IRVING – Through the first two preseason games, Wade Phillips was not into results, just evaluation.

On Friday, the Cowboys got the result – reclaiming the Governor's Cup with a 23-22 win against Houston at Texas Stadium – and Phillips and the coaches were able to do more evaluating.

"I feel good about where we are," Phillips said. "It was one of those games that you needed to turn it on. I think everybody felt that – even the novices that don't know as much as coaches do. I thought everyone was right on. We needed to be able to turn it on, and I think we did."

With the regulars not expected to play much or at all against Minnesota on Thursday, the focus shifts to the Sept. 7 opener at Cleveland.

"I'll start studying Cleveland [today]," linebacker Zach Thomas said. "That's when it counts."

During the regular season, how the Cowboys react to situations – good and bad – will determine success.

On Friday, the Cowboys dealt with both.

• The bad (special teams): Andre Davis opened the game with a 68-yard kickoff return that gave Houston the ball at the Cowboys 37. The coverage looked as porous as the punt coverage against San Diego in the preseason opener.

• The good (defense): Also in the loss to the Chargers, the defense could not handle the "sudden change" after a Danny Amendola fumble on a punt return, allowing a touchdown. On Friday, they held the Texans to 11 yards and a 44-yard field goal by Kris Brown.

To start the second half, Houston had the ball at the Dallas 9 three plays after Isaiah Stanback fumbled the kickoff.

But Marcus Spears dropped Steve Slaton for a 5-yard loss and Greg Ellis swallowed a swing pass attempt, forcing the second of Brown's three field goals on the night.

"Sudden change has been a problem for us in the preseason," Spears said. "We've got to get off the field. When you can make a team settle for three points instead of a touchdown, that's something to be proud of."

• The bad (offense): Against Denver, the first-team offense had as many penalties (three) as first downs on its first series and did not register any points in its two drives.

• The good (offense): The Cowboys ripped off four first downs in their first five plays before Tony Romo connected with a crossing Patrick Crayton on a 6-yard score.

"Every time you step on the field you want to be getting better," said Romo, who completed 15 of 19 passes for 166 yards. "If it's a practice, a preseason game or even a real game, you're trying to get better for tomorrow."

• The bad (offense): After missing Terrell Owens on a deep ball on the second series, Romo ended the third series by forcing a throw to tight end Tony Curtis in the end zone that was intercepted by Zac Diles.

• The good (offense): After the Texans tied the score on the ensuing series, Romo completed 4-of-5 passes for 49 yards. Instead of getting tricky with a pass, the Cowboys rode Marion Barber (75 yards) into the end zone with a 1-yard over-the-top drive and a 17-10 lead.

"Whenever you have a red-zone turnover, it's not a good thing," offensive coordinator Jason Garrett said. "But for him [Romo] to respond, that's obviously what we need."