Cowboys stuff Raiders on Thanksgiving

Cowboys stuff Raiders on Thanksgiving

ARLINGTON, TX (AP) - Miles Austin couldn't stop smiling, soaking up the cheers as he stared at himself on the giant video screens over the field. Then Tony Romo really soaked him, splashing
a cup of water in his face.
     

All part of the fun for the Dallas Cowboys in their Thanksgiving rout of the Oakland Raiders.
     

Romo snapped the Cowboys from their offensive slumber by leading them to a season-high 494 yards, with Austin delivering 145 yards and a touchdown, sending the Cowboys to a 24-7 victory over the Raiders on Thursday.

Austin rolled over the defender, got to his feet and ran into the end zone. Then things got confusing before Austin actually scored.
     

Officials initially marked the ball at the Oakland 9, and only after conferring ruled that Austin wasn't down and had scored a touchdown. Then came a booth-induced replay since the play was in the final 2 minutes of the first half Thursday.
     

The replay showed that Austin's left ankle and calf brushed the ground, though his knee never touched, as he rolled over cornerback Chris Johnson. That wiped out a 22-yard TD catch and the ball was then placed on the 8.
     

After the Cowboys lost a yard on the ensuing play, Tony Romo threw another pass to Austin, who scooted into the end zone to give the Cowboys a 17-0 halftime lead. Austin already had six catches for 129 yards.

By winning for the sixth time in seven games, Dallas (8-3) is guaranteed of going into the final month of the season atop the NFC East.
     
                      (Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press.  All Rights Reserved.)