Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Miles Austin fights off Oakland Raiders cornerback Stanford Routt while running for extra yardage following a reception in the first half of Thursday's game in Arlington, Texas. (Erich Schlegel/Associated Press)

The Dallas Cowboys found a suitable opponent to help reinvigorate their offence, handling the Oakland Raiders 24-7 in NFL action on Thursday.

Quarterback Tony Romo threw touchdown passes to Miles Austin and Roy Williams, while Felix Jones ran for a score from 46 yards out to give Dallas an all-time mark of 27-14-1 in U.S. Thanksgiving games.

Dallas (8-3) had scored just one touchdown in each of the last two games. With the win, they ensure at least a one-game lead by the end of Sunday on NFC East rivals Philadelphia and the New York Giants, who are each 6-4.

Romo threw for 309 yards on 18-of-29 passes. Austin hauled in seven passes for 145 yards and now has seven touchdowns in his last seven games, while tight end Jason Witten had a couple of key catches among his five receptions for 107 yards.

The triumvirate of running backs Jones, Marion Barber and Tashard Choice combined for 196 rushing yards.

"We still have a lot of work to do," said Choice. "A lot of things that we've messed up on, we have to get better. We have to stay focused coming into December."

Oakland (3-8) was looking to win consecutive games for the first time this season.

"Trying to win two games for us has been like trying to climb Mount Everest," cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha said. "We haven't been able to get any momentum going."

Bruce Gradkowki replaced former No. 1 pick JaMarcus Russell at quarterback last week for the Raiders, but Oakland's punted on its first six possessions on Thursday.

The Cowboys had already amassed 361 yards by halftime, to just 119 for the visitors.

Darius-Heward Bey marked his first NFL touchdown for Oakland to make the score 17-7, but Dallas didn't take long to reply at Cowboys Stadium, effectively ending the contest early in the fourth quarter.

Dallas took a while getting untracked. On their third possession, Choice ran up the gut for 66 yards, caught deep in Oakland territory by Asomugha.

The Cowboys had to settle for a Nick Folk field goal, but on the next drive, Jones went on his long rumble to the end zone.

After Folk missed a field goal attempt, Dallas ended the second quarter with an 80-yard scoring drive.

Witten and Austin each hauled in receptions of over 20 yards to get the Cowboys close to the end zone, with Austin connecting with Romo again on a nine-yard reception for a 17-0 lead at half.

It was a half of missed opportunities, according to Gradkowski.

"There were plays out there to be made early on," the Raiders quarterback said. "We didn't make them. I take the blame. I missed a couple of early throws ... that would have given our team energy."

Gradkowski threw to tight end Zach Miller for 27 yards to set up the short scoring pass to Heyward-Bey that gave the Raiders hope in the third quarter. Heyward-Bey was selected seventh overall in the April draft but has struggled to learn the offence, with just seven catches heading into the game.

Dallas was sputtering on offence but Witten kickstarted them again on the second play of the fourth quarter, breaking a tackle for a 44-yard gain to set up the Williams touchdown reception, which came from six yards out.

Oakland drove deep into Dallas territory late but couldn't convert on a fourth-down play with just under two minutes left.

Gradkowski would complete 18 of 35 passes for 200 yards.

Dallas will now look to a strong finish in December, a month they've traditionally struggled in over the last few years. Romo is just 5-8 in his career in the final month.

"I think we have a lot to prove — just for this season, though," Romo said. "I don't think any other season has any bearing whatsoever. For us, it's strictly about right now and this next game. We'll go from there."

The Cowboys defence has allowed just 182 points, four fewer than Washington — due to play in Philadelphia on Sunday — for the best total in the NFC.

With files from The Associated Press