Good, bad, and ugly doesn’t even begin to cover everything that went down in D.C. on Sunday. To paint a true picture, one would need to invent some all-new adjectives, because wild, wacky, and completely bonkers wouldn’t even begin to do justice to the Cowboys’ stunning 34-26 win. While Cooper Rush, Rico Dowdle, and CeeDee Lamb all had solid outings, the afternoon really belonged to the Cowboys defense, who kept Washington well-contained for the majority of the contest and- despite bending badly toward the end- managed to not break when it mattered most. There were even unexpected heroes like Josh Butler and Luke Schoonmaker, who helped come to the rescue on a day when most of the obvious Dallas playmakers were held out with injury. That motley crew of replacements gave Cowboys fans their first lead to cheer about in ages and delivered them their first victory since early October. But it sure didn’t come easily. While special teams pulled off the two touchdowns in the final three minutes that decided things, they were also responsible for the game’s most frustrating moments leading up to the thrilling climax. Brandon Aubrey, in particular, has to be thanking his lucky stars that the Washington trip comes just once a year. Tyler Guyton added his own maddening contributions, the kind that Cowboys fans are growing well-accustomed to… and supremely tired of. And expect many of those fans to now start wrestling with whether future Cowboys’ wins are even ultimately a good thing now that many of them have bought in to the tanking philosophy. That debate is for another day, though, as it’s a rare Victory Monday for Cowboys Nation. Here’s a look inside the wild, wacky, and completely bonkers… to the good, the bad, and the ugly that made Week 12 one to remember. [affiliatewidget_smgtolocal] Good: Remembering what it’s like to be on top Cowboys fans could be forgiven for not recalling what it’s like to have a bigger number on the scoreboard than the other team. (Refresher: it’s called a lead in NFL lingo.) When Cooper Rush found Jalen Tolbert in the end zone with 4:40 to go in the third quarter, it tied the score at 9-9. When Brandon Aubrey connected on the subsequent PAT try (certainly no gimme proposition for either team’s kicker on Sunday), it not only put the Cowboys ahead 10-9, it put them in somewhat unfamiliar territory. Prior to that moment, the Cowboys had not led at any point in a game since the opening minutes of Week 9’s loss in Atlanta. And over the five full games that followed the team’s last win- in Week 5 versus Pittsburgh- the Cowboys had held a lead for a grand total of less than 20 minutes. Bad: Tyler Guyton continues to struggle with penalties The first-round draft pick came into Sunday’s game as the most-flagged player in the NFC, with 12 calls against him. (Not all have counted or been accepted.) He drew another four- a season-high- against Washington: holding, two illegal formation infractions, and a false start. One of those penalties wiped away a 17-yard deep-ball catch by CeeDee Lamb that would have put Dallas in the red zone early in the fourth quarter. After his false start on the very next series, coaches pulled him off the field and replaced him with Asim Richards. The big 22-year-old has shown promise in his rookie campaign and is surely developing, but his penalty problem (he’s averaging over one per game) continues to cost the team in yardage, momentum, and even points. Ugly: Normally-reliable special teams causing high blood pressure John Fassel’s unit has been a bright spot for most of his tenure in Dallas, despite a few high-profile miscues lately. On Sunday, they were all over the place. Bryan Anger had a punt blocked, and Brandon Aubrey missed one field goal, had another blocked, and cost the Cowboys valuable fourth-quarter field position by missing the landing zone on a kickoff. KaVontae Turpin obviously made up for a good chunk of that bad juju with his ridiculous kick return for a touchdown, and Juanyeh Thomas got into the act by racing an onside kick back for the final dagger. But even those were a mixed bag. Turpin’s return started with a scary muff and looked destined for disaster, and the smarter play by Thomas would have been to go to the ground so that the offense could kneel out the clock (instead of giving the ball back to the Commanders for that nail-biter of a Hail Mary attempt). “Bones” needs to tighten some things up with his guys for the home stretch of the season. Good: Defense has a day The Cowboys defense had been a liability in multiple games this season, but Mike Zimmer’s unit showed up and showed out against their former coordinator. Among the highlights: notching three takeaways (and another fumble forced), holding Washington to just 4-of-12 on third down, forcing four three-and-outs on the day (including three straight such drives in the second half), and limiting the Commanders to less than 20 yards on nearly half of their possessions. They let Jayden Daniels & Co. run a little wild in the final quarter, but got the job done in the end. Cornerback and USFL product Josh Butler had a whale of a game, leading Dallas in tackles by a wide margin and adding a sack and three passes defended. He could be the next surprise star of a Cowboys defense that suddenly made a statement on Sunday. Bad: Nation’s capital still a nightmare for Aubrey Since coming over from the USFL, Brandon Aubrey has been darn near automatic… everywhere except the Commanders’ home stadium. The Cowboys kicker’s only two missed field goals of the entire 2023 season came at what was then called FedEx Field- one miss and one block. It’s called Northwest Stadium now, but Aubrey missed two more in his return there on Sunday- again, one miss and one block. In his
