After a rough first 30 minutes, the Dallas Cowboys came roaring back in the second half on Thanksgiving Day to beat the visiting Oakland Raiders, 31-24.
The Raiders scored just 12 seconds into the ballgame after rookie receiver Terrance Williams fumbled the opening kickoff. Oakland’s Greg Jennings scooped the ball up and returned it 23 yards for the touchdown and a 7-0 Oakland lead.
Dallas answered later in the first quarter, thanks to a botched snap that was dropped by Raiders quarterback Matt McGloin and then recovered at the Raiders’ two-yard line by the Cowboys’ Kyle Wilber. With a first and goal, DeMarco Murray took in a two-yard touchdown run to tie things up at 7-7.
In the second quarter, it looked like the Raiders might run away with it. Rahsard Jennings took in a pair of touchdown runs to give Oakland a 21-7 lead.
But the Cowboys pulled within a touchdown on their final drive of the half with Murray taking in his second touchdown of the day with just 14 seconds left in the half. After that, it was pretty much all Cowboys.
Dallas scored 17 unanswered points in the second half. Dez Bryant caught a four-yard touchdown pass from Tony Romo in the third quarter and finished with 61 yards on seven catches. Murray scored a third touchdown early in the fourth and Dan Bailey hit on a 19-yard field goal at the two-minute warning. After the onslaught, Dallas had a 31-21 lead.
The Raiders’ Sebastian Janikowski hit a 45-yard field goal on Oakland’s next drive, but the team was unable to secure the onside kick, giving Dallas the win and a 7-5 record.
The Cowboys will play the Bears in Chicago on Monday night, December 9.
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