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IRVING – Throughout his three-year NFL career, Marion Barber has been a finisher. It's his opportunity to be a starter – at last – that makes one pause to consider just how special the possibilities could be.

Barber played the first half Friday night at Texas Stadium and did his usual shifting and banging as he carried 13 times for 75 yards and a touchdown in the Cowboys' 23-22 win over the Houston Texans at Texas Stadium.

This solid performance was no surprise.

In 2005, his rookie season after being drafted in the fourth round out of Minnesota, Barber got his first start in the eighth game. He ran for 127 yards and two touchdowns against Arizona, the first 100-yard game for a Cowboys back that season.

Last year in the NFC playoffs, the Cowboys coaches (belatedly) put Barber in the starting lineup ahead of Julius Jones, who was allowed to pursue free agency and is now a Seattle Seahawk. In the first half, Barber banged away for 101 yards on 16 carries and a touchdown for a 14-14 tie with New York.

When the Giants slowed Barber in the second half, the Cowboys' offense stopped along with him, and Dallas lost, 21-17.

Even with that, Barber's 129 rushing yards against New York were more than he has had in any regular-season game.

Barber as a starting running back. Just what might he deliver in 2008?

In his career as a backup, third-down and goal-line specialist, Barber has averaged 4.5 yards per carry. That ranks right alongside most of the elite backs in the NFC.

Although he has never rushed for 1,000 yards, he's been close. He gained 975 on a 4.8 average in 2007 and earned his first Pro Bowl trip.

His 24 rushing touchdowns the last two seasons rank first in the NFC.

For now, even with that Pro Bowl experience on his résumé, you wouldn't rank him with St. Louis' Steven Jackson, San Francisco's Frank Gore and Philadelphia's Brian Westbrook as the elite backs of the conference right behind the very special Adrian Peterson of Minnesota.

But if you think it's impossible for Barber to get there, you haven't been watching.

"Marion had a big average," coach Wade Phillips said. "He was awfully impressive."

You wouldn't say the same about the Cowboys' victory, since they had to stop a two-point conversion late in the fourth quarter. But the team's 20-10 halftime advantage after both teams had played starters for 30 minutes would have been much more one-sided had Barber scored from the 2-yard line on the first play of the second quarter.

He was stopped at the 1-yard line. On the next play, Tony Romo made his one bad decision, throwing an interception in the end zone.

Mistakes in August, especially from proven starters, aren't the end of the world.

The potential for what this team can accomplish in September with Barber no longer forced to wait for Jones to need a break is far more interesting.

"Marion embraces every opportunity of whatever we give him," offensive coordinator Jason Garrett said. "He loves to play football. I think we all see that each and every game."

Barber will play more than ever as a pro in 2008. Of course, he will be spelled this season by Arkansas product Felix Jones, a first-round pick who appears to be of the highest quality for a rookie.

But Phillips didn't even let Jones on the field in the first half, as he featured Barber in all five possessions, all of which ended in points except for Romo's interception.

"We were just in a rhythm," Phillips said. "We needed to see Barber get some work in. We'll need it during the regular season."

The Cowboys have needed Barber in the regular season before, but they never have placed him in a role like this. With backups, even the talented ones, there usually is some doubt as to how they will handle the responsibility and additional load that comes with being a starter.

With Barber, there is virtually none.

"Whether it's in practice, in preseason games or regular-season games, he's always ready," Garrett said.

Having waited longer than he should have had to for this chance, Barber showed no signs Friday he won't be ready to deliver on Sept. 7 in Cleveland.