The Dallas Cowboys had a crucial chance in their final regular-season game. A victory would place them as the top team in the NFC East and secure the second seed. This would guarantee them home-field advantage for at least the first two playoff games.
The Cowboys faced off against the struggling Washington Commanders, who, ironically, might have preferred losing for a better draft pick. Despite a rocky start, the Cowboys secured a convincing victory with a score of 38-10.
As a result of this win, the Cowboys are set to return home for the playoffs, where they will face the Green Bay Packers. The specific date and time of the game are still to be determined.
Despite the absence of both starting guards, Tyler Smith due to a foot injury, and Zack Martin dealing with an illness, the Cowboys’ offense performed exceptionally well. Quarterback Dak Prescott had an outstanding game, completing 86.1% of his passes for 279 yards, four touchdowns, and one interception, earning a quarterback rating of 124.4. This marked his fourth game of the season with at least four passing touchdowns, leading the league, and the 11th of his career, setting a new team record.
CeeDee Lamb concluded his record-breaking regular season with another impressive performance, making 13 catches for a game-high 98 receiving yards. He also scored two touchdowns, extending his touchdown streak to nine consecutive games. This accomplishment makes him just the third NFL wide receiver to achieve this feat since 2000, joining A.J. Green in 2012 and Randy Moss in 2003-04.
Tony Pollard had a strong performance on the ground, accumulating 70 yards from 17 carries, reaching a season total of 1,005 rushing yards. This achievement places him as the sixth player in the team’s history to achieve back-to-back seasons with over 1,000 rushing yards.
Defensively, the Dallas team showcased an impressive performance, securing three takeaways and four sacks while limiting Washington to just 180 total yards of offense. Micah Parsons contributed significantly with five tackles and his 14th sack of the season, establishing a new career high. Notably, he has now accumulated 40 sacks in his first three seasons, making him only the fifth NFL player since 1982 to achieve this milestone in his initial three years.
First Quarter Highlights:
In the opening part of the game, the Cowboys’ defense successfully stopped the Commanders, and Prescott and the offense swiftly scored. Prescott completed all six of his passes in the series, ending with a 3-yard touchdown pass to Jalen Tolbert for the game’s initial points.
Following that, the Cowboys seized another opportunity when Jourdan Lewis forced a turnover, taking the ball away from the Commanders’ running back. This turnover positioned the Cowboys well at the Washington 31-yard line.
Despite their efforts, the Cowboys couldn’t advance much closer to the end zone, leading to a field goal attempt by Brandon Aubrey. Unfortunately, the kick was blocked, and the Commanders took advantage, returning the ball 66 yards. This block marked the end of Brandon Aubrey’s record of making 35 consecutive field goals in his NFL career.
Second Quarter Highlights:
The Commanders seized an opportunity to score a touchdown early in the second quarter, tying the game and making the most of the situation.
The Cowboys faced challenges when, on their next possession, a pass from Prescott intended for Michael Gallup was tipped, resulting in an interception by safety Quan Martin. This allowed the Commanders to take the lead with a 36-yard field goal from Joey Slye.
However, the Cowboys quickly responded. Prescott guided the team to a touchdown by Tony Pollard from the 1-yard line, putting them back in the lead.
But the Cowboys weren’t done in the first half. Defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence disrupted the Commanders’ quarterback, leading to an interception by safety Donovan Wilson. Prescott then made successful passes, including a 32-yard gain to running back Rico Dowdle. Finishing strong, Prescott threw a 4-yard pass to CeeDee Lamb, giving the Cowboys a 21-10 lead at halftime.
Despite these positive plays, there was unfortunate news. Before the interception, cornerback Stephon Gilmore suffered a shoulder injury and couldn’t play for the rest of the game. His availability for the next week is still uncertain.
Third Quarter Highlights:
With Dallas being really successful when leading at halftime (27 wins out of 29 games since 2021), the game was practically sealed. The certainty grew as Dallas scored two touchdowns right at the beginning of the third quarter.
The first touchdown came from a 12-play, 75-yard drive. CeeDee Lamb played a big role, catching five passes for 34 yards. The drive ended with a 6-yard touchdown catch from Lamb after a precise throw from Prescott.
Following that, the defense swiftly forced a three-and-out, leading to a Commanders punt. Peyton Hendershot made a significant play by blocking the punt, providing Dallas with excellent field position at Washington’s 9-yard line. Three plays later, Prescott connected with wideout Brandin Cooks for a 25-point lead.
The defensive momentum continued as cornerback DaRon Bland secured the team’s third takeaway of the day, intercepting a deep pass from Howell. This marked Bland’s league-leading ninth interception of the year.
Fourth Quarter Highlights:
In the final quarter, the Cowboys’ main players had one more turn, but the kicker, Brandon Aubrey, faced some bad luck, missing a 36-yard field goal.
However, Aubrey got a chance to redeem himself. Following that, the backup quarterback, Cooper Rush, took over, guiding the team close to the opponent’s end. Aubrey then successfully kicked a 50-yard field goal, marking the last scoring play of the game and securing a final score of 38-10.