The good news for the Dallas Cowboys is that the NFL deemed the team worthy to kick off the season against the New York Giants. The season opener is the fans’ first impression, so the league has to choose wisely.

The bad news is that, if you believed the overwhelming stats and predictions, the NFL set up Dallas to start the season with a big loss.

The best news is that the Cowboys won. The team shook off the hostile crowd, the defending Super Bowl champs and history.

Since 2004, the NFL has engaged in an important inaugural-game ritual: pit the past year’s Super Bowl champion against a (seemingly) worthy foe. During that time, the host team has performed 8-0. Not to mention that Dallas’ biggest weakness — its offensive line — would line up against the Giants’ heralded defensive line, considered by many to be the best in the league. The outlook seemed bleak for the visiting Cowboys.

But the Boys persevered. A year ago, a key third-down penalty would have caused the Dallas players to hang their heads and accept their eventual defeat. On Wednesday, the key penalties were there to tempt them, but this time the team fought through and held onto that lead like a new parent holds his precious bundle of joy.

It could be the beginning of something special. The Cowboys beat a division rival on the road in the most harrowing of circumstances. The team got big performances from the usual players (DeMarcus Ware) and new faces (Kevin Ogletree). Tony Romo once again made statisticians swoon, but this time without the signature meltdown. This is the kind of win that sets the tone for a championship season.

Not that any Cowboys fan should start making Super Bowl reservations. There are so many more games, so much more to overcome.

It was a start, though. For the first time in years, Dallas fans can dream of a return to glory — at least for another week.