FULL SCORE
- Dallas goes full throttle over Washington. The Cowboys weren’t playing pretty on Christmas Day against their rivals, scoring touchdowns on their first three possessions while converting a career-high four fourth downs to build an early lead that put Dallas one first down (17) short of tying Washington’s first-half total (18). Dak Prescott led efficient charging, connection to Jake Ferguson for the initial level of the game before finding KaVontae Turpin for an 86-yard TD bomb midway through the second quarter. Dallas rallied in the second half but faced a big fourth down midway through the final frame with a seven-point lead. Prescott was found Jalen Tolbert going 5 of 5 in the fourth down for dallas on the day, making it a two-goal game after a. Brandon Aubrey field goal Prescott, who completed 19 of 37 passes for 307 yards and two TDs, was sacked six times on the day but helped seal the game with a 21-yard touchdown run. George Pickens at the final deposit. A few plays later, Prescott would move the chains one last time with a QB sneak that made it 6 for 6 on fourth down for the Cowboys. Thursday’s win ended a three-game skid for the Cowboys, who were eliminated from the playoffs last week.
- Johnson supports Deebo as the starter. He started for the first time since 2021, Josh Johnson realized well and kept the Chiefs afloat despite falling behind early on. Deebo Samuel provided a spark with a 41-yard catch and a 29-yard run, but that was it Jacory Croskey-Merritt who got Washington back into the game with a 72-yard TD run in the third quarter that accounted for most of his 105 yards on the ground. Johnson completed 15 of 23 passes for 198 yards with no touchdowns or interceptions. The third-string QB didn’t take Washington out of the game, but couldn’t get the offense going enough against the Cowboys. On the defensive end, defensive tackle Jer’Zhan Newton had a career day with 3.0 sacks (eight QB pressures); silverware for the future as the Commanders suffered their 12th loss of the season.
- Davis steps up for the Cowboys. Javonte Williams was given early and often (54 rushing yards; TD) before a shoulder injury sidelined him in the first half. Malik Davis continued to set career highs in rushing yards and carries in his absence, helping balance a Cowboys passing attack that stagnated in the second half. Davis finished with 103 yards on 20 carries for a 5.2 average, highlighting his day with a 21-yard run. The sophomore RB showed great vision in finding holes and great burst to get to the second level. Fullback Hunter Luepke also chipped in with 30 rushing yards and a 14-yard catch to help extend a second-half scoring drive. In a season that began with an entirely new quarterback, Dallas certainly found a solid one-two punch.
Next Gen Stats Insight for Cowboys-Commanders (via NFL Pro): Jacory Coskey-Merrit hit a top speed of 21.62 miles per hour on his 72-yard TD run.
NFL Research: The Cowboys’ six turnovers on fourth down against the Chiefs are tied for the most turnovers in a game since 1991 and the most while going 100%.