Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images The Dallas Cowboys are Thanksgiving Day favorites The Dallas Cowboys got back in the win column with a surprising upset over the Washington Commanders. Surprising in the fact that Dallas won, and surprising in that it was one of the crazier games seen in a while. The fourth-quarter alone was worth the price of admission. The Cowboys were able to get their win even though they were roughly 10.5-point underdogs going into the game. Dallas has been the underdog for a while now, but this week they are favored. With their rivals in the NFC East, the New York Giants, coming to town on turkey day, Dallas finds themselves as 3.5-point favorites in the FanDuel odds. The Giants appear to be falling apart after cutting QB Daniel Jones, getting rocked by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 30-7, then having multiple players calling the team’s effort ‘soft’ and questioning the game plan. Could the Cowboys actually go on a winning streak? And how does this sit with a fanbase firmly looking toward draft position?

Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images  Can you believe the Cowboys won on Sunday? The Dallas Cowboys were in the midst of their worst losing streak since 2015, but that came to an end on Sunday in the most unlikely of ways with a 34-26 victory over the Washington Commanders. Entering this week of NFL action, the Commanders – led by former Cowboys defensive coordinator Dan Quinn – were 10.5 point favorites. Only the Chiefs, facing off against the Panthers, had a larger point spread this week. So, naturally, the final minutes of an utterly insane fourth quarter between the Cowboys and Commanders was unfolding at the same time that Carolina tied Kansas City with just over a minute left. It was that kind of day for NFL football, and while the Chiefs went on to win, the Commanders could not secure the same fate. When this one kicked off, it very quickly proved it had all the makings of a slopfest. The Cowboys started out with the ball and promptly flew down the field, with Cooper Rush completing his first four passes before Jalen Tolbert flat out dropped a pass on third down. Brandon Aubrey trotted out for a 35-yard field goal, but Washington flew in and blocked it. The Dallas defense, which welcomed DaRon Bland back this week for the first time all year, held the slumping Commanders offense to a field goal. The Cowboys then flew down the field again, with Rico Dowdle leading the charge, but he was stuffed on third and short. Aubrey came out for a 42-yard field goal, but he hooked it just to the right. The Commanders once again moved the ball down the field quickly, but the drive fizzled out. Austin Seibert, who returned this week after a two-game absence due to an injury, walked out to attempt a 51-yard field goal. He shanked it, naturally, keeping the Commanders lead at 3-0. Immediately afterwards, Rush handed it off to Dowdle, who lumbered forward for six yards but had the ball ripped from his hands as he was being gang tackled, and Washington recovered the ball. That kicked off a series of four straight punts, the fourth of which was blocked by the Commanders. Not to worry, though, as Chauncey Golston managed to pick off Jayden Daniels three plays later. Chauncey Golston makes play on the ball for the INT : #DALvsWAS on FOX : https://t.co/waVpO909ge pic.twitter.com/wCl0Uzlk0X — NFL (@NFL) November 24, 2024 The two teams traded punts again before Rush hit a deep shot of 41 yards down the sideline to Jalen Brooks, which set up a field goal try right before halftime. This time, Aubrey drilled the kick from 46 yards out, making it a 3-3 game at halftime. While Aubrey finally connected on a field goal right before the break, he started the third quarter off with another mistake. Kicking off to Washington, he shanked the kick and it fell well short of the designated landing zone. That gave the Commanders a first down at their own 40, and they used that to their advantage, scoring a touchdown after 10 plays. However, Seibert missed the extra point, leaving their lead at just 9-3. Not to be outdone, though, Rush came back on the field and lit a fire under his own offense. He ripped off chunk plays of 16 and 18 yards to Jalen Tolbert