|
Coming off consecutive games in which the offense did little, including an ugly 7-6 win over the Redskins just four days previous, the Cowboys needed some production from Tony Romo and Co. to quiet their doubters.
Thanksgiving and the Oakland Raiders provided the perfect remedy as the Cowboys rolled to a 24-7 victory in front of 83,489 festive fans. Dallas racked up 494 yards of total offense on the day, posting seven plays that went for at last 30 yards, including five that were for more than 40.
Romo finished the game with 309 yards off of 18-of-29 passing with two touchdowns. Miles Austin added to his already impressive totals for the year by leading all players with seven catches for 145 yards, adding a score, while tight end Jason Witten also had his first big game of the year, earning 107 receiving yards off of five grabs.
On the ground, the Cowboys totaled 195 rushing yards, Felix Jones earning 68 and a touchdown on seven carries, Tashard Choice posting 67 yards on three tries and Marion Barber earning 61 yards on 14 rushes. Barber also had 41 receiving yards.
David Buehler booted the opening kickoff through the back of the end zone, the Raiders starting their first possession at their own 20. Running back Justin Fargas went off right tackle for five yards, with quarterback Bruce Gradkowski hitting running back Darren McFadden, who was spread wide in the slot, over the middle for a 16-yard completion and a first down at the Oakland 41.
Fargas tried to sweep around the left side, picking up four, Gradkowski then throwing short to receiver Chaz Schilens, incomplete. On third and six, Gradkowski again underthrew his target, this time tight end Zach Miller, Shane Lechler coming on for the punt. His kick was nearly downed inside the five, but the Raiders couldn't quite handle the bounce, the ball carrying into the end zone.
Starting at their own 20, running back Barber took the handoff up the middle for four yards, former Cowboy Greg Ellis making the stop. Romo then found Austin on a slant over the middle, the receiver breaking free for a big 49-yard gain down to the Raiders' 27.
A false start pushed them back five yards, Barber then going up the middle for one. Romo went back to pass, scrambled out of the way, dropped the ball, which bounced right back up to him, and then slid to a stop. After all that, Kyle Kosier was called for illegal use of hands, the 10-yard penalty pushing them back to the Oakland 41.
On second and 24, Romo went to Austin, the pass slipping high through his hands, his attempt to Williams then broken up by safety Michael Huff. Mat McBriar came on for the punt, his 34-yard effort rolling out of bounds at the Raiders' seven-yard line.
Fargas got his team some breathing room, going off left tackle for 22 yards and a first down at the Oakland 29. Fargas then went right for one yard, but a holding call knocked the Raiders back 10. Again Fargas took the handoff and rumbled straight up the middle for 12 yards, with McFadden getting the next carry and managing four more.
On third and four, Gradkowski couldn't connect with Schilens, Lechler coming out for his second punt. Patrick Crayton took the 53-yard kick at his own 12 and danced his way for four yards, but a holding call on Alan Ball moved the team back to the Dallas eight.
Barber took the handoff and earned one, Romo's next pass to Austin broken up by Huff. Facing third and nine, Romo missed Crayton and was nearly picked off, McBriar getting the call again. His 56-yard boot was returned by Johnnie Lee Higgins five yards, but an illegal block in the back pushed Oakland to their own 30.
Taking a sweep around the left end, McFadden gained 12 yards for a first down at the Raiders' 42. That was followed by Gradkowski throwing underneath to tight end Tony Stewart for four yards. Fargas was stacked up after earning two yards, setting up third and four. Throwing out of the shotgun, Gradkowski's pass for Schilens was broken up by cornerback Mike Jenkins. Crayton called for the fair catch at his own 13, a holding penalty on Oakland moving the ball up to the 23.
Setting up in the Wildcat, Choice took the direct snap and bolted right up the middle, breaking free for a 66-yard run all the way to the Oakland 11. Again the team went with the Wildcat, Choice running around the left end for no gain, a holding penalty negating the play anyway and pushing them back 10.
A handoff to running back Jones up the middle earned seven yards, Romo then throwing a quick out to Jones, which actually lost four. On third and 17, Romo scrambled and tried to find tight end Jason Witten, the pass incomplete. Nick Folk came out for a 36-yard field goal attempt, his kick good to put Dallas on the board, 3-0.
Starting on their own 20 after the Buehler touchback, Fargas went off right tackle for seven yards, as the first quarter came to an end, then opened the second frame with another run up the middle for four yards and a first down at the Oakland 31.
Gradkowski tried to go to wideout Darrius Heyward-Bey down the left sideline, but Jenkins was with him step-for-step, the pass incomplete. Fargas was then stopped for a two-yard loss with Gradkowski's attempt to receiver Louis Murphy nearly picked off by Ball. Crayton took Lechler's 66-yard punt at his own five and made it back to the Dallas 11.