Cooper’s true capabilities among what was learned in Cowboys’ win over Commanders
Cooper Rush can actually manage the game Geoff Burke-Imagn Images In last week’s loss, we learned that quarterback Cooper Rush couldn’t carry the offense to a victory. Having Rush throw too much while ignoring the running game was a recipe for disaster. McCarthy learned from his mistake and the game plan against the Commanders featured more of the rushing attack. The run-pass splits were more evenly dispersed, and Rush responded with a strong game, going 24-32, throwing for 247 yards and two scores. This was the quarterback who had played so well and won five of his first six starts with the Cowboys; he was in control and comfortable in the pocket, taking what the defense was giving him. Rush played mistake free and didn’t turn the ball over, which is the path to victory with a backup QB. When Rush has help and manages the game, he can be a winning player. The 32 passes and 28 rushing attempts were a recipe for pulling off the upset. McCarthy’s team still has some fight Patrick Smith/Getty Images Over the last five weeks, it was hard to see the fight in these Cowboys, but that wasn’t the case in the Week 12 win. McCarthy’s team showed resilience by taking the negative plays and pushing through against a good Commanders team. Bad teams usually don’t fight, force three turnovers and sack the QB four times. Or hold one of the better offenses to just nine points through three quarters. Teams that have given up don’t allow an opponent to narrow the gap on a double-digit lead to a one-score game late and then return a kickoff for a touchdown. Answering scores with scores is something good teams do. Bad teams do have poor effort on 86-yard touchdown plays when all they have to do is make one or two tackles to win the game, but that didn’t stop the Cowboys from finishing off the game with a second kickoff return for a score in the fourth quarter. The Cowboys had ample opportunity to pack in the game, and the season, in Week 12, but they didn’t. McCarthy’s team fought for him and the win, which shows they haven’t quit on their lame duck coach. KaVontae Turpin is special Peter Casey-Imagn Images For the second week in a row, the Cowboys got a lift from KaVontae Turpin. In Week 12, the big contribution came on a play he began by botching the kickoff. After a touchdown to make it a one score game late, the Commanders had time to get a stop and get the ball back with a chance to tie or win the game. After fumbling the kick, Turpin made a spin move and then found daylight for a 99-yard return for a touchdown and put the Cowboys up 10 points late. Turpin also had two other big returns to give the Cowboys good field position, providing the offense with a boost. The pint-sized return man continues to make plays when the balls in his hands, and Turpin puts the special in Dallas’ special teams. Makeshift offensive line holds up well Geoff Burke-Imagn Images When it was announced the Cowboys would be without their two starting guards due to injury, very few people could have expected the offensive line would play so well. Yet the makeshift unit held up in a tough matchup against a Commanders defense that has a formidable pass rush. Brock Hoffman and T.J. Bass acquitted themselves very well at starters, as did Asim Richards, who was sent in for left tackle Tyler Guyton in the second half after the rookie was called for a few penalties. Rush was only sacked once and was rarely pressured. The Cowboys have drafted offensive linemen in the premium rounds recently, but it was a couple of undrafted free agents and a fifth-round pick that helped lead the way. Young players step up Peter Casey-Imagn Images There’s a saying in the NFL that goes “next man up” and the Cowboys embodied that mantra in Week 12. With several veterans out, a team that was undermanned turned to their youth to step up and beat the Commanders, and they came through. Young tight ends Luke Schoonmaker and Brevyn Spann-Ford had nice outings, which included a Schoonmaker 22-yards core. Third-year wide receiver Jalen Tolbert had a touchdown as well. The aforementioned young offensive line came through, as did Josh Butler making his first start at cornerback. Butler had a team-high 12 tackles, had three passes defensed and his game included a sack. Safety Juanyeh Thomas had a solid game on defense, and he also had a touchdown on special teams, while Israel Mukuamu sealed the win with an interception. There were some young players who made a name for themselves and stated their case for more playing time even when the injured players return. Jerry Jones continues to talk about needing the young players the step up, and the Cowboys got that in the Week 12 win over the Commanders.
