NFL: Dallas Cowboys overcome 14-point deficit to defeat Oakland Raiders in Thanksgiving clash

The Dallas Cowboys boosted their hopes of taking the NFC East title by coming from behind to take a 31-24 victory over the Oakland Raiders on Thanksgiving Day.

The Raiders were 14 points up at one stage in the first half but the home side finally sparked into life and dominated from thereon at AT&T Stadium.

DeMarco Murray ran in three touchdowns as the Cowboys (7-5) kept the top spot in their division with four games remaining in the regular season.

The game got off to the most spectacular of starts as Terrance Williams fumbled while returning the opening kick-off and Raiders new signing Greg Jenkins returned the loose ball for a touchdown.

But Oakland would suffer an equally-costly fumble as quarterback Matt McGloin and centre Stefen Wisniewski botched the snap on their own six-yard line, with Dallas recovering and Murray running in a touchdown on the next play.

The Raiders regrouped and went back ahead after a pair of acrobatic catches from Andre Holmes left the visitors on the opposing one-yard line and Rashad Jennings ran in for a score soon after.

And Oakland moved even further ahead as McGloin orchestrated a clock-eating 50-yard drive which ended with Jennings taking the ball in for his second rushing score.

There was still enough time left for Romo to lead a touchdown drive of his own, however, as Murray punched it in from four yards out to cut the deficit to 21-14 at half-time.

The Cowboys continued their comeback in the second half, Lance Dunbar exploding for a 45-yard run to put them in scoring range before Tony Romo finished the drive off with a short pass to Dez Bryant to tie things up.

With the Oakland offence now beginning to stutter, the home side took the lead when Murray weaved his way through the blockers and into the end zone for his third touchdown of the game.

Dallas had all the momentum in their favour and struck a killer blow when defensive back Brandon Carr intercepted a McGloin pass in the Cowboys’ end zone in the final quarter.

A field goal from Dan Bailey put Dallas two scores ahead with fewer than two minutes remaining, effectively ending the contest.