By GIL LeBRETON
glebreton@star-telegram.com
ARLINGTON — They found it in Kansas City, linebacker Bradie James says.
They unearthed it right there in that Arrowhead Stadium end zone, beneath the happy pile of Cowboys, giddy with relief after beating the Chiefs in overtime.
"I know people got on us and said we should have blown them out," James said. "But that was when we came together.
"That gave us the confidence we’ve had."
It all changed that day for the Dallas Cowboys’ defense, James contends, and Sunday’s 38-17 pounding of the Seattle Seahawks was just the latest example of it.
"Confidence is like a snowball," he said. "It expands.
"That’s where we are right now."
On paper — and in their suddenly fearless hearts — the Cowboys are 5-2 and barreling toward who knows where. The offense is rolling. The return teams keep finding the end zone.
And now, even the defense has asserted itself.
"The potential is there," defensive end Marcus Spears said. "We gave up 10 points to these guys in the first half, and the attitude at halftime was the way it should have been — we were upset with ourselves.
"We didn’t feel that they should’ve scored at all."
Granted, these were the Seahawks, the second-worst team in the NFC West. Their offense has battled injuries and inconsistency.
Scoreless in Seattle, somebody named them.
But that’s the NFL these days. Incomplete teams abound.
As the season has unfolded, we’ve come to understand that presentation is irrelevant. An overtime, end-zone celebration in Kansas City can be just as validating as one in the New Jersey Meadowlands.
"I think we’ve been improving every week — week in and week out," linebacker DeMarcus Ware said. "It shows."
The Seahawks marched 69 yards to a field goal on their opening possession. It’s been a recurring theme, the Cowboys surrendering points on the opponents’ opening drive.
Quarterback Matt Hasselbeck, throwing the ball quickly to dodge the early pressure, marched the Seahawks 80 yards to a touchdown on their first possession of the second quarter.
"They came out ready for us," linebacker James said. "So it wasn’t like they were playing shaggy offense or anything. Plus, they had two weeks to prepare for us.
"Once we started to contain the run, they knew we were coming after them. Guys started coming from everywhere."
In the second quarter, Seattle managed just 10 yards rushing and three first downs.
James nodded toward the next locker, where backup linebacker Bobby Carpenter was dressing.
"Everybody," James said, "got a piece of the pie."
Carpenter’s second-quarter sack halted one Seattle possession and set the scene for a Cowboys touchdown drive right before halftime.
With the emergence of Miles Austin at receiver, the veil of uncertainty has been lifted from the offense. But the questions remain over the defense — is it a defense that coach Wade Phillips can confidently take out of town?
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