Cowboys vs. Commanders: The good, the bad, and the ugly from Week 12
Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images There was actually some good in Week 12 for the Cowboys. In arguably the most bizarre and entertaining game this season, the Dallas Cowboys managed to end their five-game losing streak with the 34-26 victory over their division rival Washington Commanders. It was actually fun watching this team be competitive again, but at the same time disheartening in reference to draft positioning next year. Whether you are for the Cowboys tanking the rest of the season or not, it was encouraging to see the them do some good things for a change instead of the bad and ugly way they have played the majority of the season. With that in mind, we are going to choose one good, one bad, and one ugly thing from this matchup to discuss today. THE GOOD – QB Cooper Rush Shout out to KaVontae Turpin for his game-sealing kick return for a touchdown, but the good this week goes to QB Cooper Rush. Without his two starting guards (Tyler Smith and Zack Martin) and a rotation at left tackle between Tyler Guyton and Asim Richards, Rush completed 24 of 32 passing attempts for 247 yards and two touchdowns with zero interceptions. He also had a quarterback rating of 125.44. This efficiency is exactly why he is getting the starting nod over Trey Lance, giving Dallas the best chance of winning. THE BAD – 2025 NFL Draft positioning Heading into this Week 12 matchup with the Commanders, Dallas was slotted to pick inside the Top 10 (ninth overall) in the 2025 NFL Draft. There are many fans around Cowboys Nation wanting the team to tank the rest of the season for better draft positioning, but Dallas did the opposite Sunday afternoon by winning a meaningless game. Because of this victory, they are now slotted to pick 11th overall. Two spots doesn’t seem like a big drop, but the more they keep winning the further they will continue dropping. THE UGLY – Dallas’ special teams (before the final minutes) When it comes to determining the outcome of this Week 12 matchup, special teams play ultimately decided which team won and lost. Dallas was extremely fortunate to win this game after their special teams gaffes. Brandon Aubrey’s first field goal attempt was blocked, likely flustering him on his second attempt he missed completely. If that wasn’t enough, Bryan Anger also had a punt blocked. If not for KaVontae Turpin’s game changing-kick return for a touchdown, and Juanyeh Thomas’ onside kick recovery for touchdown, these gaffes likely would’ve led to their sixth consecutive loss.
Cowboys vs Commanders: Cooper Rush’s career day helped offense get back on track
Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images Cooper Rush was awesome on Sunday. Not many things have gone right this season for the Dallas Cowboys. Dallas’ defense, which was ravaged by injuries after the first three weeks of the season, has started to turn a corner a bit as they’ve gotten healthy. The defense has been playing better, more competitive football, but before yesterday’s game against the Commanders, the same could not be said about Dallas’ offense. The Cowboys’ offense, which led the league in points scored two of the past three seasons, was a mess even before Dak Prescott suffered a season-ending hamstring injury. After Prescott’s departure, things got even worse. In their past two games, Dallas scored a total of 16 points and turned the ball over seven times. This didn’t present much optimism for the matchup against a 7-4 Commanders team. But for the first time in weeks, we saw the Cowboys’ offense have sustained success on Sunday. Dallas finished the day with 34 points as a team, although only 20 came from the offense. While 20 offensive points isn’t a great feat, there was a night and day difference in their offensive attack this week versus last. The Cowboys had success on the ground and through the air, and finally were able to move the ball down the field consistently. If it wasn’t for some special team mishaps, Dallas’ offense could have been responsible for 26 points. A big reason the Cowboys were able to have success on offense was the performance of quarterback Cooper Rush. The veteran quarterback had really struggled in his first two starts of the season, but he completely flipped the script on Sunday. Rush put together the best overall performance of his NFL career, completing 24 of 32 passes for 247 yards and two touchdowns. Rush’s 117.6 Passer Rating was a career-high, as was his 75% completion percentage. Dallas Cowboys QB Cooper Rush was 24/32 for 247 yards had 2 touchdowns against the Washington Commanders. Rush registered an average time to throw of 2.38 seconds, the quickest by a Cowboys quarterback in a game this season. Against man coverage specifically, Rush was 8/11 for… pic.twitter.com/GCwrGTPl36 — RJ Ochoa (@rjochoa) November 24, 2024 Among all qualified quarterbacks in Week 12, Rush finished in the top 12 in EPA + CPOE (0.128 10th), EPA/Play (0.175 12th), and Success Rate (52.5% 6th). Rush wasn’t Patrick Mahomes back there, in fact he was still far from it, but he was decisive with his throws, protected the football, and made much better decisions than we’ve seen from him in weeks past. Cooper Rush to Jalen Tolbert to give Dallas the lead in DC : #DALvsWAS on FOX : https://t.co/waVpO909ge pic.twitter.com/zObOzJrMk8 — NFL (@NFL) November 24, 2024 Is Cooper Rush capable of replicating this performance moving forward? Probably not, but it was still nice to see him, for at least one week, put together a performance he and the Cowboys’ offense could be proud of. In a lost season, Dallas’ offenses needed this in a big way. This performance will give them some confidence as they enter the final six games of the regular season.
