The ' slide is over. It turns out, all they needed to stop their three-game losing skid was to visit Jerry's World. On Monday night, the Titans went into Dallas, survived a tumultuous opening quarter that involved fumbles on their first two series, remembered that they're playing a really bad team, and proceeded to run away with a 28-14 win. As a result, the Titans are very much alive in what's shaping out to be a feeble AFC South. The are 6-3, but they've been anything but impre sive during their six-game winning streak. Harmon Killebrew Jersey The remain dangerous, but they're presently in utter disarray. The are rebuilding. The Titans might not be sexy or, well, that good, but they're 4-4 after Monday night's win, which means they're only one game behind the Texans in the lo s column. played well, especially within the pocket, making a ton of key throws on third downs. made it crystal clear that he's the best running back on the Titans' roster. And the defense took the ball away from in key areas of the field, and rendered the Cowboys' offense utterly usele s in the second half. The Titans entered the game averaging 280.9 yards and 15.1 points per game, both of which ranked in the bottom three of the league. They finished with 340 yards and 28 points against a defense that came into the game ranked It's the most points they've scored this season. It's also the first time they've dropped at least 28 points since Oct. 16 of last year, when they put 36 on the Colts. The Titans started slow, but over the final three quarters, they looked like a team that's at least good enough to challenge for the playoff spot reserved for the AFC South. The defense shutout the Cowboys in the second half. More NFL Speaking of the Cowboys, they appear to be dead. They're 3-5. No, the NFC East isn't any good -- especially not after the first-place got hit with the injury bug this week -- but the Cowboys aren't any good either. is a good player who helped their offense on Monday night, but he's not good enough to transform one of the most predictable, boring, lackluster attacks in football. remains dangerous, but he can't do it all alone. Prescott still has upside, but he's not getting any help from his coaches.The Cowboys needed to beat the Titans to remain in the mix for Kirby Puckett Jersey the NFC East crown, and they had their chances to do exactly that. But they squandered those opportunities. Cowboys waste chance to bury Titans The Cowboys had a chance to bury the Titans in a hole in the early going, but they failed to capitalize on two huge opportunities. For starters, they began the game by mi sing a 38-yard field goal. Mariota promptly fumbled, which gifted the Cowboys an easy touchdown a couple plays later, and then the Titans fumbled again on their next series. Another FUMBLE.And the recover.: on ESPN NFL (@NFL) But the Cowboys' ensuing series, which had a chance to turn a seven-point game into a two-score advantage, ended with an end zone interception. Instead of leading 17-0 or at the very least 13-0, the Cowboys led 7-0 and then they watched the Titans tie the game immediately after that pick. The game was tied in the second quarter even though two of the Anibal Sanchez Jersey Cowboys' first three drives started in Titans territory and all three of those drives journeyed into the red zone. The Cowboys let the Titans back into the game, and the Titans eventually made them pay for that mistake. Titans waste chance to bury Cowboys lateThe Titans returned the favor in the fourth quarter. Leading 21-14 with around 11 minutes remaining, the Titans had a chance to ice the game, but blew their red-zone series. On third down from the 9-yard line, Mariota spotted all alone in the end zone. But he threw high and wide, and the ball fell incomplete. Kicker came onto the field for a 28-yard field goal that would've at least pushed the lead to 10 points. Given the state of the Cowboys' offense, that margin probably would've been enough for the Titans to coast to a win. But Succup mi sed the field goal. It remained a seven-point game. In other words, it looked like two 3-4 teams were playing each other. Cowboys vs. Titans: You win. No, you win. No, you win Jon Machota (@jonmachota) Eventually, though, the Titans finished off the Cowboys. Over the course of the game, they were the better team. And they wore down the Cowboys slowly, but efficiently after that sloppy first quarter. Mariota solid, especially on third down After the early i sues, Mariota and the Titans settled down. Mariota actually played very well. He finished 21 of 29 for 240 yards, two touchdowns, no picks, and a 119.9 pa ser rating. He also rushed for 32 yards and a score. He put the Titans ahead with this touchdown "pa s," though the credit should be given to offensive coordinator Matt LaFleur for the play design. . getting tricky.And it's working...This was : on ESPN NFL (@NFL) Late in the fourth quarter, after Mariota mi sed Davis on what should've been the put-away touchdown, Mariota sealed the win with a touchdown scamper. Mariota picked apart Paul Molitor Jersey the Cowboys with his arm, but he won the game with his legs. MARCUS MARIOTA WILL DO IT HIMSELF!!: on ESPN NFL (@NFL) What was especially encouraging was his work from the pocket. He was also nearly flawle s on third down -- outside of that Davis mi s, of course. The Titans went 11 of 14 on third downs, and Mariota played a huge role in their ability to keep drives going. Mariota the Magician Tenne see Titans (@Titans) Triple coverage?Doesn't matter.: on ESPN NFL (@NFL) Mariota made some mistakes, which we've already highlighted, but Monday night was a step in the right direction. It was progre s. It was development.Most importantly, it was good enough for a win. Cooper makes strong first impre sion Amari Cooper, , made his debut on Monday night. It didn't take him long to establish himself as the Cowboys' best receiver. He caught his first pa s on the second play from scrimmage. On the Cowboys' second series, after the defense forced a takeaway, Cooper caught his first touchdown.COOOOOOOOOOP!That's SIX.: on ESPN NFL (@NFL) : on ESPN NFL (@NFL) Cooper finished with five catches, 58 yards, and that one touchdown. Zeke powers Cowboys offense Don't blame the Cowboys' woes on Zeke, who looked spry on Monday night. He totaled 112 yards on 21 touches. There Jason Castro Jersey goes !Gain of 37 : on ESPN NFL (@NFL) Unfortunately for Zeke, he's stuck on a bad offense. And he's not good enough to save the Cowboys on his own. No running back would be. Dak makes two critical mistakes Prescott's final numbers were actually pretty good. He completed 21 of his 31 pa ses for 243 yards, two touchdowns, one pick, and a 99.2 pa ser rating.But he made a couple key mistakes. He threw an awful interception -- trying to force the ball into Cooper -- in the red zone that kept the Titans within one score at a point in the game when it felt like the Cowboys should've been up by three