NFC East Notebook, Nov. 29: Cowboys rally against Raiders

Big Blue View hopes that everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving; we know that the Cowboys did. Dallas knocked off the Oakland Raiders in the afternoon game Thursdayto take a half-game lead in the NFC East over the Eagles, who will play the surging Arizona Cardinals on Sunday.

Looking for a Thanksgiving miracle? So are the New York Giants. New York faces Washington in prime time Sunday, needing a win just to stay alive in the division race.

Here's some news and notes from around the NFC East:

Dallas Cowboys

The Cowboys started off slow, but outscored the Raiders 17-3 in the second half to win, 31-24, on their annual Thanksgiving showdown.

Tony Romo didn't have his best outing, and it was revealed after he played through the flu. No worries, as the Cowboys' ground game was electric. DeMarco Murray and Lance Dunbar combined for 145 yards, with Murray finding the end zone thrice.

The Thanksgiving day win is all good and fun, but it seems as if Dallas and Philly are on a collision course until their Week 17 showdown, which Jerry Jones said will decide the division winner.

Philadelphia Eagles

Apparently, Cardinals head coach Bruce Arians has given the Eagles some bulletin-board material.

Arians called the Eagles offense "great," but then alluded to it as a "college offense" -- I know, stop the presses. Arians also said the offense was full of great athletes with superb speed, so the Eagles' locker room must be itching to seek revenge on the Cardinals' coach.

In actual news, the Eagles and Cardinals both appear relatively healthy. Only Earl Wolff and Brandon Lee missed practice on Thursday for Philly,

Washington Redskins

When you're a fan of a team that has failed up to expectations like Washington, sometimes it's good to vent. That's exactly what Hogs Haven did, ranting on everything wrong with the Redskins this year and going forward. Here were some key points:

The offense is inconsistent, but it's not due to Robert Griffin III's health. RGIII is on pace to finish with more passing yards and touchdowns than he did during his rookie season, but the team is also on track to lose about a dozen games.

The friction between RGIII and Mike Shanahan is overblown. The quarterback and head coach do not have to get along, and the relationship between RGIII and Shanahan is simply irrelevant.

Kirk Cousins should not start a game for the 'Skins this year, because -- as Hogs Haven eloquently put it ''will make the Redskins look really stupid." It admits RGIII was hurt and shouldn't be playing.