FOXBORO -- Two interceptions. Two field goals. Two fumbles. Two fumbles lost.
It's fitting the Patriots and Cowboys finished the first quarter in a 3-3 tie, because they were virtual equals in the first 15 minutes.
The first mistake of the day -- an interception of a Tony Romo pass by Kyle Arrington at the Patriots' 47 -- led to New England points, though not as many as the Pats would have liked. Tom Brady needed only six plays to get them from the Dallas 47, where the drive started after Arrington's six-yard interception return, to the 8. But he couldn't find an open receiver on second-and-six and threw an incompletion, then was sacked by DeMarcus Ware for a five-yard loss on third down. Stephen Gostkowski came in and kicked a 31-yard field goal for a 3-0 lead.
Brady returned the favor on the Pats' next possession, getting picked by Terence Newman on a pass intended for Deion Branch and giving Dallas the ball on the New England 23. The Cowboys actually went backwards, losing seven yards on three plays, but Dan Bailey kicked a 48-yard field goal to tie the game.
After trading interceptions, the teams then traded fumbles. Matthew Slater lost the ball on the ensuing kickoff, and Dallas' Gerald Sensabaugh recovered on the Pats' 32. But five plays later, Tashard Choice coughed it up on a second-and-10 from the 21, and Gerard Warren recovered for New England.