Romo tried to hit Williams on a slant, the pass broken up and nearly picked off, two Raiders players colliding into each other with the ball falling to the turf. In the Wildcat, Choice took the direct snap, but lost one, the Cowboys looking at third and 11. Romo threw over the middle to Austin, who fought his way for 11 yards, and a first down at the 21.
Jones barreled his way off left tackle and earned six, with Romo then throwing to Austin across the middle for a 27-yard completion and a first down at the Raiders' 46.
On the next snap, Jones took the handoff up the middle, skirted his way through traffic then outran the secondary, avoiding a last-gasp, diving trip-up to score a 46-yard touchdown. Folk's extra-point was good, Dallas increasing their lead to 10-0.
Russell grabbed Buehler's kickoff at his own two, running back 15 yards to give Oakland the ball on their own 17. Fargas went up the middle for two yards, Gradkowski then throwing wide to Schilens, incomplete. On third and eight, Gradkowski scrambled out of the pocket for eight yards and the first down at the 27.
McFadden was stopped after a gain of two, Gradkowski's pass to Heyward-Bey just out of reach, bringing on third and eight. Oakland called their first timeout. Gradkowski was then sacked for a five-yard loss by Anthony Spencer, his first of the season, Lechler then coming out for the punt. His 69-yard kick was taken by Crayton at the seven and returned 21 yards to the Dallas 28.
Romo immediately threw to a wide-open Barber, who had motioned out of the backfield, Marion rumbling down the sideline for a 42-yard gain to the Oakland 30. After a false start pushed them back five, Romo couldn't connect with Austin, but then threw out to Williams on the left sideline, the receiver making a nice leaping grab for a nine-yard completion. On third and six, Romo was sacked for a loss of five, Folk then coming on for a 49-yard field goal attempt. His try hit the right upright, no good, the score still 10-0.
Taking over at their own 39, McFadden was stopped for one yard, Gradkowski then throwing out to fullback Luke Lawton who was immediately met by safety Gerald Sensabaugh. On third and nine, Gradkowski was hit as he threw, the ball falling short of his target. Lechler came out for the punt, his kick bouncing into the end zone to give Dallas the ball at the 20.
Barber was met at the line of scrimmage, but still plowed ahead for two yards, a 15-yard facemask penalty then tacked on for a first down at the Cowboys' 37. Romo went underneath to Austin who broke around the corner for 20 yards and a first down at the Oakland 43.
Up the middle went Barber for no gain, Romo then finding Witten on a slant over the middle for a 21-yard completion and a first down at the Raiders' 22. The two-minute warning then sounded.
Romo kept the march going, hitting Austin for 13 yards over the middle. On the play, the officials thought Austin had been brought down, but changed their decision and said that he never actually hit the turf, instead landing on the defender and rolling over and back up before running into the end zone. But then the booth reviewed the play again and determined Austin was indeed down by contact.
Now with a first and goal at the eight, Romo checked off to Barber on the left side, losing a yard, then threw out to Austin on a screen, who slid between defenders and finally got his touchdown. Folk did his duty and Dallas had a 17-0 lead with 31 seconds left in the half.
Buehler hit a short kick, which was taken by the upman Tony Stewart at the 16-yard line and returned to the 27. Gradkwoski then threw out to McFadden on a screen, who picked up four yards, Oakland calling their second timeout.
With 14 seconds left, Gradkowski targeted Schilens on the right sideline but overshot his mark, then went to the left sideline where he did complete a pass to Murphy for 17 yards and a first down at the Raiders' 48. Dallas called their first timeout.
On the last play of the second quarter, Gradkowski was setting up to throw a Hail Mary, but was sacked by DeMarcus Ware and fumbled the ball. Jay Ratliff recovered the prize as the half ended.
Sebastian Janikowski's kickoff went through the back of the end zone, Dallas starting the second half on their own 20. Romo immediately found Witten down the seam for a 37-yard completion and a first down on Oakland's 43.
Barber was met at the line of scrimmage, going nowhere, with Romo then getting sacked, losing five. On third and 15, Romo under pressure tried to dump off to Witten, but the pass was broken up, McBriar coming on to punt. Higgins called for the fair catch at his own 12.
Gradkowski threw a quick out to the tight end Miller for nine yards, Fargas then falling forward for two yards and first down at the 23. McFadden tried to go off left tackle, earning two, Gradkowski, with plenty of time, then throwing out to as split-wide McFadden for 16 yards and a first down at the Raiders' 41.
Running back Michael Bush totaled seven yards up the middle, then tried to go around the left end, stopped for no gain. On third and three, Gradkowski found a wide open Miller going across the middle, a 28-yard reception and a first down at the Dallas 24.
