(My Sportsbook) - Given that the Dallas Cowboys suffered a heartbreaking loss to the Washington Redskins on Sunday, it didn't help that their flight home was delayed nearly four hours.

The only positive in that scenario was that Dallas had extra time to think about what just happened at FedEx Field, especially kicker Mike Vanderjagt, whose potential game-winning 35-yard field goal attempt was blocked with six seconds left.

It also gave guard Kyle Kosier some time to think about tackling around the legs and waist instead of the facemask. Redskins safety Sean Taylor scooped up the loose football after Troy Vincent blocked Vanderjagt's field goal try, and had his facemask grabbed by Kosier, who was then flagged 15 yards.

The penalty was added to Taylor's 46-yard return, and Redskins kicker Nick Novak took advantage of the added down with the game-winning field goal from 47 yards out. Novak had missed from 49 yards away with 31 seconds to go. With the loss, Dallas has now lost three of its last four games, and is tied with Philadelphia in the NFC East at 4-4. It is 1-3 in the division this year.

"It sucks," Vanderjagt said, "because we should have left here with a win."

Dallas can take out their frustrations against the Arizona Cardinals this week, but will have some work to do, specifically in the field-goal game. According to Cowboys head coach Bill Parcells, offensive tackle Marc Colombo was the culprit for Vincent's block on Vanderjagt's field goal.

Parcells said Colombo used a different blocking technique and blocked to the inside instead of jab-stepping first toward the outside rushers. Vincent noticed that and reacted perfectly.

"It's really not (blocking) the wrong guy. Just the technique the player used...he never used it before," Parcells said. "It's the first time we've ever seen him do it. On the prior field goals he did it correctly. Had he just did what he did on the other field goals he would have been fine."

Another blunder by the offensive line occurred in the first half, when running back Julius Jones was stuffed by Washington linebacker Lemar Marshall in the end zone for a controversial safety. The Dallas defense had previously done a good job of holding the Redskins on a goal-line stand, but Marshall subsequently found a hole and got two points.

What a difference a week makes.

After Parcells was high-fiving players and even kissing a few after a big win over the Carolina Panthers, he was instead furrowing his brow late Sunday afternoon. He had a glare for wide receiver Terrell Owens, who was flagged 15 yards for pretending to sleep on the football after his touchdown catch gave Dallas a 19-12 lead. The penalty didn't affect the outcome, but it ticked off Parcells. The Cowboys had 11 penalties for 153 yards at FedEx Field, the third-most in franchise history. Dallas is tied for second in the NFL with 60 penalties for a league-high 610 yards. The league average is 49 penalties for 405.4 yards.

And after eight games this season, the Cowboys are on pace to break the team record with 1,220 penalty yards, topping their 1,196-yard total in 1999.

Owens, meanwhile, is still working well with new quarterback Tony Romo, and had 76 yards and a touchdown on seven catches. His TD reception put the Cowboys ahead, 19-12, but we all know what happened after that. Owens had a chance to be a hero but dropped a potential touchdown pass in the third quarter. Romo threw a perfect ball between two burned defenders, and Owens bobbled the pass. Dallas was forced to punt, and the Redskins tied the game on their next possession.

"I owe this one to the team," Owens said. "I let the team down. It was a lack of concentration. I felt I had it, but it was just a drop."

Romo is now 1-1 as a starter, and went 24-of-36 for 284 yards with a pair of touchdown tosses in his second career start. He looked like a seasoned vet late in the game when he marched the Cowboys 44 yards to set up Vanderjagt's 35-yard field goal try. The effort was wasted for Romo, who completed passes to seven different receivers and finished with a 109.0 passer rating. Romo posted a 86.6 rating in his first career start last week in Carolina.

Wide receiver Terry Glenn battled through a sore quadriceps muscle on Sunday and hauled in three passes for 26 yards and a touchdown. Patrick Crayton got into the mix with a team-high 84 yards on four catches, while tight end Jason Witten finished with five receptions for 50 yards.

Even though the Cowboys came out losers on Sunday, they still have a chance at making a big run for the playoffs. Romo is looking more comfortable under center, and appears to have the poise and confidence in himself and his teammates to succeed.

UP NEXT: AN OLD RIVALRY REVISITED

The Cowboys will take on a former NFC East rival this Sunday, when they close out a three-game road trip in Arizona against the Cardinals.

Arizona is a former doormat of the NFC East, and trails the all-time series with the Cowboys by a 54-28-1 count. Dallas has won two straight and four of the last six meetings, including a 34-13 victory last season on October 30, 2005. Backup running back Marion Barber rushed for 127 yards and scored the first two touchdowns of his career that day, while Witten led Dallas in receiving with 71 yards on five catches.

The Cardinals are coming off their bye week, and have lost seven in a row since a season-opening victory against the San Francisco 49ers. Dennis Green will have his team ready for this one with quarterback Matt Leinart, running back Edgerrin James and wide receiver Anquan Boldin in the fold.