The Dallas Cowboys won a game for the first time in a while on Christmas Day. It came well after everyone made their peace with being eliminated from playoff contention, but winning always feels good regardless of the circumstances.
For the most part Dallas was well in control against the Washington Commanders on Christmas Day. Things got a little bit tense in the second half, but they did what they had to do to pull off the win. They also moved a win in Week 18 away from avoiding a losing record on the season as they sit at 7-8-1 entering their finale.
Truth be told it is hard to take a lot from games like these as they feel similar to preseason or exhibition contests. Where this was different was that Dallas played all of their starter and clearly did so with the intention of winning. There is no denying that they accomplished that specific goal.
Soon enough we will have nothing but time to discuss how we got here and the road that lies ahead. For now the Dallas Cowboys are winners and are so on Christmas Day.
Merry Christmas one and all. Here is our recap of how Thursday’s game unfolded.
First Quarter
The Commanders won the toss and deferred which put the Cowboys on the field first.
Early in the drive things looked sluggish for the Cowboys, but a penalty on the first third down they faced that was called against Washington seemed to wake them up. In fact, they were so alert that when they reached a fourth and short soon after while still on their side of the field they went for it and got it to keep things moving.
It was a stellar drive when it was all said and done as Dak Prescott found Jake Ferguson for a fun touchdown to start the day off right.
SCORE: COWBOYS 7, COMMANDERS 0 (Dak Prescott to Jake Ferguson touchdown)
Getting off to a lead was certainly ideal, but it hardly guaranteed anything. Washington seemed pretty intent on having their own offensive success in quarterback Josh Johnson’s first start since 2021.
Deebo Samuel did his best to help out. He had a huge catch and run that saw him pop Donovan Wilson’s helmet off at the end.
Thankfully the Cowboys defense held right after this. In fact, Jadeveon Clowney got a sack on Johnson on third down to force a field goal that was good.
SCORE: COWBOYS 7, COMMANDERS 3 (Jake Moody field goal)
The first quarter ended with the Cowboys driving after having just converted another fourth and short.
Second Quarter
The Cowboys converted yet another fourth and short in the opening minute of the second quarter and this kept them alive and threatening for another score on the day.
Like the first possession, the aggression was rewarded with a touchdown for the Cowboys. This one came by way of Javonte Williams.
SCORE: COWBOYS 14, COMMANDERS 3 (Javonte Williams touchdown)
The next possession was interesting from a broadcast perspective as Emmitt Smith joined to provide commentary. He noted that he is a fan of how Brian Schottenheimer seems to be changing the culture of the Cowboys and also discussed various holiday-related things.
As the game was going on so was the Washington offense by way of Deebo Samuel again. The Cowboys buckled though and forced the first punt of the afternoon.
Washington’s punt worked out very nicely for them as they put the Cowboys on the Dallas 3-yard line. That did not seem to be a huge issue though as 5 plays later the Cowboys were the endzone once more thanks to a huge connection from Dak Prescott to KaVontae Turpin on a free play thanks to an offsides call.
SCORE: COWBOYS 21, COMMANDERS 3 (Dak Prescott to KaVontae Turpin touchdown)
Unfortunately for the Commanders their next drive saw former Cowboys center Tyler Biadasz get hurt. Hopefully he is alright.
Washington looked to be denied inside of the redzone after a third down play, but things were kept alive for them by way of pass interference. Shortly after Bill Croskey-Merritt punched it in for their first touchdown.
SCORE: COWBOYS 21, COMMANDERS 10 (Bill Croskey-Merritt touchdown)
The Cowboys moved very well and managed bleeding the clock as the first half was coming to a close. Finally they reached a 3rd and 5 and it was clear that the result was going to be important before teams went their separate ways for halftime.
Unfortunately Dak Prescott was sacked, but that left Brandon Aubrey with “only” 42 yards to go which he was good from.
SCORE: COWBOYS 24, COMMANDERS 10 (Brandon Aubrey field goal)
That was that. Halftime.
Third Quarter
As the second half began it was reported that Tyler Biadasz would not return for Washington. Again, we wish him all the best.
The Commanders were unable to do much of anything in their first possession and wound up punting so Dallas took over with a 14-point lead at their back.
George Pickens seemed to move the chains, but he was called for offensive pass interference and the Cowboys were unable to move them after the penalty. Dallas punted for the first time in the game as a result.
It took Washington one play to score as Bill Croskey-Merritt broke off for a 72-yard touchdown. Things happened so quickly and all of a sudden it was a one-possession game.
SCORE: COWBOYS 24, COMMANDERS 17 (Bill Croskey-Merritt touchdown)
The Cowboys began moving once more and caught a break by way of a Washington penalty when it appeared Dak Prescott was going to be sacked on third down. Frankie Luvu tackled Prescott and likely assumed he wasn’t down after he had been whistled to be, but those are the breaks of the game sometimes.
That moment wound up costing Washington as the Cowboys scored, although only by way of a Brandon Aubrey field goal. He booted it from 52 yards out and made things a two-score game once more.
SCORE: COWBOYS 27, COMMANDERS 17 (Brandon Aubrey field goal)
Washington did a great job of moving along when they had the ball, although the Cowboys defense was a huge reason for that. They got down near the goal line, but the defense buckled just enough to force a field goal in the final seconds to send us to the fourth quarter of a tight game.
SCORE: COWBOYS 27, COMMANDERS 20 (Jake Moody field goal)
Fourth Quarter
The Cowboys were unable to get anything really going on their next offensive possession, but they were right past midfield when fourth down hit so they decided to trot Brandon Aubrey out. Unfortunately he missed for the first time on the day which gave Washington great field position to start.
Thankfully the defense showed up yet again and forced a punt despite the big-time head start. It was impressive effort, although obviously a little too late on the season.
The Cowboys offense managed to drain an enormous amount of clock on their next possession and even picked up another fourth down conversion after Hunter Luepke made it even possible to attempt with some hard work on third and long.
Dallas was able to give Brandon Aubrey a shot at redemption and he was good from 51 yards out.
SCORE: COWBOYS 30, COMMANDERS 20 (Brandon Aubrey field goal)
The Commanders got down the field and kicked a field goal of their own ahead of the two-minute warning. It was well-executed and gave them a chance in the final moments of the contest.
SCORE: COWBOYS 30, COMMANDERS 23 (Jake Moody field goal)
The Cowboys were able to move the chains and reach victory formation.
Ballgame. Cowboys win.
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