interception on the third play of the game – two plays in they were facing a third-and-7 at their own 29-yard line when quarterback Bo Nix threw an incompletion, the Cowboys forcing a punt. Oops, defensive end James Houston is flagged for lining up in th

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