The Jets had a Thanksgiving to forget in Dallas. Greeted by cold southwestern temps, raindrops and even snowflakes, the Green & White also got a rude holiday welcoming from the Cowboys and dropped a 34-3 affair at Texas Stadium. The Jets fell to 2-9 on the season while the NFC East leaders improved their record to 10-1.

Terrell Owens’ late touchdown, on a 22-yard pass from Tony Romo, was just the dessert for the Cowboys. They dominated throughout and didn’t need a spectacular performance from T.O., outexecuting the Jets in every phase.

Dallas scored the game’s opening 21 points and was never threatened this afternoon. The Jets offense couldn’t sustain much of anything, totaling just nine first downs and 180 yards without the services of Laveranues Coles, who made the trip to Big D but was deactivated before the game.

“To beat a team like that, you have to play your best football and we didn’t play our best football,” said Jets head coach Eric Mangini.

Kellen Clemens completed 12 of his 27 passes, but his receivers had a number of drops and he was sacked three times. Thomas Jones didn’t have any room to run either, gaining 40 yards on the ground against his younger brother Julius' team.

“We got beat pretty soundly in terms of our offense,” Clemens said. “We didn’t run the ball real well, we didn’t throw the ball real well, and not doing those two things, it’s tough to score points.”

From the start, the Jets were behind the eightball. Marion Barber’s 7-yard run gave the Cowboys a touchdown on their opening drive for the fourth time in five games. Then Leon Washington, who normally terrorizes opponents on kickoff returns, coughed up the ensuing kick and the Cowboys recovered in scoring territory.

Kerry Rhodes had an immediate answer, intercepting Romo on an end zone pass intended for Owens. That prevented a big early deficit and the Jets headed into the second quarter trailing just 7-0.

“We hung around early a little bit. There was a chance for plays to be made and we didn’t make them,” Rhodes said. “It was indicative of the season so far.”

Romo, though, wouldn’t be denied in the second as the Cowboys’ signalcaller got a favorable matchup and took advantage of it. Tight end Jason Witten ran by LB Matt Chatham and hauled in a 25-yard scoring strike for his sixth TD in 2007.

“That was a miscommunication between the secondary and the linebackers as to what the coverage was,” Mangini said. “We always talk about that. It’s better to be all wrong together than half right and half wrong.”

Then Terence Newman gave further reason for Jets indigestion. The talented corner jumped a Jerricho Cotchery out route. Clemens locked in on Cotch, Newman raced in front for the pick and galloped 50 yards for the ‘Pokes' third touchdown.

“I knew I had a one-on-one matchup with Jerricho,” Clemens said. “I think the ball may have been a little bit behind Jerricho and I know for a fact that Newman got a great jump on it. Whether he gambled or not, I’m not sure.”

Mike Nugent finally got the Jets on the board with less than a minute to go in the half, connecting on a 40-yard field goal. Cotchery made a terrific 12-yard grab on fourth-and-3 to get the Jets in position.

If you looked at the stat sheet at intermission, the numbers didn’t appear one-sided. The Cowboys held just a 12-yard edge (128 to 116) and they had seven first downs to the Jets’ six.

But the visitors didn’t execute in the first 30. Both rookie CB Darrelle Revis and S Eric Smith couldn’t come down with potentially game-changing interceptions and the offense didn’t cross midfield until the closing minutes. Special teams were spotty as well. Ben Graham had a 32-yard punt before Witten’s TD and Wallace Wright slid into the end zone when it appeared Graham (with help from Brad Smith) had pinned the Cowboys inside their 5-yard line.

The Cowboys outscored the Jets, 13-0, in the second half. The visitors had a chance to score late but TE Chris Baker’s fourth-and-goal reception placed him down at the 1-yard-line. It was that kind of day for the Jets.

New York will attempt to get its third win again a week from Sunday in Miami. The winless Dolphins (0-10) lost to the Jets in Week 2 and will have a short week to prepare after visiting the Steelers Monday night.

Jets-Cowboys Game Stats

Baker’s Hands

Midway through the first quarter, Baker made perhaps the most impressive reception of his career. Kellen Clemens sailed a pass over Baker’s head, but the 6’3” receiving target deflected the ball with his right hand, turned around and found it with his left and secured a 22-yard reception.

Heat Wave

The Jets registered three sacks, giving them 10 in their past two games after posting nine sacks through the first nine games.

Missing LC

Coles, whose six TDs lead the team, was among the Jets' inactives after injuring his ankle against Pittsburgh on Sunday. After making 104 consecutive starts, LC has been forced to the sideline two of the past three games due to injury.

“It’s tough whenever you lose a guy like Laveranues, who is usually given a lot of double coverage, is given a lot of attention and creates so many things in the passing game,” Mangini said. “To not have him there is always difficult because he is so productive and he does create a lot of attention.”

Mr. Jones and Me

What a day for the Jones family. After getting together Wednesday at Julius Jones’ house, Thomas Jones went head-to-head with his baby brother on Thanksgiving for the second time in four years. The CBS cameras spotted their parents, Thomas and Betty, on a few occasions. The Big Stone Gap, Va., natives, who also have five daughters, had specialized jerseys made that on one side had TJ’s name and on the other side had Julius’ name.

“We didn’t play well, they played well,” TJ said. “My brother ran well [14 carries, 64 yards]. I am kind of at a loss for words.”