ARLINGTON – This is the credible win the Cowboys sought.

This performance doesn't require an apology or an awkward justification of how a team should never feel bad about a win.

A team that has been spinning its wheels for longer than it cares to admit finally got some traction. The Cowboys' 37-21 win over Atlanta on Sunday at Cowboys Stadium marks the first time they have won back-to-back games since last November.

Owner Jerry Jones called it the statement his team was trying to make. To beat a team as strong as the Falcons by 16 points is something coach Wade Phillips said is significant.

"I think it's one of those things that it allows you to really believe in yourself," quarterback Tony Romo said. "I think we had that, but until you go out and do it ...

"It's no different than before I started playing. You know, when I ended up starting in the league, it was like, 'Well, I think I can do it. I really do. But can I?'

"You're always going to have that confidence that you think you can, but you've got to go out and do it."

The Cowboys did it Sunday with a defense that was more aggressive than passive. They did it because for the second consecutive game, the Romo to Miles Austin connection could be confused with Joe Montana to Jerry Rice.

They did it because Patrick Crayton responded to his demotion by scoring a touchdown as a receiver and another as a punt returner.

It was unquestionably the most complete game the Cowboys have played since a 20-8 win over the New York Giants 10 months ago.

"The three phases of the game were fun to watch and be a part of," Romo said.

The Cowboys' defense was nothing special the first five weeks of the season. The group forced only four turnovers to rank last in the league and displayed a penchant for giving up yards and points at the end of games.

On this afternoon, the maligned group forced three turnovers. The Cowboys stuffed running back Michael Turner inside (18 carries for 50 yards) and got after quarterback Matt Ryan with four sacks.

Atlanta coach Mike Smith paid the Cowboys the ultimate compliment. He said they were more physical than his team.

"The defensive line was pushing the pocket and allowed us to push around the corner," said linebacker DeMarcus Ware, who had two sacks and forced a fumble. "Basically, that's what we've been missing."

This game saw Romo at his best, making plays with his arm and feet while committing no turnovers. He threw for 311 yards and three touchdowns while rushing for 31 yards. Austin followed his signature performance against Kansas City by catching six passes for 171 yards and two touchdowns.

Austin now has 421 yards receiving and four touchdowns in the last two games. That's only seven yards less than Roy Williams has in the 15 games he's played for the Cowboys.

And then there's Crayton.

He lost his job as the starting receiver to Austin. He lost his punt return job to Allen Rossum.

So what did he do? He caught a 5-yard touchdown pass from Romo in the final six seconds of the first half and returned a punt 73 yards for a touchdown – the first of his career – in the fourth after Rossum went out with a pulled hamstring.

Phillips came out of the overtime win over Kansas City two weeks ago talking about how his team had come together. He said the win made everyone believe, and that was the theme heading into the Falcons game.

That was hard for outsiders to believe because the Cowboys were pushed to the limit to beat a Chiefs team that was winless at the time.

"To scrape by in a game like that [Kansas City], it looks like 'well, there are more deficiencies,"' Romo said. "It made me think this team could be pretty good.

"The reality of it is, we believe in ourselves and we think this team has a chance to continue to grow and get better."