and Brevyn Spann-Ford, respectively, before a pass interference penalty on third down set up first and goal. A few plays later, Rush hit Tolbert for a touchdown. Aubrey drilled the extra point to give his team their first lead of the day, 10-9. The two teams traded punts again until the start of the fourth quarter, when Aubrey hit a 48-yard field goal to make it a 13-9 game. Apparently, that was all that was needed to open the floodgates, as these two teams combined for 41 points in the fourth quarter. Following the field goal, Daniels hit tight end John Bates on a quick pass on first down, but Donovan Wilson punched the ball out to be recovered by Eric Kendricks. Five plays later, Rush found a wide open Luke Schoonmaker for a touchdown. Luke Schoonmaker is wide open to extend the Cowboys lead! : #DALvsWAS on FOX : https://t.co/waVpO909ge pic.twitter.com/A28hdzRasB — NFL (@NFL) November 24, 2024 The Commanders, now trailing 20-9 with just over five minutes left in the game, shifted into hyperdrive. Daniels dropped back on every one of their next nine plays, hitting two deep shots to former Cowboy Noah Brown before finding Zach Ertz for a four-yard touchdown. Quinn then opted to go for two to make it a field goal game, and Daniels ran in for a successful attempt. Then things got really weird. As Seibert kicked off to KaVontae Turpin, the ball bounced between his legs and back towards the endzone. Turpin, who had touched the ball and muffed his attempt to scoop it up, casually picked the ball up with one hand as several Commanders came screaming down at him. A perfectly timed spin move created a lane, and Turpin flicked on the jets. KaVontae Turpin goes 99 yards for the TD : #DALvsWAS on FOX : https://t.co/waVpO8ZBqG pic.twitter.com/IiHNVZAnt5 — NFL (@NFL) November 24, 2024 Flash forward 99 more yards and Turpin is dancing in the endzone. The Cowboys extended their lead 27-17 with just under three minutes left, but the scoring wasn’t over. A big scramble from Daniels helped the Commanders reach field goal range, and Quinn decided to kick it on second down in order to have time for another shot at a score. Seibert hit the 51-yard try and cut the Cowboys’ lead to 27-20. Dallas recovered the Commanders’ onside kick attempt, and they managed to burn only 67 seconds on the ensuing drive, as Washington had two timeouts to use. By the time Bryan Anger came on to punt, there were 40 seconds left in the game. He downed the ball at

Photo by Mark Goldman/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images Here is everything you need to know about Sunday’s Dallas Cowboys and Washington Commanders game. 3rd Quarter Washington began with the ball with an advantage thanks to Brandon Aubrey booting the opening kickoff out of bounds. They ultimately did just about everything you could with it as they turned it into a touchdown by way of Jayden Daniels on the ground. Ultimately it was not a perfect sequence for Washington as they missed the extra point. This game really had it all. As we have been saying all along to this point… this game has completely mirrored itself in every which way. Can you guess what happened after the Commanders scored their first touchdown of the game? THE DALLAS COWBOYS SCORED THEIR FIRST TOUCHDOWN OF THE GAME. Cooper Rush found Jalen Tolbert for the hook up in the endzone after an impressive drive. Given the missed extra point from Washington, the touchdown and successful XP gave the Cowboys their first lead of the day and in some time. RUSH. TOLBERT. TUDDY. (via @NFL) pic.twitter.com/deyxfuDyXB — Blogging The Boys (@BloggingTheBoys) November 24, 2024 Impressively, the Cowboys defense forced a punt right away which gave the offense a chance to go add to their lead. Think about how long it has been since that sentence could be said! Once again… the house of mirrors. Dallas punted right back to Washington. The Commanders punted and took us to the fourth. 