I will never quit. I persevere and thrive on adversity. My team expects me to be physically harder and mentally stronger than our competition. If knocked down, I will get back up, every time. I will draw on every remaining ounce of strength to help my team and to accomplish our goal. I am never out of the FIGHT. -- Excerpt from the Navy SEAL creed

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- A strip of white athletic tape held a piece of paper with those words to the front of tight end Jason Witten's locker Wednesday at MetLife Stadium.

Jason Witten overcame a lacerated spleen to play in his 140th straight game and provide inspiration for the Cowboys. AP Photo/Bill Kostroun

It's just one of 13 paragraphs that make up the Navy SEAL creed, but it motivated Witten each time he read it or thought about it as he worked tirelessly to recover from a lacerated spleen in time to play in NFL Kickoff 2012.

Witten provided the inspiration for the Dallas Cowboys against the New York Giants, and his best friend, Tony Romo, supplied the leadership.

DeMarco Murray, Dez Bryant, Miles Austin and Kevin Ogletree -- yes, Kevin Ogletree -- delivered the big plays. Tyron Smith's hustle, Ryan Cook's tenacity and Rob Ryan's defense took care of the rest.

In a vintage performance reminiscent of the early '90s when the Cowboys dominated the NFL, these Cowboys delivered a message to a national television audience and the rest of the league.

They will be physical. They will overcome adversity. They will make plays and they won't wilt in the fourth quarter.