After watching video of Terrell Owens being "unleashed" for a seven-catch, 213-yard performance in the Dallas Cowboys' romp over the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday, the Seattle coaches decided to have Pro Bowl cornerback Marcus Trufant shadow T.O. for most of their Thanksgiving Day game at Texas Stadium.

With two obvious exceptions - Owens' 19-yard touchdown reception and a 33-yarder that set up the score - Trufant did an adequate job of keeping a leash on the Cowboys' big-play receiver.

The tradeoff in their 34-9 loss to the Cowboys was that they had no one to cover Pro Bowl tight end Jason Witten.

No, that's not entirely correct. The Seahawks had no one capable of covering Witten, who weaved his way through their zone coverages to catch nine passes for 115 yards - including a 7-yarder for the Cowboys' third TD.

"He's not the biggest tight end. He's not the fastest tight end," linebacker Leroy Hill said. "But obviously he's a very good tight end."

Witten, who has been voted to the past four Pro Bowls, beat strong safety Deon Grant for 36-, 6- and 2-yard receptions. He beat middle linebacker Lofa Tatupu for 11-, 10- and 7-yarders. He beat Hill on a 10-yarder and then, after Hill was knocked out of the game with a stinger, he went after replacement D.D. Lewis for 20- and 10-yarders.

"I was unleashed," Witten cracked, using the same line Owens uttered after his breakout performance against the 49ers. "No man, you just stick within a system and you know you're a big part of it, obviously.

"It's a different guy every week."

"You've got to give him credit. The guy was doing his thing," strong safety Deon Grant said. "We had him covered up. But when he'd slide in and get open throws, we were in zone.

"He was just finding openings and making it happen."

Witten became the eighth receiver to have a 100-yard performance against the Seahawks this season, and the fourth in November.

"Jason Witten is the absolute perfect tight end in all ways," Romo said. "He runs great routes. He blocks in the backfield. He is a good run blocker. His timing is impeccable. He's got great hands."

Witten's big day coincided with the biggest day of John Carlson's young career. The Seahawks' rookie tight end caught six passes for 105 yards.

"He's one of the guys when I'm watching film that I like to learn from him," Carlson said. "Just the things he does to get open on routes and his run blocking. He's someone I can learn a lot from."