RB Rashad Jennings chalked up two 1-yard TD runs. Photo by Tony Gonzales.
The Dallas Cowboys erased a 14-point deficit, scored 24 unanswered points and came back to defeat the Oakland Raiders 31-24 on Thanksgiving Day at AT&T Stadium in Dallas.
The Raiders won the coin toss and elected to defer their choice to the 2nd half. WR Terrance Williams fielded K Sebastian Janikowski's opening kickoff and was stripped by LB Kaelin Burnett. WR Greg Jenkins scooped it up and raced in for the touchdown.
Janikowski's ensuing kickoff bounced through the end zone and the Cowboys started at the 20 with Tony Romo at quarterback. Romo's 3rd down and 5 pass was batted down by DE Ryan Robinson and P Chris Jones came on to punt to Greg Jenkins. Jenkins returned the 58-yard punt 5 yards to the Oakland 22.
Matt McGloin started at quarterback for the Raiders. The Raiders offense managed one first down before the Cowboys forced a punt. WR Cole Beasley fielded the P Marquett King boot and was dropped by CBs Chimdi Chekwa and Taiwan Jones at the Dallas 7.
The Raiders gave up a couple of first downs before forcing a punt. Jenkins returned the 50-yard punt to the 21. The Raiders drove to the Cowboys 45 before Dallas forced a punt. King's punt landed into the end zone and Dallas started at the 20.
The Cowboys drove to the Oakland 45 before the Raiders defense forced a punt. Greg Jenkins called for and made fair catch at the Oakland 6. McGloin fumbled the snap on the next play and Dallas recovered at the Raiders 2. RB DeMarco Murray cashed in for a TD run. The extra point was good and the game was tied at 7-7 with 43 seconds left in the 1st quarter.
Jones returned the ensuing kickoff 26 yards to the Oakland 21. RB Rashad Jennings capped the next drive with a 1-yard TD run. Janikowski's extra point was good and the Raiders led 14-7 with 10:13 left in the second quarter.
Williams fielded the ensuing kickoff in the end zone, took a knee for a touchback and Dallas started at the 20. The Raiders held the Cowboys to a three-and-out with three incomplete passes in a row. Greg Jenkins returned the punt to midfield.
Jennings capped a 50-yard drive with another 1-yard TD run. The extra point was good and the Raiders led 21-7 with 1:56 left in the 2nd quarter.
Dallas zipped down the field and scored on a 4-yard Murray TD run. The PAT was good and the TD cut the Raiders lead to 21-14 with 10 seconds left in the 2nd quarter.
After TE Mychal Rivera scooped up the ensuing kickoff and was touched down at the 32, McGloin took a knee and the Raiders took a 21-14 lead into the locker room at halftime.
Jones returned the opening kickoff of the second half to the Oakland 20. The Raiders drive stalled at the 45 and Beasley returned a King punt to the Dallas 14.
The Cowboys tied the game at 21-21 with a 4-yard TD pass from Romo to WR Dez Bryant with 5:26 left in the 3rd quarter.
Jones returned the ensuing kickoff 17 yards to the 24. The Raiders went three-and-out and Beasley returned a King punt to the Dallas 35. Murray gave the Cowboys a 28-21 lead with a 7-yard TD run with 14:20 left in the 4th quarter.
Jones returned the ensuing kickoff to 21. King came on to punt after another three and out. Beasley returned the punt to the Dallas 26. The Raiders held the Cowboys to a three-and-out and Chris Jones came on to punt. Greg Jenkins returned the punt to the Oakland 44.
The Raiders drived ended when McGloin was picked off on a deep pass to the end zone intended for WR Jacoby Ford. The Cowboys took over at the 20.
Dallas added to their lead with a 19-yard FG to make the score 31-21 with 1:56 left to play.
The ensuing kickoff went for a touchback and the Raiders started at the 20. Janikowski cut the Cowboys lead to 31-24 with a 45-yard FG with 35 seconds left.
Dallas recovered the onsides kick, Romo took a knee and Dallas claimed victory. The Raiders fall to 4-8 and head to New York to take on the Jets December 8.
