by BILL NICHOLS, brnichols@dallasnews.com , THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS

The Seahawks had hoped the veteran's comeback from lower back problems would help contain Cowboys receiver Miles Austin. He spent most of his time in the nickel defense on the left side. Josh Wilson and Ken Lucas were the other corners.

But Trufant's mistakes hit Seattle hard.

"Miles drew a couple of penalties, and I thought that was significant," Cowboys coach Wade Phillips said. "We didn't get the deep ball, but we had the intermediate ball and we had some quick passes."

They also had help from Trufont moving the chains. On Dallas' final drive of the first half, his interference on Austin kept the Cowboys alive on third-and-9. He got tangled up with Austin, and the Cowboys advanced 20 yards on the penalty.

Dallas took advantage, driving in for a touchdown and a 21-10 lead with 35 seconds left.

The Seahawks were still in the game, trailing by 11 late in the third quarter. But Dallas took control with a nine-play, 62-yard drive that consumed 5:13.

Trufont's interference on Roy Williams in the end zone gave the Cowboys a first-and-goal at the 1. The cornerback used his hands to block Williams' path to the ball.

After Marion Barber was thrown for a 2-yard loss, Austin beat Trufant on a 3-yard touchdown catch.

No way the Seahawks were going to overcome an 18-point deficit.

The Seahawks dissolved into a puddle of mistakes. Their ensuing drive ended with a punt, which Patrick Crayton returned 82 yards for a touchdown. Game over.

So, Trufont, what's up with all the flags?

"There is no explanation," he explained. "Those calls were made by the referees, and you've got to live with it. It was contact out there. With me, contact with the receiver is going to be interference. So I just have to do a better job moving my feet, stuff like that."

It's been a tough year for Trufont. He had missed only two starts in his career, which began in 2003, when Seattle took him with the 11th overall pick in the draft.

While his teammates were in training camp, Trufont was struggling with his back. He returned just before the opener, but reinjured his back. He had been doing rehab work until this week.

"It felt good to be out there," he said. "I'm a Football player, I don't like sitting on the sidelines being hurt."

Trufont didn't blame his performance on being rusty.

"I'm back healthy and I'm on the field, so I don't have time for rust," he said. "I've got to be good."

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