There were quite a number of potential story lines for today’s game. One could have focused on the Cowboys getting revenge for their playoff loss to the Seahawks in 2006. Another could have been the return of Julius Jones to Texas Stadium.

As it turns out, the Seahawks gave Tony Romo so much time to throw the ball that he had close to 200 yard by halftime. Jason Witten ran free over the middle and finished the day with 115 yards in nine receptions.

The only real concerns in the game arose when Marion Barber and DeMarcus Ware left the game with injuries. Neither injury, however, appears serious, though Wade Phillips reportedly appeared more stoic when asked about Ware.

[Update, from the DMN: Ware says he will play against the Steelers, while Barber apparently suffered a dislocated pinkie toe.]

Dallas took the opening kickoff and drove 71 yards in five plays. A Romo-to-Martellus Bennett touchdown gave the Cowboys a 7-0 lead.

Jones helped his former team by fumbling at the Dallas 35 on Seattle’s first possession of the game. Anthony Henry recovered the ball, and the Dallas offense resumed from there. Nine plays later, Marion Barber scored on a draw from the two, giving Dallas a 14-0 lead.

By halftime, it was 24-6. Seattle drove to the Dallas 7 on the opening drive of the second half, but the Cowboys stuffed the drive from there. The Seahawks were forced to kick a field goal, making it 24-9.

The Dallas offense had a little bit of trouble moving the ball late in the first half and early in the second, and Tony Romo was intercepted on the Cowboys’ first drive of the second half. However, the offense got back on track later in the third quarter, thanks to an amazing one-handed catch by Terrell Owens. With about two and a half minutes left in the quarter and with the Cowboys facing a 3rd-and-6, Owens ran a route down the right sideline. Romo rolled right and overthrew Owens just a bit, but T.O. pulled the ball in with one hand.

Here is the play:

One play later, Romo hit Owens on a 19-yard touchdown, increasing the lead to 31-9. It was pretty much over from there.

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Some bullet points:

  • This was the second time this season and the eighth time in his career that Witten has surpassed 100 yards in a game. The last time was in the Cowboys’ 41-37 win over Philadelphia in week 2.
  • The Cowboys recorded seven sacks, the most since the Cowboys had nine against the Cardinals on November 9, 1997.
  • Players with sacks: Ware (3), Bradie James (2), Greg Ellis, and Tank Johnson. It was Johnson’s first sack of the season.
  • Roy Williams had two receptions for 51 yards, including a 38-yarder in the second quarter. It looked as if he may have a big game, but Romo missed him on a couple of throws in the second half.
  • Tashard Choice had 57 yards on 11 carries, including a 27-yarder. He had cut-back moves that looked very much like Marion Barber’s.
  • Tony Romo recorded his sixth 300-yard game of the season.