ARLINGTON, Texas - How do you improve on a 10-catch, 250-yard game with two touchdowns, including the game-winner in overtime?
Not an easy task, but Miles Austin gave it a try here Sunday against the Falcons.
OK, so maybe he came up a little short this week, but the Cowboys will certainly take another 171 yards on six catches and two more touchdowns from Austin, who made his second career start, but his first since being promoted to the first-team offense this week.
And Austin didn't disappoint. He made the big plays, including a 59-yard touchdown to the tie the game in the second quarter, and then came up with clutch grabs over the middle for first downs. Not just a big-play threat anymore, Austin had another complete game here Sunday as the Cowboys were rather complete as well, beating up on the Falcons, 37-21.
"Miles has been doing some very good things," said Tony Romo, who put together his second straight 300-yard game without an interception. "He's been working hard and waiting for his opportunity. Obviously, now that he has it he's doing pretty well. I'm glad to see that all the hard work and time and effort that he's put in is paying off."
Austin's first catch of the day was the 59-yard score where he got past the corner and safety and hauled in a perfectly-thrown ball from Romo.
"It was a deep-over route and the guy just missed it," Austin said. "The safety was cutting from the other side so it was difficult for him to get over there."
From there, the Falcons had difficulty covering Austin at all.
The fourth-year receiver scored again in the third quarter, when his 22-yard touchdown gave the Cowboys another 10-point lead.
The only hiccup in Austin's game might have prevented another 200-yard effort and maybe a third touchdown. After cutting up the field after a short catch, Austin lost a fumble out of bounds that prevented an even bigger game.
Still, these back-to-back performances are two of the best in not only Cowboys history, but the NFL as well.
Austin's 171 yards is the second-highest performance immediately following a 250-yard game in league history. It's the most yards by a Cowboys receiver following a 200-yard output.
"It's exciting, but I know I have to keep working hard," Austin said. "We just have to build off of this. I can't relax or anything. I have to work even harder now. I know people will be looking at me even more. That's fine. I'm not going to change anything or my approach."
That's great for the Cowboys. After these two games, they don't want him to change a thing.
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