This Cowboys specialist has punched his ticket to Pro Bowl in Week 12
This Cowboys specialist has punched his ticket to Pro Bowl in Week 12 K.D. Drummond It hasn’t been a particularly fun season for the Dallas Cowboys and their players. Starting out 3-2, the club lost several contributors over the first month of the season and that led to a cascading record that turned into 3-7. Along that five-game slide, QB Dak Prescott was lost for the year and the season went down the drain. From an individual perspective it becomes hard for players to stand out amongst the sullenness of the organization, but Sunday’s electrifying win allowed one player in particular to emerge from the doldrums. Return specialist and (unfortunately only) part-time receiver Kavontae Turpin punched his ticket to the Pro Bowl. VOTE FOR THE PRO BOWL HERE In the game’s fourth quarter, Dallas extended their lead to 20-9 when Cooper Rush found Jake Ferguson wide open over the middle for a 22-yard score. Cowboys fans are used to the bottom falling out from under any positive play, and sure enough the Commanders offense woke up and they quickly marched down the field to score their own touchdown. On the ensuing kickoff with three minutes remaining and a 20-17 advantage, Washington’s Austin Seibert kicked it off to Turpin in the field of play at the five-yard line. Turpin muffed it; the ball squirted through his hands and legs to the goal line. But then, magic. Turpin scooped up the ball at the one, turned back upfield and saw magic in the middle. He went into Madden spin mode at the nine-yard line and it was dust. Turpin has long been the victim of opposing teams not kicking in his direction. After returning this punt for a touchdown opening week, it’s been a ton of frustration as kickers are choosing hang time instead of distance to make sure he doesn’t get a good opportunity to embarrass them. Turpin’s opportunities are limited. He has only returned 31 on the season and has now scored twice, and is the only NFL returner with both a kick and punt return score this season. Turpin is actually the only player in the NFL with a kick, punt and catch touchdown each at least 60 yards, and has three plays where he’s reached speeds that rank in the top 10 across the league. Starting to be mentioned with some of the best return men in NFL history through less than three seasons, Turpin is a lock to make this year’s Pro Bowl and it’s only Week 12. Read all the best Cowboys coverage at the Austin American-Statesman and Cowboys Wire.
Micah Parsons says Cowboys are not ‘tanking’ despite disappointing season
Photo by Timothy Nwachukwu/Getty Images Micah Parsons displayed true leadership after the Cowboys beat the Commanders. The Dallas Cowboys did something on Sunday that they haven’t done since early October. They won a football game. In a contest filled with a plethora of special teams blunders, the Cowboys beat the Washington Commanders 34-26 to improve to 4-7 on the season, which ended a five-game losing streak. With the season the Cowboys are having, plus the amount of injuries they’ve piled up, it’s caused a lot of fans to want the team to pretty much take their foot off the gas and get the highest draft pick possible, or ‘tank’ as it’s referred to. Well, All-Pro Micah Parsons let it be known that he isn’t thinking that way, nor will he let anyone else. I’m not done yet. I don’t plan on tanking. If the higher-ups are looking for a draft pick, I hope that’s ruined, because we got a lot of football left to play. As long as I’m a part of this team, we’re always going to fight. Parsons words will deflate certain fans, but he is concerned about his team. He, along with his teammates, still have a job to do, and it’s one that they get paid millions of dollars to do. Yes, regardless of how people talk about football, it’s a job, and they are required to give their best effort when it’s time to perform. Plus, players are playing for their livelihoods in some cases. They can’t just mail it in and roll over. It’s not an option. On top of all of that, there’s a pride thing that comes with playing football or sports in general. When you truly love it, giving up won’t suffice because real athletes aren’t wired that way. Who wants to keep getting beat week after week after week? No one does. It makes perfect sense that Parsons feels the way that he does, especially after missing four games with a high ankle sprain. These guys train together, practice together, and play games together every week. They want to win not just for themselves but for the guys that are in the foxhole with them. Tanking It’s something that’s fun for fans to joke about. However, players simply can’t think that way. It disrespects all the hard work that has to be put into being a player in the NFL or what it takes for a team to win. Parsons comment showed true leadership, and it’s the exact mindset you want for a player of his caliber to have.
