ARLINGTON, Texas - Don't say it was "just the Raiders." Don't say anything about a short week or anything about it still being November.
It was a game the Cowboys not only had to win, but win convincingly. Not only did they need to get another W, which is No. 8 by the way, but they needed some style points.
The Cowboys needed to win this game with some offensive explosion, something we haven't seen since the Seattle game on the first day of this month.
Explosive offense? Check.
Continued dominance on defense? Check.
Convincing win? Check. And with style? Check, check.
So everything is all cured again? Check . . . back with us in a few weeks.
Of course, we all know that in a matter of days will be the month of December. And that's when it seems like everyone will really be able to figure out this team.
But until then, the Cowboys should and will be thankful for an impressive 24-7 win over the Raiders here at Cowboys Stadium. The offense made plenty of plays and the defense rarely gave up any. Add those two together and you really couldn't ask for more.
But we're starting to expect that from the defense, which hasn't allowed more than 17 points in five straight games, and has yielded just 13 now in the last two.
However, we really didn't know what to make from this offense. Sure, they've got a top-notch quarterback, but he came into the game with a bad back. They have some talented backs and receivers who have made some plays, albeit inconsistent. And they've got a tight end who is a Pro Bowler but entered the contest with a gimpy foot and was a game-time decision. Not only all of that, but this offense has scored just a touchdown in each of the last two games and they both occurred in the final four minutes.
So what gives? Who knows, but the Cowboys decided to take it themselves on this day. Forget Thanksgiving, it was more like "Thanks . . . we'll take that."
The Cowboys went right at the Raiders and did so with a balanced attack. They ran it, they threw it and they did whatever they wanted for the most part.
How about 10 plays of at least 20 yards or more, including three running plays of 66, 49 and 32 yards? The best part of that stat is that all three of their monster backs got into the act. Tashard Choice took the Razorback formation and went 66 yards right up the gut. Felix Jones scored his first touchdown since Week 2, rumbling 46 yards for a score where he hopped the last five yards for a touchdown. And then Marion Barber had a 32-yard run, along with a 42-yard reception, although that basically came against air since the Raiders opted not to cover anyone in the flat on that play.
The big plays came in the passing game, too.
Tony Romo connected with Miles Austin for 49, 27 and 20 yards. He goes to Jason Witten, who was supposed to have a bad foot injury. Of all the games that he finally goes off and makes plays down the field, it's this week. Witten didn't even have full participation in any of the three practices leading up to the game, but caught passes of 21, 37 and 44 yards, resulting in his first 100-yard game since last season.
Raiders head coach Tom Cable didn't wait for a question in his postgame press conference. He led off with what everyone already knew.
"It's pretty obvious that there were way too many big plays," Cable said. "They were so explosive offensively, we were never able to get any kind of rhythm defensively to contain it."
And although it'll be debated all week once again, the Cowboys did this with the running game. Sure Tony Romo had another 300-yard day, passing for 309 with a 121.2 quarterback rating.
But the Cowboys set this up with the run once again. Only this week, the passing game finally obliged. That's what you're supposed to do when you run the ball the way they did last week against Washington and now once again this time against Oakland.
If you've got that working, and you're getting second-and-four a few times, that works wonders for the passing game.
"I think every game you play you have to have balance," Romo said. "It makes it difficult on the defense if you have that. I felt like we were able to do some good things in the pass and some good things in the run. When that happens, it's difficult for the defense."
It was difficult for the Raiders defense for sure. If the Cowboys do that, it will be tough on teams like the Giants, Chargers and Saints as well.
Obviously, it will get tougher than it was here on this Thursday. But at least as the Cowboys head into this treacherous month of December, they'll do so knowing the offense has the capability of exploding.
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Nick Eatman - 
