Gerry Fraley

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ARLINGTON — The critical moment for the Dallas Cowboys’ lightning-in-a-bottle receiver Miles Austin came in the second quarter on Sunday.

Atlanta showed a defense that would put Miles in an overmatch against a safety, if he read the cues and did what quarterback Tony Romo expected. Receivers coach Ray Sherman thought to himself, “Just like in practice.”

That’s what Austin did.

Just like in practice, he recognized the defense. Just like in practice, Austin ran a route hard in front of safety Thomas DeCoud.

Just like in practice, Austin grabbed Romo’s on-line throw, skipped out of DeCoud’s flailing try at a tackle and ran the final 30 yards of a 59-yard touchdown play. The game-changing score put the Cowboys ahead for the duration.

“We’re making plays where we can,” Austin said of his sudden connection with Romo. “Everybody’s making good plays when they get the opportunity.”

That one electric play told Sherman all he needed to know. Austin will not be the NFL’s version of Sir Mix-A-Lot.

Austin followed up his original hit — 10 catches for 250 yards and two touchdowns against Kansas City in his first career start on Oct. 11 — with another chart-climber against Atlanta. He had six catches for 171 yards and two touchdowns.

Everything about the performance was the same, from the good week of practice leading up to the game to the willingness to catch throws all over the field.

One big game can be blind luck. Two consecutive big games are not a fluke. They speak to the preparation and talent needed to be successful at the top level.

Austin’s head size has not changed.

“After Kansas City, he was going to hear ‘one-hit wonder.’.” Sherman said. “What he had to do was keep working at it, running the right routes, doing all the little things. Let the game come to him. That’s what he did.

“He’s confident now. You can see it in his eyes.”

Austin grasped what Sherman preached. Austin prepared with the realization that one game does not a career make.

“If I play bad next week, you’ll say I’m a two-hit wonder,” Austin said. “What I have to do is try to play to the best of my ability. I’m going to play as hard as I can, and that’s all I can do.

“I can never let myself get comfortable. The pressure is always going to be there.”

The Falcons looked at Austin as if he were the receiver who had only five catches for 81 yards in the first four games this season. Atlanta made a full commitment to stopping the run, daring Austin to do it again.

Romo picked up on that, targeting more throws to Austin (eight) than any other receiver. Austin earned every one of them.