ARLINGTON -- The Dallas Cowboys continued their tradition of playing the afternoon game on Thanksgiving Day by welcoming the Washington Redskins and prized rookie quarterback Robert Griffin III to Cowboys Stadium in Arlington. RG3, the 2011 Heisman Trophy winner from Baylor and Copperas Cove High School, felt right at home in Jerry Jones football palace in leading the Redskins to a 38-31 victory over the Cowboys.
It was a picture-perfect, 75-degree November afternoon and the tailgaters were out in full force when we arrived at 12:15 pm -- roughly three hours before the schedule kickoff. We began our day in Lot 11 in the midst of a tailgating scene that included Cowboys and Redskins fans celebrating their holiday at the game. Tailgaters had fried turkey, barbecue, burgers and plenty of optimism that their team would enjoy a holiday triumph.
The Cowboys were undefeated against the Redskins on Thanksgiving (5-0) and had plenty of confidence coming off a victory four days earlier against Cleveland. The Cowboys fans enthusiasm had left the $1.2 billion stadium by halftime as RG3 carved up the Dallas defense, completing 8-of-8 passes for three second quarter touchdowns and a 28-3 lead at the break.
Halftime saw the continuation of another Thanksgiving tradition with the 16th annual Red Kettle Kickoff. This year's edition featured country music star Kenny Chesney performing a medley that included I Go Back, and Rock Star. Hundreds of youth football players from local Salvation Army programs took the field during the show for Chesney's performance of Boys of Fall. Chesney was also joined during the halftime extravaganza by the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders.
The Cowboys did make a run that included a Tony Romo 85-yard touchdown pass to Dez Bryant. Bryant finished with 145 yards for the second straight game and was a bright spot on the otherwise dim afternoon for Dallas. The team that was already decimated by injuries lost cornerback Orlando Scandrick (broken hand), linebacker Bruce Carter (dislocated elbow), defensive end Jason Hatcher (concussion) and wide receiver Miles Austin (hip pointer).
Dallas has 10 days off before the Philadelphia Eagles come to Cowboys Stadium on Dec. 2nd for NBC's Sunday Night Football.
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