Updated

The Dallas Cowboys are back from their bye week, still in the thick of things.

The Cowboys put themselves at risk of getting left behind by losing their first two games. Yet when they returned to work Monday, their 1-2 record left them only a half-game behind everyone else in the NFC East and 1 1/2 games behind the best record in the NFC.

Any team could seize control over the next month, and the Cowboys are set up as well as anyone.

Their next four games are against teams at or below .500. Three are at home, starting Sunday against Tennessee (2-2).

Plus, there's this tidbit: Dallas has won at least three straight games coming out of its bye every season under coach Wade Phillips.