Cowboys hand Commanders, former DC Dan Quinn 3rd straight loss in wild NFC East battle
Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images The 26 points allowed by the Dallas Cowboys in their Week 12 visit to the Washington Commanders would have been enough to lose all but their season opening 33-17 win at the Browns. The final six of these 26 could have very well been seven to tie the game with 33 seconds left after Terry McLaurin’s 86-yard touchdown, but Austin Seibert missed his second PAT of the game to preserve a one-point Cowboys lead. With the Commanders down to a final onside kick attempt, the Cowboys special teams group came up with one more game-changing play as safety Juanyeh Thomas not only recovered the kick but returned it up the middle of the field for a touchdown. While this gave the Commanders the ball back still within striking distance down by eight, they had time for just two plays with the game ending on another down-the-roster safety Israel Mukuamu intercepting Jayden Daniels’ last heave of the game. There hasn’t been much to smile about for the Cowboys this season, who came into this divisional matchup on a five-game losing streak, but playing their closest thing to a complete game in a while to earn their fourth win and hand former defensive coordinator Dan Quinn his third straight loss is one of them. They will continue NFC East play in just four days on Thanksgiving against the New York Giants after improving their division record to 2-1 with a wild 34-26 win over the Commanders. Still far outside of the NFC playoff picture, McCarthy’s team is looking for any signs of positivity over the final months of the season. They now have a resilient win sparked by plenty of depth players that gives them a real chance to improve to 3-1 against their closest rivals by the end of Week 13. In a division that is going to have a non-repeat winner for the 20th season in a row this year, the Cowboys can try to stake their claim that they’ll be the team to extend this streak to 21 next season. Geoff Burke-Imagn Images The Cowboys won this game without Zack Martin, Trevon Diggs, and Tyler Smith who all played last week, as well as Brandin Cooks and DeMarcus Lawrence who continue to be key missing pieces on both sides of the ball. Dallas did so by scoring 31 points in the second half, which is more than they scored in all of the second halves combined over their previous three-game losing streak. Jalen Tolbert’s third quarter touchdown was the first third quarter offensive touchdown of the season for the Cowboys, and their first points of any kind in the second half of a game in three weeks. The Cowboys may not be playing the complementary style that won them 12 games and the NFC East just a year ago, ignited heavily by now-Commanders head coach Dan Quinn’s opportunistic defense. Like it or not though, the 2024 Cowboys version of complementary football was on display in this win to reach 4-7. The Cowboys more than doubled Rico Dowdle’s touches with 19 carries and three catches after having just ten against the Texans, won the time of possession battle by over ten minutes, and played defense with the lead for eight possessions in the second half – forcing three three-and-outs, a forced fumble, and the game-sealing interception on five of them. The range of opinions that come out of this win may be the only thing more wild than the game itself. Many Cowboys followers have found themselves rooting for “organic tanking” in what’s felt like a lost season for a while anyway. This is not only for improving draft position, but to drive home the issue that the team’s front office will need to change their approach drastically after seeing a potentially historic amount of losses pile up in a contract season for the majority of the coaching staff including McCarthy. Now at 4-7 with another winnable game on deck, do not adjust your monitor or phone volume. That sound you hear is just GM/owner Jerry Jones using this win, the sixth in seven games for Dallas against Washington and second over that stretch won by backup QB Cooper Rush, as fuel to completely spin the direction of this season. The Cowboys did see their core players continue to play with full effort and lead the way for other depth players to follow suit and make a real claim for future roster consideration. It was yet another reshuffled cornerback group for Mike Zimmer’s defense that forced Daniels into the first multi-interception game of his career. DaRon Bland made his season debut, and was solid enough in coverage to force throws to the side of practice squad call up Josh Butler. After a mixed performance against the Texans in just his second game of the season, Butler was more ready for the challenge as he played tough at the catch point and trusted his help in coverage. This help from the safety position didn’t just come from the expected starting group of Donovan Wilson and Malik Hooker, who both did play with Wilson forcing a fumble that led to Luke Schoonmaker’s touchdown, but also Juanyeh Thomas and Israel Mukuamu who got looks in the secondary. The Micah Parsons effect was again felt on the defensive line, with the players around him like Osa Odighizuwa, Mazi Smith, and Chauncey Golston all flashing throughout the game. The Cowboys did well to, at bare minimum, not embarrass themselves like at other points this season, and along the way won the game by returning two kickoffs for touchdowns in the fourth quarter of a game. Where Thomas’ was more superficial, KaVontae Turpin made an electric play for the second week in a row by taking a fumbled kickoff that needed to be scooped up with one hand at the one-yard line 99 yards for a touchdown that pushed the Cowboys lead to ten. This was a backbreaking play for