2nd Quarter Things began with Washington having recently recovered the Rico Dowdle fumble and they were unable to do much of anything with it. They punted, the first punt of the game. In a game full of mirror moments, the Cowboys decided to take their turn resembling the Commanders. After an offensive drive that went nowhere Dallas punted for the first time themselves. The Commanders punted right back though which kept this game supremely exciting and interesting as you can imagine. We saw more of the same for just a bit as the Cowboys lined up to punt following their offensive possession. Where things took a bit of a different turn were in the results as the punt was blocked. Seriously. ‍ pic.twitter.com/rWMn2EFDmi — Blogging The Boys (@BloggingTheBoys) November 24, 2024 As it had to this point this game proved to be a mirror sort of thing once more. While the Commanders did not have a punt or kick blocked they did turn the ball over. Jayden Daniels threw an “interception” on a pass intended for Brian Robinson Jr. that Chauncey Golston caught off of the bobble and in the middle of the traffic surrounding it. CHAUNCEY GOLSTON INT (via @NFL) pic.twitter.com/dK7pnNV1Nc — Blogging The Boys (@BloggingTheBoys) November 24, 2024 Dallas punted (shocker here) right back though which set Washington up to potentially go get points before halftime. The Commanders kept status quo though and punted back themselves. On the next Dallas possession there was a chaotic moment where Noah Igbinoghene intercepted Cooper Rush and fumbled into the arms of Hunter Luepke on the return, but Igbinoghene was called for pass interference which negated all of the action. Right after that Cooper Rush hit Jalen Brooks for a huge gain to put Dallas in position for a Brandon Aubrey field goal to close the half. Unlike his previous two attempts, he was good to square things up before intermission. 1st Quarter Before the game started Washington head coach Dan Quinn sent former Cowboys Tyler Biadasz, Dante Fowler and Noah Igbinoghene out for the coin toss. Peak trolling! Washington won the toss and deferred which put the Cowboys offense to work right away. Surprisingly, the offense came out somewhat firing and with legitimate signs of success. Unfortunately things stalled in the redzone and the Cowboys settled for a Brandon Aubrey 35-yard field goal attempt. In case you forgot what this season has been like for the Cowboys, allow me to remind you. The kick was blocked, likely due to Quinn’s intimate knowledge of the team and John Fassel. Brandon Aubrey field goal blocked because football sucks (via @NFL) pic.twitter.com/9lS7yOLifj — Blogging The Boys (@BloggingTheBoys) November 24, 2024 The Commanders had a similar first drive in that they experienced some levels of offensive success but also ultimately stalled out; however, unlike the Cowboys the Commanders were able to cash in on their field goal attempt for the game’s first points. Dallas picked back up and had slight levels of success once more. In the process of moving down the field CeeDee Lamb recorded his fourth reception and set NFL history in the process. Unfortunately while the Cowboys got into Brandon Aubrey field goal range once more this time was much less successful than even the last. Aubrey outright missed his kick. Washington made sure the first quarter was a completely mirrored proposition as they drove down the field again, stalled a bit and then saw their kicker miss a field goal. What a weird start! The clock was in such a place that all Dallas had to do was run one play to get out of the first quarter. They tried to do it, and amazingly Rico Dowdle was stripped for a fumble on it. When it rains, it pours. Follow Blogging The Boys Everywhere Follow Blogging The Boys on X (formerly Twitter) Follow Blogging The Boys on Instagram Follow Blogging The Boys on Facebook Subscribe to the Blogging The Boys YouTube Channel Notable Recent News The season has obviously been a long one to this point for the Cowboys. The most notable things as of late have been the lack of moves given that people want to see this, that or the other in certain ways. Injury Updates The Cowboys announced a number of injury-related pieces of news on Saturday. The @dallascowboys placed S Markquese Bell on Reserve/Injured and waived DE KJ Henry on Saturday. The club also activated T Chuma Edoga and DE Marshawn Kneeland from Reserve/Injured-Designated for Return. Edoga and Kneeland, listed as

Brad Mills-Imagn Images The Cowboys take on the Commanders in Week 12. The Dallas Cowboys take on the Washington Commanders. Enjoy! This is an open thread for game chat.

