MIAMI – After practice Thursday, the Cowboys' defensive players gathered at a steakhouse for dinner. It wasn't about football. It was about camaraderie and joking – and leaving the rookies with the check.

They didn't talk about the 35 points they allowed in the season opener against the New York Giants.

"We didn't need to," cornerback Jacques Reeves said.

In a 37-20 win over Miami on Sunday, the defense proved it's better than its opening act. As a result, the Cowboys are 2-0 for the first time since 1999.

Maligned a week ago even in victory, the Cowboys' defense produced four interceptions, two sacks and a fumble recovery against the Dolphins. Throw in Tony Romo's improvisational skills that led to two touchdown passes, Marion Barber's brutish running and Nick Folk's kicking, and Wade Phillips joined Barry Switzer as the only coaches to open their Cowboys careers 2-0.

Sunday was not about the offense, even though the 37-point effort gave the Cowboys a two-game total of 82 points, third-most to open a season in team history.

This win was about the defense, especially the secondary.

"A quarterback's greatest friend is never his O-line or receivers or running backs – it's the defense," Romo said. "When you know that your defense is going to get you the ball back in good field position, that's a huge advantage for the quarterback. I think they're better than they showed in the first game, and they proved that. I think that they're going to play like this for the rest of the year."

It wasn't all pretty, like when the Dolphins opened the second half with a pounding 10-play, 73-yard drive that ended with Trent Green throwing an 18-yard touchdown pass to Marty Booker for a 13-10 lead.

But on the next four possessions, the Cowboys' defense had an interception, recovered a fumble, forced a three-and-out and picked off another pass.

"It was a long week for us, because we put a lot on our shoulders," linebacker DeMarcus Ware said. "We want our offense to know we've got their backs if they mess up."

The Cowboys took a 17-13 lead when Romo, while being tackled by linebacker Joey Porter, flipped a 2-yard touchdown pass to Curtis, who got his first career scoring reception.

Safety Ken Hamlin then came up with his first interception as a Cowboy, gobbling up a Green pass and returning it 35 yards to the Miami 15. Four plays later, Folk kicked a 28-yard field goal.

Folk added a 47-yarder for a 23-13 lead with 11 minutes left in the game. It came off the dirt of the infield used for Florida Marlins games at Dolphin Stadium, and it was into the wind.

"He's been making them all in practice, and he's made them in the games," Phillips said.

That field goal came after nose tackle Jay Ratliff, starting because Jason Ferguson is out for the season with a torn right biceps, scooped up a poor center-quarterback exchange for a fumble recovery.

Anthony Henry put the Cowboys in position to pad their lead with his second interception of Green on which the cornerback perfectly undercut receiver Chris Chambers. The Cowboys needed four plays to score the only touchdown they got off of the five turnovers.

On fourth-and-5 from the Miami 34 and out of Folk's range, Phillips decided to go for it, leading by 10 points.

ERICH SCHLEGEL / DMN

Marion Barber (24) scored two touchdowns for the Cowboys.

"There was no use in punting it," Phillips said.

Offensive coordinator Jason Garrett let Romo go deep as Owens shucked off cornerback Travis Daniels for a 34-yard touchdown with 4:01 to play.

"Anytime you get extra possessions, it goes a long way," said Romo, who frustrated the Dolphins defenders all day as Miami yielded its highest point total in a home opener.

The Dolphins scored a late touchdown, but fittingly, the game ended when Chris Canty sacked Green to cap a strong defensive effort.

"We got a longer picture to look at," linebacker Bradie James said. "Our goal is to get to the playoffs, win a playoff game and get to the Super Bowl. Two wins, that's nothing. We definitely have a long way to go."

But after Sunday, that doesn't seem as far away as it did a week ago for the defense.

The Cowboys turned five turnovers into 13 points in Dallas' 37-20 win. Here's a look at the turnovers and the result:

Second quarter, 14:53 left

Turnover: Dolphins quarterback Trent Green intercepted by Anthony Henry at the Dallas 37.

Result: Cowboys punt nine plays later.

Third quarter, 3:44 left

Turnover: Green intercepted by Ken Hamlin at the 50.

Result: Nick Folk kicks a 28-yard field goal four plays later to put Dallas up, 20-13.

Third quarter, 1:16 left

Turnover: The snap between Dolphins center Samson Satele and Green is fumbled at the 50. Jay Ratliff recovers.

Result: Nine plays later, Folk kicks a 47-yard field goal to give Dallas a 23-13 lead.

Fourth quarter, 5:44 left

Turnover: Green is intercepted by Henry again, this time at the Dallas 40

Result: Four plays later, Tony Romo puts the game away, hitting Terrell Owens on a 34-yard touchdown pass.

Fourth quarter, 2:53 left

Turnover: Roy Williams makes the fourth interception, this time at the Miami 40.

Result: The Cowboys run four straight times, burning the clock before giving the ball up on downs.