ARLINGTON - Terence Newman dove into the end zone, threw the ball into the air and exhaled. The Dallas Cowboys were headed to victory and their maligned defense was the main reason for it.

Newman returned an interception 27 yards for a touchdown with 5:07 left, cracking open a tight game and sending the Cowboys to a 21-7 victory over the Carolina Panthers on Monday night.

Dallas (2-1) came into this game without a takeaway or a sack, the latter number an especially sorry stat for last year's NFL leaders. But the Cowboys harassed Jake Delhomme into three sacks, two interceptions and a fumble -- and, most importantly, forced him and the Panthers (0-3) into four straight three-and-outs to start the second half. Two sacks and the fumble came on Carolina's final drive.