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For only the sixth time in NFL history, Thanksgiving Day saw an overtime game and this time around Las Vegas stunned a playoff-optimistic Dallas team.
The Las Vegas Raiders beat the Dallas Cowboys, 36-33, in overtime Thursday, Nov. 24 from AT&T Stadium in Arlington.
Road teams are now 5-1 in overtime games on Thanksgiving while Dallas is 0-3 in those games.
With the win, Las Vegas improves to 6-5 on the year and 2-1 against the NFC East.
Dallas falls to 7-4 on the season and 0-3 against teams from the AFC West.
The Raiders will host the Washington Football Team at Allegiant Stadium Sunday, Dec. 5.
Kickoff is set for 1:05 p.m.
Kicker Daniel Carlson had to endure three different penalties on the final play of the game before booting the game-winning field goal in a game that featured two ties with the home team never leading at any point.
He previously banged home a 56-yarder in the fourth quarter to take a 33-30 lead.
Penalties were a fixture in the game as both teams combined to be penalized 28 times for a total of 276 yards.
However, it appeared to be the Cowboys that got the worst of it, at least in terms of timeliness.
Defensive back Anthony Brown was flagged four separate times during the game after having zero penalties coming into the Thanksgiving Day contest.
The final came on the last drive of the game on a third and 18 via defensive pass interference.
In the first quarter, Brown was flagged for pass interference twice on the same drive, both third downs.
The Raiders would score on the drive and go up 14-6.
Brown’s third penalty of the game was also on a third down in the third quarter on a drive where Las Vegas would kick a field goal to run the lead back to eight.
Rookie linebacker Micah Parsons drew his fair share of attention as well being penalized twice for offsides.
Dallas committed five defensive penalties in the first half.
Parsons was also penalized for roughing the passer in the second half.
Even when Las Vegas committed penalties of its own, Dallas could not capitalize.
Defensive back Brandon Facyson was called for pass interference only for the Cowboys to be whistled for offensive holding on the very next play.
In the second quarter, linebacker Denzel Perryman was flagged for unnecessary roughness on a drive that resulted in a missed field goal for Dallas.
Quarterback Derek Carr had himself a day throwing for 373 yards on 24-of-39 passing, with a touchdown.
Las Vegas is 6-0 when Carr passes for 300 yards or more. They are 0-5 when he doesn’t.
It got started early as Carr found wide receiver DeSean Jackson for a 56-yard touchdown on the opening drive for the Raiders.
For Carr, it was his 53rd completion of 20 or more yards this season, which leads the NFL.
Moreover, it was the team’s sixth touchdown of 20-plus this year.
It was the 34th touchdown of 50 or more for Jackson, only Hall-of-Famer Jerry Rice has more.
The pair connected again in the fourth quarter for a 29-yard pickup.
Jackson finished with 102 yards on three receptions and a touchdown.
Carr also did some work with his legs, bursting for a 22-yard scramble in the third quarter for his longest run in four years.
Speaking of running quarterbacks, backup Marcus Mariota also rushed for a touchdown in Las Vegas’ win.
Tight end Darren Waller had an up-and-down night while it lasted as he had a reception turned fumble ruled incomplete in the first quarter.
Later in that opening frame, Waller would leave the game citing his back, before returning to the game.
Waller would leave the game again in the second quarter, this time for his knee which he would not return from.
Defensive end Carl Nassib also left the game with a knee injury and did not return.
Las Vegas was already playing this game without Linebackers Coach Richard Smith due to COVID-19.