Dallas Cowboys Overcome Washington Commanders in Thrilling NFC East Rivalry. In a dramatic NFC East showdown, the Dallas Cowboys secured a 34-27 victory over the Washington Commanders. Despite a 3-3 deadlock at halftime, the game’s defining moments came in the final 5 minutes, where a series of explosive plays led to the Cowboys’ hard-fought win. Here’s a breakdown of the exciting finish.
First Half: A Slow Start
The game began with early promise for the Cowboys, with QB Cooper Rush connecting on key passes to WR CeeDee Lamb and TE Luke Schoonmaker. However, a penalty halted their momentum, leading to a blocked field goal attempt by kicker Brandon Aubrey. The Commanders capitalized with a 41-yard field goal by Austin Seibert, and the Cowboys’ Aubrey missed a second try. Just before halftime, Aubrey redeemed himself with a 46-yard field goal, tying the game 3-3.
Second Half: A Wild Finish
The third quarter saw the Commanders break the deadlock when QB Jayden Daniels rushed for a 17-yard touchdown, though the extra point attempt was missed. The Cowboys responded by inserting Trey Lance at quarterback for one play at 1st and goal, but he lost 3 yards. Rush returned and quickly connected with WR Jalen Tolbert for a 6-yard touchdown, giving Dallas a 10-9 lead as the teams entered the fourth quarter.
The action escalated in the final minutes. Dallas scored quickly with a field goal and a 22-yard touchdown pass from Rush to Schoonmaker. The Commanders answered with a touchdown pass from Daniels to TE Zach Ertz, followed by Daniels rushing in a 2-point conversion to make it a 20-16 game.
Game-Changing Special Teams Play
With just under 3 minutes remaining, special teams ace KaVontae Turpin turned the game on its head. After muffing a punt, Turpin recovered, dodged defenders, and sprinted 99 yards for a touchdown. Aubrey’s extra point put Dallas up 27-17, giving the Cowboys a 10-point cushion.
Commanders’ Final Push
The Commanders refused to go down without a fight. Seibert nailed a 51-yard field goal to cut the Cowboys’ lead to 27-20. With 40 seconds remaining, Daniels connected with WR Terry McLaurin, who broke free for an 86-yard touchdown. However, Seibert missed the extra point on a low snap, leaving Washington trailing 27-26.
In a final twist, Dallas recovered the onside kick, and special teams safety Juanyeh Thomas returned it 43 yards for a touchdown, sealing the Cowboys’ victory at 34-26.
Key Player Stats
Dallas Cowboys:
- QB Cooper Rush: 24-of-32, 247 yards, 2 TDs
- WR CeeDee Lamb: 10 receptions, 67 yards
- TE Luke Schoonmaker: 3 receptions, 55 yards, 1 TD
- RB Rico Dowdle: 19 carries, 86 yards
- Defense: Micah Parsons (2 sacks), Josh Butler (12 tackles), Israel Mukuamu (INT)
Washington Commanders:
- QB Jayden Daniels: 25-of-38, 275 yards, 2 TDs, 2 INTs, 1 rushing TD
- WR Terry McLaurin: 5 receptions, 102 yards, 1 TD
- TE Zach Ertz: 6 receptions, 38 yards, 1 TD
- Defense: Bobby Wagner (8 tackles), Daron Payne (1 sack)
Injuries
The Commanders dealt with several injuries during the game. RB Brian Robinson was injured early but returned. RB Austin Ekeler suffered an ankle injury in the final moments, while RT Andrew Wylie sustained a concussion. Center Tyler Biadasz was evaluated for a concussion in the fourth quarter.
Looking Ahead
The Cowboys will host the New York Giants on Thanksgiving Day at 4 p.m. ET. Meanwhile, the Commanders face the Tennessee Titans at home next Sunday before their Week 14 bye.
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