LANDOVER, Md. -- After taking an early 7-0 lead into the midway point of the second quarter, the Redskins allowed the visiting Dallas Cowboys to score 21 unanswered points in an eventual 31-21 defeat Sunday. Here are five takeaways from the defeat:

Terry McLaurin Continues To Progress

In need of a spark to start the second half, the Redskins turned to third-round rookie Terry McLaurin. Despite not catching a pass over the first two periods, McLaurin finished with a team-high five receptions for 62 yards and a touchdown. This performances comes a week after he caught five passes for 125 yards and a score in Philadelphia.

McLaurin's performance Sunday was by no means flashy but again showed the potential and raw talent the rookie possesses. He led the team in receiving yards (62) for the second straight week and has totaled 187 yards through his first two NFL games.

Adrian Peterson Hits Milestone

After thirteen years in the NFL, Peterson has experienced pretty much everything you could imagine in between the lines. On Sunday, however, Peterson achieved something four other running backs in the 100 year history of the NFL: record at least 107 rushing touchdowns.

On the second play of the second quarter, Peterson lined up in the I formation behind a Redskins line that included seven lineman, as both Tony Bergstrom and Geron Christian reported eligible to provide extra push into the end zone. Peterson then did what he has done his entire career in that he just simply finds ways to score. Not only did the touchdown move him past NFL legend Jim Brown in career rushing scores, but it gave the Redskins a 7-0 lead.

Kerrigan And Sweat Lead Charge Up Front

Already second in franchise history for career sacks, Ryan Kerrigan added another notch in his belt after taking down Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott for his first sack of the 2019 season. Kerrigan now ranks just 5.5 sacks behind Redskins legend Dexter Manley for the most in franchise history.

Montez Sweat enjoyed his best performance of his young career, totaling four tackles (three solo) and a tackle for loss during a healthy dose of defensive snaps Sunday. Sweat lined up both with his hand in the dirt and upright on the edge, using his vast wingspan to his advantage and creating tough angles for Prescott to throw through.

Secondary Gives Up Another Long Touchdown

Last week against Philadelphia, former Redskin DeSean Jackson exposed the back end of the Redskins defense, recording two touchdowns of over 50 yards that both changed the momentum of the game.

Jackson wasn't on the FedEx Field turf Sunday, yet the Cowboys were able to connect on a deep touchdown of their own. Prescott was able to drop back in a clean pocket, step up, then launch a 51-yard touchdown to wideout Devin Smith, who beat Josh Norman to the inside on a post route. Norman was playing on Smith's outside hip, which usually indicates safety help over the top. There was none. Montae Nicholson had bit on the play fake, which allowed Smith to run free and secure an easy pitch-and-catch touchdown that tied the score at seven.

'There's 14 Games Left To Play."

Head Coach Jay Gruden stressed postgame that his team has all the tools to succeed but that "there are no excuses to be had."

"We have to look at ourselves and we have to play better. We're minus a couple pieces in the secondary ... but we should be better than this."

After two consecutive division games to open the season, the Redskins now head into Week 3 winless yet optimistic about their future potential.

"We don't need to hit the panic button yet," Gruden said. "We just have to continue to focus on what we can do better to win."