Photo by Perry Knotts/Getty Images It is going to be interesting to see how Micah Parsons finishes the season for the Dallas Cowboys. The Dallas Cowboys aren’t having the season they would have hoped. At 3-7, their hopes for a fourth-consecutive playoff appearance are all but gone, and it appears that a top five draft pick could be in their future. One of the most frustrating things about this season has been the injury report for Dallas. It has resembled a scroll as weekly, it seems to get longer and longer. Quarterback Dak Prescott is done for the season, which has crippled the Cowboys to the core. Also, there are several other guys who would be considered leaders in Dallas who have missed time or are currently dealing with an ailment. As a result, defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer has presented former first-round pick and All-Pro Micah Parsons with a challenge, which he spoke about recently. Zim’s talking to me about my leadership and how I need to be better. I love that stuff, because it bothers me when I feel like a coach is upset at me. He gave me a challenge, and I’m going to live up to that challenge. Dallas hit the jackpot when they drafted Parsons. He’s done nothing but live up to his first-round draft status with three-consecutive All-Pro campaigns to start his career. That’s what the best players do. They lead by example with how they prepare and perform when it’s game time, and not many on the defensive side of the ball have done it on his level since he entered the NFL in 2021. As mentioned earlier, the Cowboys have made the playoffs each of the previous three seasons, and Parsons has been at the forefront of their success. However, this year has been different with all the injuries the Cowboys have coupled with play on the field that has left a lot to be desired. Situations like these truly test the character of guys like Parsons that are looked at to guide the ship. He talked about evolving as one of the leaders in Dallas. I’m learning how to lead differently, I’m learning how to become a better leader. It’s challenging in these dark times, it was easy when were always winning and we were always the ones whooping on people, and it didn’t matter who stepped up or who was the light, and you were able to just sit back and watch everything and how things unfold, but now people are looking at me. One of the things the Cowboys have been able to rely on over the last several years is a good defense that created a lot of turnovers (led the NFL in 2021 and 2022). However, under Zimmer, it has not been anywhere close to that. Dallas ranks 31st against the run, 27th overall, and has the fourth-fewest turnovers with nine (tied for second-worst turnover differential). In defense of Zimmer, the Cowboys didn’t exactly give him what he needed to succeed. Zimmer relies on big interior defensive lineman to cause chaos, and while Dallas brought some guys in, veterans Linval Joseph and Jordan Phillips are just too long in the tooth and their best days are behind them. Also, even before the injuries to Parsons, DeMarcus Lawrence, Sam Williams, and rookie Marshawn Kneeland, the Cowboys needed help at edge rusher after losing Dorance Armstrong and Dante Fowler in free agency. Veteran Carl Lawson was signed, and he’s made some plays, but that wasn’t nearly enough. There is some light at the end of the tunnel, though. In addition to Parsons being back, All-Pro cornerback DaRon Bland is expected to make his season debut on Sunday against the Washington Commanders. Also, Kneeland had his 21-day practice window started this week. Parsons is confident that by seasons end, Zimmer will have put together a defense that can be built on for the future. By the end of this year, y’all are going to say Mike Zimmer didn’t have all his pieces, but we sure did put a damn good defense together. And I can take that, because I know we can grow from that. Dallas has seven more games to get things flowing in the right direction on defense. So, we’ll see how things play out.

Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images Your Sunday morning Cowboys news. Cowboys’ Trevon Diggs, Zack Martin Out vs. Commanders with Injuries in NFL Week 12 – Jack Murray, Bleacher Report The Cowboys are going to be down two All-Pro players against Washington. Nick Eatman of DallasCowboys.com reported that cornerback Trevon Diggs and offensive lineman Zack Martin did not travel with the team and have been ruled out for Sunday’s game against the Washington Commanders. Eatman reported that Brock Huffman or T.J. Bass will replace Martin in the starting lineup while Diggs could be replaced by Josh Butler, Israel Mukuamu or Kermon Hall. Cornerback DaRon Bland is also set to play for the first time in 2024. In addition to Diggs and Martin, Adam Schefter of ESPN reported that the Cowboys will be without wide receiver Brandin Cooks as well. Diggs is a two-time Pro Bowler and has played