The Dallas Cowboys' journey to victory was a rollercoaster ride. Initially, it seemed like a tough battle as they faced setbacks and challenges. But in the end, their determination and skill led them to a remarkable 34-26 win over the Washington Commanders, snapping their five-game losing streak.
The Cowboys' Special Teams Shine in a Close Contest
First Quarter
The Cowboys started off with a promising 38-yard return on the opening kickoff by KaVontae Turpin. They quickly moved to the Washington 13-yard line in just five plays. However, Lamb's 4-yard loss, Jalen Tolbert's dropped potential first down, and Brandon Aubrey's blocked 35-yard field goal attempt put them in a tough spot. Things got worse when Rush moved his troops to the Commanders' 21-yard line, only to see Aubrey's second field goal try, a 42-yarder, clip the right upright. Meanwhile, Washington managed to make their own field goal after scooping up the block and returning it to the Dallas 40-yard line. The Cowboys defense held them out of the end zone, but Washington's 41-yard field goal gave them a 3-0 lead. At least the Commanders missed their next field goal opportunity, and the Cowboys defense forced a takeaway.It was a quarter filled with highs and lows for the Cowboys, showing the importance of converting opportunities and avoiding mistakes.
Second Quarter
The craziness continued as the Commanders started their second drive in Dallas territory but came away with nothing. Later, when the Cowboys had a punt blocked, Washington got great field position at the Dallas 39-yard line. But on first-and-10 at the 28, Daniels' pass attempt to Brian Robinson was stolen by Cowboys defensive end Chauncey Golston. The Dallas offense couldn't make much of the gift and was forced to punt. Washington also had their own struggles on offense. In fact, they had one more chance before the half, but the Cowboys defense forced another punt, giving the ball back to Dallas with 45 seconds left. After narrowly avoiding an interception, Rush launched a 41-yard bomb to Jalen Brooks down the right sideline to the Washington 28, allowing Aubrey to kick a 46-yard field goal to tie things up at 3-3 at the break.This quarter was a testament to the defensive battles and the importance of turning defense into offense.
Third Quarter
New half, more special teams woes. Aubrey kicked the ball short of the landing zone, giving the Commanders good field position at their own 40-yard line. And this time, the Cowboys couldn't stop them. Washington stuck to the ground on eight of their 10 plays, with Daniels running untouched for the game's first touchdown. The extra-point was missed, but Dallas was only down by six. Soon enough, Rush marched the offense 80 yards in eight plays, throwing three passes for 40 yards and getting a pass interference penalty to set them up at the Washington 3-yard line. Two plays later, he hit wideout Jalen Tolbert in the end zone for the touchdown and a 10-9 lead.The third quarter was a battle of momentum, with both teams fighting for control.
Fourth Quarter
After a trade of punts, the Cowboys got the ball 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, negating the play. Unable to move the chains on third-and-14, Dallas settled for a 48-yard field goal from Aubrey to increase their advantage to four points.The Cowboys' offense faced some challenges in the fourth quarter but managed to hold on to their lead.
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 later, the Cowboys were back in the end zone as Rush found tight end Luke Schoonmaker alone behind the defense for an easy touchdown, making the score 20-9.Washington wasn't done yet. They came back with a nine-play, 69-yard drive, with Daniels completing all seven of his pass attempts and scoring a touchdown to tight end Zach Ertz. He then ran around the right end to pick up the two-point conversion, narrowing the score to a three-point edge.No problem, said Turpin. He muffed Washington's kickoff, picked up the ball, executed a spin move, and burst through the Commanders coverage unit for a 99-yard touchdown, putting the Cowboys ahead 27-17.Still, Washington quickly added another three points with a 51-yard field goal. The Cowboys recovered the onside kick but were forced to punt. The Commanders got one more shot.Daniels had already engineered a Hail Mary victory earlier in the season and did it again. Terry McLaurin hauled in a pass on the right side, dodged the Dallas secondary, and ran 86 yards untouched to the end zone. But somehow, Washington missed the extra point, allowing the Cowboys to maintain their one-point lead.And then came the onside kick, which bounced straight into the hands of Juanyeh Thomas, who bolted through the Commanders line and scored the unlikely touchdown. In the end, the Cowboys' special teams came through, securing their victory.The fourth quarter was a nail-biting finish, with both teams giving it their all.
Finally, the Cowboys had their well-deserved victory, 34-26.