Lrd Vdr
11-27-2009, 05:51 PM
Rob Phillips
DallasCowboys.com Staff Writer
Nothing could cool off Miles Austin on Thanksgiving Day. Not the Raiders. Not even a face-full of water from Tony Romo.
The Cowboys receiver had seven catches for 145 yards - including a nine-yard touchdown that prompted Romo's celebratory sideline prank - and the offense thawed out of a two-game freeze with a 24-7 victory over Oakland (3-8) at Cowboys Stadium.
The Cowboys (8-3) have protected their NFC East lead. Now December, a demanding final five-game stretch against all three NFC East foes (Giants, Redskins, Eagles) and two other division leaders (Chargers, Saints), awaits.
The season's final month hasn't always been smooth, but the Cowboys are focused only on 2009. First up is a Dec. 6 road rematch with the Giants, who stole a win at the Cowboys Stadium inaugural opener in Week 2.
"I know that it will be something people will want to talk about, but December, November, September, October, it's all the same to us," Romo said. "I know that it might be whatever it is to certain people, but it's all about improving each time you're out there. If you do that consistently, December will take care of itself, January will take care of itself."
For the fourth straight year (and third under Phillips), the Cowboys have won both legs of their annual two-game, four-day Thanksgiving stretch. Romo (18-of-29, 309 yards, two touchdowns) is now 15-1 in November since becoming the starter in 2006.
The defense remained stingy. An offensive awakening made the difference.
The Cowboys scored only 14 points in their last two games: A 17-7 loss to Green Bay that snapped a four-game win streak, followed by a gritty 7-6 win over Washington last Sunday.
On Thursday, they had 10 plays of at least 20 yards, including a 46-yard TD run from Felix Jones and two deep Jason Witten catches that set up a pair of touchdowns from Roy Williams and Austin. Only two other teams - Pittsburgh and Minnesota - have accomplished that feat.
Austin burned Oakland's stubborn man-to-man coverage in his most dominant game since late October, when he had 421 yards in two outings - the best back-to-back receiving performance in team history.
The offense gained 494 total yards - its second-highest output of the season. Felix Jones' long TD, Tashard Choice's 66-yard "Razorback" formation run and Marion Barber's 32-yarder comprised 144 of 195 rushing yards.
"To have (success) in the passing game against the coverages they were playing and then be able to run the football - we had some big runs as well - it was good to have that balance," offensive coordinator Jason Garrett said.
Meanwhile, Oakland's struggling offense only crossed midfield twice. Quarterback Bruce Gradkowski was sacked three times and completed only 18 of 35 passes for 200 yards. The Raiders did gain 124 rushing yards, but only 42 came after halftime.
The Cowboys have allowed fewer than 20 points in the last five games.
"I think the defense is getting better and better every game," said linebacker Anthony Spencer, who got his first two sacks of the season. "We're in a good position right now. As long as we keep getting better every week, I think we're going to be good."
Oakland cut the Cowboys' lead to 17-7 in the third quarter, but the Dallas defense forced a three-and-out at the start of the fourth, and Romo directed a three-play scoring drive to put the game away.
http://i48.tinypic.com/2lk5htu.gif
DallasCowboys.com Staff Writer
Nothing could cool off Miles Austin on Thanksgiving Day. Not the Raiders. Not even a face-full of water from Tony Romo.
The Cowboys receiver had seven catches for 145 yards - including a nine-yard touchdown that prompted Romo's celebratory sideline prank - and the offense thawed out of a two-game freeze with a 24-7 victory over Oakland (3-8) at Cowboys Stadium.
The Cowboys (8-3) have protected their NFC East lead. Now December, a demanding final five-game stretch against all three NFC East foes (Giants, Redskins, Eagles) and two other division leaders (Chargers, Saints), awaits.
The season's final month hasn't always been smooth, but the Cowboys are focused only on 2009. First up is a Dec. 6 road rematch with the Giants, who stole a win at the Cowboys Stadium inaugural opener in Week 2.
"I know that it will be something people will want to talk about, but December, November, September, October, it's all the same to us," Romo said. "I know that it might be whatever it is to certain people, but it's all about improving each time you're out there. If you do that consistently, December will take care of itself, January will take care of itself."
For the fourth straight year (and third under Phillips), the Cowboys have won both legs of their annual two-game, four-day Thanksgiving stretch. Romo (18-of-29, 309 yards, two touchdowns) is now 15-1 in November since becoming the starter in 2006.
The defense remained stingy. An offensive awakening made the difference.
The Cowboys scored only 14 points in their last two games: A 17-7 loss to Green Bay that snapped a four-game win streak, followed by a gritty 7-6 win over Washington last Sunday.
On Thursday, they had 10 plays of at least 20 yards, including a 46-yard TD run from Felix Jones and two deep Jason Witten catches that set up a pair of touchdowns from Roy Williams and Austin. Only two other teams - Pittsburgh and Minnesota - have accomplished that feat.
Austin burned Oakland's stubborn man-to-man coverage in his most dominant game since late October, when he had 421 yards in two outings - the best back-to-back receiving performance in team history.
The offense gained 494 total yards - its second-highest output of the season. Felix Jones' long TD, Tashard Choice's 66-yard "Razorback" formation run and Marion Barber's 32-yarder comprised 144 of 195 rushing yards.
"To have (success) in the passing game against the coverages they were playing and then be able to run the football - we had some big runs as well - it was good to have that balance," offensive coordinator Jason Garrett said.
Meanwhile, Oakland's struggling offense only crossed midfield twice. Quarterback Bruce Gradkowski was sacked three times and completed only 18 of 35 passes for 200 yards. The Raiders did gain 124 rushing yards, but only 42 came after halftime.
The Cowboys have allowed fewer than 20 points in the last five games.
"I think the defense is getting better and better every game," said linebacker Anthony Spencer, who got his first two sacks of the season. "We're in a good position right now. As long as we keep getting better every week, I think we're going to be good."
Oakland cut the Cowboys' lead to 17-7 in the third quarter, but the Dallas defense forced a three-and-out at the start of the fourth, and Romo directed a three-play scoring drive to put the game away.
http://i48.tinypic.com/2lk5htu.gif