‘The seas parted’: Cowboys’ unlikely hero could build off key TD catch
‘The seas parted’: Cowboys’ unlikely hero could build off key TD catch Todd Brock Facing 3rd-and-5 from just outside the red zone, nursing a slim 13-9 lead with five minutes and change to play, the Cowboys offense was hoping for a dagger. A field goal- no sure thing this past Sunday- would extend their margin, but it would keep Washington within a single score. The Commanders, understandably, focused on CeeDee Lamb, far and away the primary target within the Dallas passing attack all afternoon and season. Instead, Cooper Rush went a different direction, arcing a pass down the middle of the field to a wide-open Luke Schoonmaker. He had to extend his six-foot-five-inch frame and even leave his feet just to collect the throw, but the moment proved to be massive. Not just in the Week 12 win, but maybe within the tight end’s football life. “Well, the seas parted, right? I just needed to catch the ball,” he explained to reporters after the Cowboys’ thrilling 34-26 win. “Gosh, I didn’t even know what to do after that moment, but it was the best feeling.” Schoonmaker’s score- his third catch of the afternoon and the third touchdown of his career- actually marked the first touchdown reception for a Dallas tight end all season. “Someone needed to get a touchdown this year, so it was great to have that for the room.” The Michigan man implied he was doing it for his position mates: third-stringer Brevyn Spann-Ford, practice squadder Princeton Fant, and John Stephens Jr., who’s been on injured reserve since last month, as well as Jake Ferguson, the concussed starter he was subbing for on nearly two-thirds of the offense’s Week 12 snaps. “That’s what’s great about the room, is the competition and the chemistry,” Schoonmaker continued. “Every day, we’re going out there. Lunda [Wells, Cowboys tight end coach] is working us hard as ever. Just credit to him for each and every one of us, just taking the practice field to the game field, and that’s certainly helped everybody rise to the occasion and not have any dropoff at all.” But coming through in that fourth-quarter gotta-have-it moment could well prove to be a turning point in Schoonmaker’s young career trajectory. Since Ferguson went down in the first quarter of last week’s game with a concussion, Schoonmaker has been tasked with stepping up. And he’s made the most of his newfound opportunities: in 87 offensive snaps over the past two games, the 26-year-old has caught nine of 14 targets for 111 yards (by far his most productive two-game stretch as a pro)… and Sunday’s all-important score. “It’s one thing to make plays,” head coach Mike McCarthy said of Schoonmaker in his postgame press conference, “but when you start making big plays, critical plays in games, it’s a whole different level, a big chunk of confidence.” [affiliatewidget_smgtolocal] Of course, Sunday’s fourth-quarter score ended up not being the definitive death blow that the Cowboys were looking for; there were five more insane minutes of football- and another 31 points still to be rung up- before the final gun. “I didn’t even want to watch at some points,” Schoonmaker said of the final flurry of back-and-forth action. The backup tight end still wasn’t thinking of his own individual growth even after the Cowboys pulled out the improbable win; he was far more excited about the team coming together- even as a mostly-ragtag bunch of injury replacements- to snap a five-game losing streak. “That’s really what was said last night going into today, like, ‘Let’s get a win. Let’s play all together and everybody have each other’s backs, and let’s play this whole game.’ What a way to win today. Just the contribution all around was amazing.” Schoonmaker’s timely contribution was huge, and just maybe a foundation to build on for the 2023 second-round draft pick who’s been used sparingly over just 28 regular-season games. His career numbers- 25 receptions for 232 yards- certainly don’t look like those of the game’s top tight ends. He’s already labeled a bust by a contingent of the fanbase who expects every Day Two selection to be an instant star. But for right now, it’s one game, one day, one rep at a time for Schoonmaker, who was thankful that his one touchdown of 2024 came when it did. “Oh my gosh. Just to win felt amazing,” he grinned. “The fact that we won just kind of takes over everything else. That felt great. Took a little breath, and now we forge forward.” The suddenly-buoyed Cowboys… and an emerging Schoonmaker, too. Read all the best Cowboys coverage at the Austin American-Statesman and Cowboys Wire.
