IRVING, Texas (AP) – After only three games, Bill Parcells already has started a collection of rebuilding milestones.

He’s guided the Dallas Cowboys to consecutive road wins for the first time since 2000. They have their first winning record since 1999. They’ve matched their most road wins since 1998 and are 2-0 on the road for the first time since 1995.

They’re small steps, and players know it – even if they did celebrate a 17-6 victory over the New York Jets on Sunday by giving Parcells a Gatorade shower and safety Darren Woodson compared his joy to when the Cowboys were winning Super Bowls.

No, they haven’t lost perspective. It’s just that after enduring the misery of being 5-11 for three straight seasons, they’re enjoying being 2-1 and taking pride in the turnaround they believe Parcells has begun.

“It’s too early to say we’re going to the Super Bowl, but it’s a good step for us,” fullback Richie Anderson said.

“It’s very significant, especially for a young team,” linebacker Dexter Coakley said. “It instills that winning attitude.”

The Cowboys beat the Jets by running successfully and by stopping the run. Quarterback Quincy Carter didn’t have one of his better games, but in leading the team to victory when he wasn’t clicking is another sign of progress.

Parcells saw other things he considers building blocks to success, such as putting together several drives when starting near their own goal line (a training-camp emphasis) and timely plays that prevented the Jets from starting the kind of fourth-quarter rally the Giants pulled off the previous game.

He also liked the individual performances of several young players, primarily defensive linemen Daleroy Stewart and Willie Blade, and Kurt Vollers, who was a last-minute replacement for right tackle Ryan Young.

“I thought we improved generally,” Parcells said. “We’ve still got a lot to do.”

As for sweeping praise or savoring the 2-1 start, forget it. Parcells said the big picture doesn’t even start coming into focus for weeks, and isn’t really accurate until closer to Thanksgiving.

Winning on the road, though, is something Parcells considers important. He isn’t downplaying the fact they’ve gone into the Meadowlands twice and come away with wins both times.

Another thing he’d like to see is how the team handles adversity. Dallas hasn’t really had much yet.

He was expecting one type when bad weather was forecast for the Jets game; it didn’t happen.

“We’re going to have several crises this year, there isn’t any doubt about it,” Parcells said. “I think the key point for a coach is you can’t let the crises lessen the vision of what you’re trying to do.”

AP-ES-09-29-03 1803EDT