The Dallas Cowboys gained a sport for the primary time shortly on Christmas Day. It got here nicely after everybody made their peace with being eradicated from playoff rivalry, however profitable at all times feels good whatever the circumstances.
For essentially the most half Dallas was nicely in management in opposition to the Washington Commanders on Christmas Day. Issues acquired a bit of bit tense within the second half, however they did what they needed to do to tug off the win. In addition they moved a win in Week 18 away from avoiding a dropping document on the season as they sit at 7-8-1 coming into their finale.
Fact be advised it’s laborious to take lots from video games like these as they really feel just like preseason or exhibition contests. The place this was totally different was that Dallas performed all of their starter and clearly did so with the intention of profitable. There isn’t any denying that they completed that particular objective.
Quickly sufficient we may have nothing however time to debate how we acquired right here and the highway that lies forward. For now the Dallas Cowboys are winners and are so on Christmas Day.
Merry Christmas every body. Right here is our recap of how Thursday’s sport unfolded.
The Commanders gained the toss and deferred which put the Cowboys on the sector first.
Early within the drive issues seemed sluggish for the Cowboys, however a penalty on the primary third down they confronted that was known as in opposition to Washington appeared to wake them up. Actually, they had been so alert that after they reached a fourth and brief quickly after whereas nonetheless on their facet of the sector they went for it and acquired it to maintain issues shifting.
It was a stellar drive when it was all mentioned and completed as Dak Prescott discovered Jake Ferguson for a enjoyable landing to begin the time without work proper.
SCORE: COWBOYS 7, COMMANDERS 0 (Dak Prescott to Jake Ferguson landing)
Getting off to a lead was actually very best, nevertheless it hardly assured something. Washington appeared fairly intent on having their very own offensive success in quarterback Josh Johnson’s first begin since 2021.
Deebo Samuel did his finest to assist out. He had an enormous catch and run that noticed him pop Donovan Wilson’s helmet off on the finish.
Fortunately the Cowboys protection held proper after this. Actually, Jadeveon Clowney acquired a sack on Johnson on third right down to drive a area objective that was good.
SCORE: COWBOYS 7, COMMANDERS 3 (Jake Moody area objective)
The primary quarter ended with the Cowboys driving after having simply transformed one other fourth and brief.
The Cowboys transformed one more fourth and brief within the opening minute of the second quarter and this saved them alive and threatening for one more rating on the day.
Like the primary possession, the aggression was rewarded with a landing for the Cowboys. This one got here by the use of Javonte Williams.
SCORE: COWBOYS 14, COMMANDERS 3 (Javonte Williams landing)
The subsequent possession was attention-grabbing from a broadcast perspective as Emmitt Smith joined to offer commentary. He famous that he’s a fan of how Brian Schottenheimer appears to be altering the tradition of the Cowboys and likewise mentioned numerous holiday-related issues.
As the sport was occurring so was the Washington offense by the use of Deebo Samuel once more. The Cowboys buckled although and compelled the primary punt of the afternoon.
Washington’s punt labored out very properly for them as they put the Cowboys on the Dallas 3-yard line. That didn’t appear to be an enormous subject although as 5 performs later the Cowboys had been the endzone as soon as extra due to an enormous connection from Dak Prescott to KaVontae Turpin on a free play due to an offsides name.
SCORE: COWBOYS 21, COMMANDERS 3 (Dak Prescott to KaVontae Turpin landing)
Sadly for the Commanders their subsequent drive noticed former Cowboys heart Tyler Biadasz get harm. Hopefully he’s alright.
Washington appeared to be denied inside the redzone after a 3rd down play, however issues had been saved alive for them by the use of move interference. Shortly after Invoice Croskey-Merritt punched it in for his or her first landing.
SCORE: COWBOYS 21, COMMANDERS 10 (Invoice Croskey-Merritt landing)
The Cowboys moved very nicely and managed bleeding the clock as the primary half was coming to an in depth. Lastly they reached a third and 5 and it was clear that the end result was going to be vital earlier than groups went their separate methods for halftime.
Sadly Dak Prescott was sacked, however that left Brandon Aubrey with “solely” 42 yards to go which he was good from.
SCORE: COWBOYS 24, COMMANDERS 10 (Brandon Aubrey area objective)
Because the second half started it was reported that Tyler Biadasz wouldn’t return for Washington. Once more, we want him all the very best.
The Commanders had been unable to do a lot of something of their first possession and wound up punting so Dallas took over with a 14-point lead at their again.
George Pickens appeared to maneuver the chains, however he was known as for offensive move interference and the Cowboys had been unable to maneuver them after the penalty. Dallas punted for the primary time within the sport because of this.
It took Washington one play to attain as Invoice Croskey-Merritt broke off for a 72-yard landing. Issues occurred so shortly and abruptly it was a one-possession sport.
SCORE: COWBOYS 24, COMMANDERS 17 (Invoice Croskey-Merritt landing)
The Cowboys started shifting as soon as extra and caught a break by the use of a Washington penalty when it appeared Dak Prescott was going to be sacked on third down. Frankie Luvu tackled Prescott and sure assumed he wasn’t down after he had been whistled to be, however these are the breaks of the sport typically.
That second wound up costing Washington because the Cowboys scored, though solely by the use of a Brandon Aubrey area objective. He booted it from 52 yards out and made issues a two-score sport as soon as extra.
SCORE: COWBOYS 27, COMMANDERS 17 (Brandon Aubrey area objective)
Washington did a fantastic job of shifting alongside after they had the ball, though the Cowboys protection was an enormous motive for that. They acquired down close to the objective line, however the protection buckled simply sufficient to drive a area objective within the closing seconds to ship us to the fourth quarter of a good sport.
SCORE: COWBOYS 27, COMMANDERS 20 (Jake Moody area objective)
The Cowboys had been unable to get something actually occurring their subsequent offensive possession, however they had been proper previous midfield when fourth down hit so that they determined to trot Brandon Aubrey out. Sadly he missed for the primary time on the day which gave Washington nice area place to begin.
Fortunately the protection confirmed up but once more and compelled a punt regardless of the big-time head begin. It was spectacular effort, though clearly a bit of too late on the season.
The Cowboys offense managed to empty an unlimited quantity of clock on their subsequent possession and even picked up one other fourth down conversion after Hunter Luepke made it even doable to try with some laborious work on third and lengthy.
Dallas was in a position to give Brandon Aubrey a shot at redemption and he was good from 51 yards out.
SCORE: COWBOYS 30, COMMANDERS 20 (Brandon Aubrey area objective)
The Commanders acquired down the sector and kicked a area objective of their very own forward of the two-minute warning. It was well-executed and gave them an opportunity within the closing moments of the competition.
SCORE: COWBOYS 30, COMMANDERS 23 (Jake Moody area objective)
The Cowboys had been in a position to transfer the chains and attain victory formation.