Grades for Cowboys in wild win over Commanders
Geoff Burke-Imagn Images Sunday was an impressive day for the Dallas Cowboys. Well, the Dallas Cowboys managed to pull out the win on the road despite being massive underdogs to Dan Quinn and his Washington Commanders. They did so in the most bizarre fashion, too, with an explosive fourth quarter for both sides. That complicates some of the grading scales here, but it was a generally good outing across the board for Dallas. Quarterback Cooper Rush just had his best game of the year, although it isn’t exactly saying much. Still, Rush completed 75% of his passes for 247 yards, averaging 7.7 yards per attempt. He also threw two touchdowns and, for the first time since becoming the starter, did not turn it over. Rush’s production wasn’t just dink-and-dunk football, either. Rush had a handful of deep shots, including one completion of 41 yards to Jalen Brooks that set up the game-tying field goal right before halftime. It wasn’t a perfect game from Rush, but it was darn near close to it. Grade: A Running backs On the whole, Rico Dowdle had a very productive game. He finished the day with 86 rushing yards on 19 carries, averaging a very healthy 4.5 yards per carry. His only real blemish was a fumble, but Dowdle had several explosive and powerful runs outside of that. Beyond Dowdle, though, the Cowboys didn’t get much production from their run game. Ezekiel Elliott put up six yards on three carries and CeeDee Lamb’s lone carry was stopped for a gain of one. Trey Lance came in for one play, a speed out to the right, and he was tackled for a loss of three. Grade: B+ Pass catchers The Cowboys made it a point to get CeeDee Lamb involved early, with five of his 12 targets on the day coming on the first two drives of the game. Lamb was productive too, with 10 catches for 67 yards and a whole host of chain-moving receptions. That opened things up for others, too. Jalen Tolbert caught a touchdown, Jalen Brooks had a huge reception, and both Luke Schoonmaker and Brevyn Spann-Ford ripped off a few big plays here and there. Still, there were several drops and plays left on the field that prevent this group from a better grade. Grade: C+ Offensive line The Commanders came into this game as a defense that wasn’t generating pressure at a very high rate but did convert those pressures to sacks at one of the best rates in the league. Then, the Cowboys ended up being down two starters at either guard spot. So the fact that Rush was only sacked once with just two knockdowns is impressive. Similarly, the offensive line did a good job of creating some holes for Dowdle, though they also got beat bad on several stuffed run plays. All things considered, it was a good day for the unit, though they can do better. Grade: B Run defense The Commanders entered this game as one of the better rushing teams in the league, which isn’t surprising with their three-headed monster of Jayden Daniels, Brian Robinson, and Austin Ekeler. But Dallas did a good job of bottling up the run, as Washington’s running backs totaled just 57 rushing yards on 17 carries. Daniels, on the other hand, was a little harder to contain. The sensational rookie quarterback led the team in rushing with 74 yards on just seven carries, though 25 of those yards came on two scrambles. On designed runs, Daniels still averaged 9.8 yards per carry, which is not exactly ideal. Grade: B Pass rush Daniels’ mobility makes him a very difficult quarterback to rush against. Only nine quarterbacks had been pressured less coming into this one than Daniels, whose ability to evade rushers has greatly helped this offense. Consider it a massive win that Dallas managed to sack Daniels four times, and they were routinely in his face with eight knockdowns. Mike Zimmer had Daniels’ head spinning in the first half, especially, with his wide variety of simulated pressure looks. This was a glimpse into the potential of this defense under Zimmer. Grade: A+ Pass coverage At long last, DaRon Bland made his season debut, and it helped the Cowboys put up a great game in the secondary. Daniels rarely went Bland’s way, instead targeting Josh Butler a ton. However, Butler was up for the challenge, forcing a handful of incompletions and very nearly coming away with an interception on a deep shot. The defense did pick Daniels off twice in this game too, though one was the result of a jarring hit from Chauncey Golston while the other came on an end-of-game Hail Mary. Still, Daniels had a hard time stretching the field the way he likes to. The only thing keeping the Cowboys from a perfect grade here is their bad coverage on the Hail Mary to Terry McLaurin. Grade: A Special teams In the first half, the special teams unit was cruising to an F grade. Brandon Aubrey’s first field goal attempt was blocked, and his second try just missed. Bryan Anger also had a punt get blocked. And Aubrey even drew a penalty at the start of the third quarter for not kicking the ball into the landing zone, which gave Washington a short field. But this unit came up big in the second half. Aubrey hit two field goals and, unlike the Commanders kicker, made all his extra points. KaVontae Turpin housed a kickoff 99 yards for a score in a pivotal moment of the game. And Juanyeh Thomas recovered an onside kick before returning it for another touchdown, icing the game. It was a very uneven game from this group, so I can’t give them a top grade, but the good definitely outweighs the bad here. Grade: B+ Coaching Mike McCarthy followed up one of his worst game plans ever with one of his best. He had Rush dealing in this game and Dowdle had
Cowboys news: Dallas pulls off upset in Week 12 with 34-26 win over Commanders
