These Cowboys needed to dominate an opponent from start to finish so they could feel good about themselves entering December - the month that will define this team's legacy.

Consider it done.

Dallas blew out the raggedy Seattle Seahawks , 34-9, on Thanksgiving Day. That's what you're supposed to do to bad teams.

You impose your dominance. You take their heart. And you make them realize they have no chance to win. Too many times, we've seen the Cowboys let bad teams hang around until the second half by playing down to the competition.

For once, the Cowboys didn't do that. They controlled the game from the opening kickoff.

The Cowboys had nine plays of 10 yards or more in the first quarter. They scored 24 points on their first 27 plays. The Cowboys' first four drives resulted in three touchdowns, a field goal and 280 yards.

Wow.

Dallas performed like a playoff team, while Seattle resembled a team assembled entirely with practice-squad players.

When Nick Folk's 41-yard field goal gave the Cowboys a 24-3 lead with 7:34 left in the second quarter, the only real suspense left was how many people would decide to go home to watch the second half after the Jonas Brothers performed.

"We did what we were supposed to do," Bradie James said. "And for once, we finished the game. We're getting our swagger back."

Injuries have wrecked Seattle's season. You can't argue that. Heck, two offensive line starters missed Thursday's game, but no one feels sorry for anyone in this league.

This is social Darwinism at its finest. Only the strong survive.

The Cowboys sacked Matt Hasselbeck seven times. DeMarcus Ware recorded three, and James, the best defensive player on the field Thursday, had 10 tackles, two sacks and a forced fumble.

It's too early to mention the Cowboys among the league's elite teams again. We'll see how they fare against their next two opponents: Pittsburgh and the New York Giants .

Pittsburgh leads the NFL in rushing defense, passing defense and total defense. The Giants routed the Cowboys a few weeks ago. Romo didn't play against New York, but it wouldn't have mattered because the Giants rushed for more than 200 yards.

"We have a tough December, and we have a lot to prove," said Jason Witten, "but we're getting our confidence back."

Dallas played with arrogance when the season began, expecting to win games just by putting on a jock strap and shoulder pads. They forgot how much determination and work it takes to win games.

Losing four games in six weeks reminded them. And humbled them.

The last three weeks, the Cowboys have played with an urgency and desperation they lacked in September and October.

Now, they're having fun again.

The defensive players did the funky turkey - at least that's what James called backup defensive end Jason Hatcher's brainchild - after big defensive plays against Seattle.

Tank Johnson did it. So did Ware. And James. Even Greg Ellis did a half-hearted turkey strut, flapping his arms after a second-half sack.

Pacman Jones and Terrell Owens yukked it up on the sideline during the second half. Romo tried to high-five an official, who wisely left him hanging, after a second-quarter touchdown pass to Martellus Bennett. See what winning breeds?

Slowly, this team's swagger is returning. It's feeling better about itself. The Cowboys know they're good, but they must play with a certain intensity level to win.

Finally, the players understand.

Difference maker

Comparing the Cowboys' passing statistics during the three games Tony Romo missed and the three games since his return:

Without Romo With Romo

50 Comp. 64 94 Att. 100 490 Yds. 870 3 TDs 7 6 Int. 4 1-2 W-L 3-0