Gradkowski then connected with Murphy for what seemed to be a 23-yard completion, but a chop-block penalty instead pushed them back 15 yards to the 39. The quarterback set up Miller on a screen, a 12-yard connection, which was followed by Gradkowski scrambling for 21 yards, setting up a first and goal at the six.
After Fargas earned two yards, Gradkowski hit Heyward-Bey in the left corner of the end zone to cap the drive and get Oakland on the board, the rookie receiver's first career touchdown catch. Janikowski hit the extra point, the score updated to 17-7.
Kevin Ogletree downed the kickoff in the end zone, Dallas starting on their 20 again. Jones went off right guard and worked his way for eight yards, the back then earning one more on the next snap. On third and one, Barber, lined up as the fullback in front of Jones, got the handoff and plunged ahead for the needed one yard and a first down at the 30.
Romo snuck one into Austin on a quick slant, the pass going for 15 yards to the Cowboys' 45. He then had Witten behind the defense, but his throw went just beyond the tight end's hands. Jones took a handoff up the middle for three yards, which was followed by Romo throwing underneath to Witten for one yard. McBriar's 45-yard punt was taken by Higgins at his own six and returned three yards, but an illegal block in the back penalty marched Oakland the other way to their own four.
Narrowly avoiding the sack, Gradkowski tried to hit Stewart on the right sideline, the pass broken up by Spencer. Fargas then went up the middle for three yards, setting up third and seven. Gradkowski went to Fargas on a screen pass, the play going for only four yards as the third quarter came to a close. Kicking from his own end zone, Lechler booted a line drive which was muffed by Ogletree, although he fell on it himself, the Cowboys getting possession at their own 48.
Romo avoided the sack and then found Witten over the middle, the tight end breaking free for a 44-yard completion and a first and goal at the Oakland eight. Set up in the Wildcat, Choice tried to go up the middle, brought down after two yards. Romo then found Williams alone in the back of the end zone for the touchdown, Folk adding the extra point to run the score up to 24-7.
Buehler's touchback put Oakland on their 20, Gradkowski getting the series started by trying to go deep to McFadden, Sensabaugh there to break up the pass. Bush then go the handoff on the next play, picking up one. On third and nine, Gradkowski was able to connect with Murphy, but for only five yards, Lechler getting the call again. Crayton took the 51-yard punt at his own 23 and returned it five yards to the Dallas 28.
Jones tried to go around the left end, but was tripped up for a loss of three, Romo then throwing incomplete to Barber, a holding penalty moving the team back 10 yards to the 15. A screen to Barber never materialized, an illegible receiver downfield penalty declined. On third and 23, Romo threw out to Witten on the left flat, the connection going for four. McBriar's 52-yard punt was taken by Higgins at his own 29, Patrick Watkins laying a big hit after only a two-yard return.
Gradkowski was sacked for a loss of 14, but came back and completed a pass to Schilens for 15. On third and nine, Gradkowski tried to hit Murphy on the left sideline, but the receiver couldn't come down with the ball. The busy Lechler hit a line-drive punt that Crayton had to let bounce, Oakland downing the ball at the Dallas 11.
Barber went off left guard for four yards, Romo then missing on an attempt to Austin. Defensive end Richard Seymour was called for defensive offsides, giving Dallas five yards and a third and one. Barber then emerged from the pile-up and broke free for a 32-yard carry and a first down at the Oakland 48.
The workhorse Barber got the handoff again and managed one yard, then added one more off of right tackle. Facing third and eight, Romo threw a quick out to Jones, who was able to get five yards, short of the first down. Oakland called their first timeout. Higgins signaled for the fair catch of McBriar's 28-yard punt at his own 13-yard line.
Gradkowski threw outside to Miller for five yards, then went right back to Miller again, who broke a tackle and tip-toed up the sideline for 19 yards and a first down at the Raiders' 37.
An attempt to Murphy went incomplete, as did a pass for Heyward-Bey. But Gradkowski was successful on third down, hitting Heyward-Bey for 17 yards and a first down at the Dallas 46. A screen to McFadden earned seven, a pass to Schilens then picking up 17 and a first down at the Cowboys' 22.
McFadden went up the middle, grinding out three yards, Oakland calling their second timeout. Gradkowski had to scramble, earning one yard, as the two-minute warning sounded. A pass to Murphy in the end zone was broken up by cornerback Terence Newman, bringing on fourth and six. Gradkowski's last-gasp attempt to Murphy on the left side fell short, the ball going over to Dallas at the 18.
Barber chugged ahead for three yards, the Raiders calling their third and final timeout. Barber then went back up the middle for another five. On third and two, Barber threaded through the line for six yards and a first down. One knee later by Romo and the game was over.
The victory improved Dallas to 8-3 and solidified their hold on first place in the NFC East heading into their showdown at the Giants in 10 days.
| Home | Email | Print | Register for New Alerts | RSS |
|