in all 10 games for Dallas in 2024, recording 37 tackles, eight pass deflections and two interceptions. He is dealing with groin and knee injuries, per Eatman. Martin is an 11-year veteran who has been named first-team All-Pro seven times. He has also started every game thus far for Dallas. Cooks was designated to return from injured reserve but will not make his return this week. He has nine catches for 91 yards and a touchdown this season and has not played since Sept. 26. Running out of gas among 3 things Cowboys will love about Commanders – Ben Grimaldi, Cowboys Wire Pump the brakes on the tank? The Cowboys may have a path to upset the Washington Commanders today. Can’t stop the run Here’s a rare place where the Cowboys and Commanders are actually competing in 2024; the race to see whose defense is worse against the run. Mike Zimmer’s defense currently holds the title, allowing 151 yards per game on the ground, while the Commanders give up 150.5 yards. That half-yard is all separates the Cowboys in 31st place in the league, just one spot ahead of their rivals in 30th. The Commanders have given up 13 rushing scores this season, good for eighth-worst in the league, and they allow five yards a carry, third worst in the NFL. If the Cowboys ever wanted to establish the run, this would be the game to do it. The offense hasn’t had much opportunity this season to run the ball efficiently, but the Commanders will give it up on the ground and it could be a big part of the Cowboys pulling off the upset in Week 12. It’s a defense that’s struggled against the run, but the Commanders have been getting out to leads in the first half, making their weakness less of a factor. If that sounds familiar, it was the same script when Dan Quinn was the defensive coordinator in Dallas. If quarterback Jayden Daniels and Quinn hadn’t won seven games, much more would be made of the team’s inability to stop the run. Perhaps McCarthy can make his old DC pay by beating him how Quinn used to get beat when he was with the Cowboys, by keeping the game close and attacking the Commanders with the run game. Dallas Cowboys 5 Round Mock Draft – Cody Warren, Inside the Star It’s never too early for mock draft season. Round 1 Pick: Ashton Jeanty (RB) Boise State In this mock draft, the Indianapolis Colts offered a trade: pick 9 and pick 147 for the Colts’ picks 10 and 47. Ashton Jeanty has been a name that has come up in numerous draft talks and the Dallas Cowboys. Taking him with a top-10 draft pick may or may not be the way to go. Ashton Jeanty should be the Heisman winner and lead the NCAA in nearly every running back category. Oh, and he can block and catch out of the backfield. Jeanty’s film study unequivocally demonstrates a generational talent whose skill set surpasses traditional running back norms. His extraordinary vision, unmatched contact balance, and explosive playmaking ability make him the most complete backfield prospect in recent memory.His anticipation and acceleration in zone schemes will leave linebackers flailing, while his decisive cuts and power in gap schemes will dominate even the strongest NFL defenses. Moreover, Jeanty’s receiving skills and route-running potential allow him to be deployed as a receiver, while his elite pass protection establishes him as the quintessential modern three-down back.Jeanty is a transformative talent that franchises cannot overlook. His immediate impact on an NFL offense is beyond question, and any team selecting in the top five will find it nearly impossible to pass on him. He is poised to compete for Offensive Rookie of the Year and quickly establish himself among the league’s elite playmakers. The do-it-all back would be the perfect weapon to add to this offense. Dallas Cowboys scouting report: Breaking down the Commanders offensive scheme-David Howman, Blogging the Boys Here’s the rundown on what the Commanders’ offensive scheme will present to the Cowboys. When Daniels came to Washington, his style seemed to perfectly fit with the triumvirate of offensive coaches he’d now be working with. Kingsbury hails from the Air Raid offense of Mike Leach, while Johnson cut his teeth in the Dan Mullen spread option that’s spawned numerous dual-threat legends; Johnson was also responsible for installing the bulk of the Eagles’ option run game with Jalen Hurts. Meanwhile, Lynn brought an exposure to a wide variety of run schemes in the NFL, including the highly successful one that Shanahan has made so popular in San Francisco. The idea was to meld the traditional NFL schemes with the college schemes that had made Daniels so successful. And so far, through 11 weeks, it’s been a big success. Daniels is completing 68.7% of his passes and ranks third in the league in EPA/dropback. He has 2,338 passing yards on top of 482 rushing yards and has notched 14 total touchdowns to just three turnovers. He leads the league in scramble yards and ranks eighth in yards per