Geoff Burke-Imagn Images Notable headlines surrounding America’s team. Cowboys win in shocking 34-26 upset over Commanders in Week 12 – Mark Heaney, Inside The Star Dallas is back in the win column. For the first time since October 6th, the headlines will read “Cowboys win.” In one of the craziest games you will ever see, Dallas pulled off a 34-26 upset over the Washington Commanders. With this wild win, the Cowboys have snapped a 5-game losing streak. That was seriously the weirdest NFL game I have seen. From the start to the finish, that was truly insane. We saw a slew of bizarre plays, turnovers, blocked kicks, a seemingly game-icing kickoff return touchdown, before a miracle touchdown and a missed extra point. At times, it felt like both teams were competing to lose this one, but you can’t knock Dallas‘ effort today. They played incredibly hard, especially on the defensive side. Mike Zimmer’s guys stood out today, and they needed to. There were no excuses this time around. This game was a circus. I have no idea what we just witnessed, but let’s dive into it. How Did That Happen? If you’re trying to piece together exactly how that Cowboys win happened, you have to start with the incredibly sloppy play by Washington. The Commanders’ offense, until the final three minutes, was brutal today; they turned it over, missed opportunities, and overall looked like a lackluster unit. For a team that has been nothing but fireworks on that side of the ball, this was a dud for 98% of the game. Game Recap: A special win, 34-26- Kurt Daniels, DallasCowboys.com The game did not lack late-game excitement. Fourth Quarter After a trade of punts, the Cowboys got the ball to start at the 50-yard line and inched up 20 yards on six plays. They appeared to convert a third-and-9 at the Washington 35, but rookie left tackle Tyler Guyton was flagged for illegal formation for the second time in the game to negate the play. Unable to move the chains on third-and-14, Dallas settled for a 48-yard field goal from Aubrey to up their advantage to four points. Would the lead hold? In the end, it did … barely. On the Commanders’ ensuing first down, Daniels connected with tight end John Bates over the middle, but safety Donovan Wilson punched the ball loose with linebacker Eric Kendricks falling on the fumble. Five plays thereafter, the Cowboys were back in the end zone. Rush found tight end Luke Schoonmaker alone behind the defense for an easy pitch and catch, Dallas now up 20-9. Washington wasn’t done yet, though. The Commanders came right back with a nine-play, 69-yard drive that saw Daniels complete all seven of his pass attempts, the last of which was a 4-yard dart to tight end Zach Ertz for the touchdown. Daniels then ran around the right end to pick up the two-point conversion, the score narrowed to just a three-point edge. No problem, said Turpin. The speedy return man muffed Washington’s kickoff, picked up the ball, waited, executed a honey of a spin mood and then burst through the Commanders coverage unit for a 99-yard touchdown, the Cowboys now ahead 27-17. Dallas Cowboys vs. Washington Commanders: Week 12 Player of the Game- Ali Jawad, Sports Illustrated Who deserves Sunday’s game ball? Dallas took control of the game in the second half, largely thanks to quarterback Cooper Rush, who earns Week 12’s player of the game. In his third start replacing quarterback Dak Prescott, who was lost for the season due to a hamstring injury back in Week 9, the veteran Rush completed 24 of 32 passes for 247 yards, two touchdowns, 0 interceptions and a 117.6 passer rating. With a career record now of 6-3 as a starter, Rush’s performance in the second half helped Dallas end a five-game losing streak and secure the Cowboys’ first win since Week 5. The Cowboys face a short week as they return home on Thursday for their annual Thanksgiving game against the New York Giants, who earlier lost 30-7 to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Never say never: How the Cowboys could somehow still make the playoffs- Quinn Everts, FanSided So you’re saying there’s a chance? After a whirlwind of a win, Cowboys fans are wondering if their beloved (or hated, depending on the week) Cowboys still have a shot at the postseason. A tiny shot, yes. But mathematically, a shot nonetheless! Here’s what and who Cowboys fans should be rooting for (and against) the rest of the season. Cheer for the NFC West to beat itself up The NFC West looks akin to how the NFC East looked in years past; no team is separating itself from the pack, with the Cardinals currently leading the division at 6-4 and the other three teams all at 5-5, meaning all four teams are ahead of the Cowboys right now. The best case scenario for Dallas here would be one of the teams (preferably Arizona) pulls away from the pack, handing out losses to the rest of the division in the process. The Cardinals play Seattle twice still, and play the Rams and 49ers once. Passing up three teams in the same division is an extremely tall task in itself, so if Cowboys ever see an NFC West matchup happening… cheer against everyone who’s not the Cardinals. Cowboys exposing Dan Quinn’s Commanders as frauds is best part of 2024 season- Jerry Trotta, The Landry Hat That was certainly fun in an otherwise disastrous season. Not only have wins been hard to come by this season, but moral victories have been few and far between. The Week 1 win in Cleveland proved to be a mirage as the Browns have one of the worst records in the league, even with their Thursday night win over Pittsburgh. Speaking of the Steelers, the Cowboys barely squeaked by them in Week 5. They played sloppy against the Giants the following week. Even in wins there hasn’t
