Inside The Star
Neither the Dallas Cowboys nor the Washington Commanders had anything to play for when they met on Christmas Day. Except for pride.
The two NFC East rivals did not have had a playoff berth to play for but they still came to play. What looked like an early Cowboys’ rout suddenly turned into a classic rivalry game.
In the end, the Cowboys outlasted the Commanders, 30-23.
The win moves the Cowboys to 7-8-1 on the year as they look to avoid a second-straight losing season.
Dak Prescott threw for two touchdowns on the Cowboys’ first three drives as Dallas jumped out to a 21-3 lead, converting on all four fourth down attempts in the first half.
Prescott and KaVontae Turpin connected just once in the game, but it was on an 86-yard touchdown pass. It was an NFL record for Christmas Day games, midway through the second quarter.
Prescott finished 19-for-37 for 307 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions. Javonte Williams had 13 carries for 54 yards and a touchdown before leaving with a shoulder injury.
Malik Davis had 20 carries for 103 yards. Hunter Luepke added seven carries for 30 yards and one catch for 14 yards.
CeeDee Lamb had five catches for 46 yards while George Pickens finished with four catches for 78 yards.
The Commanders were led by Josh Johnson who was 15-for-23, for 198 yards with no touchdowns. Jacory Croskey-Merritt had 11 carries for 105 yards and two touchdowns. Deebo Samuel had two catches for 68 yards and Terry McLaurin had five catches for 63 yards.
Dallas had a nice drive to open the game – when they ran the ball. Williams and Malik Davis chewed up the Commanders’ defense.
Prescott missed his first four passes before hitting Pickens with a short pass that the Pro Bowl receiver turned into a huge gain.
The Cowboys capped a 13-play, 78-yard drive with a six-yard touchdown catch by Ferguson for the early 7-0 lead with 9:42 left in the quarter.
Washington’s opening drive was highlighted by Deebo Samuel’s 41-yard catch and run to the Cowboys’ six. Samuel ended the play by running over Donovan Wilson hard enough to knock Wilson’s helmet off.
But the drive stalled when Jadeveon Clowney sacked Josh Johnson.
Jake Moody hit a 29-yard field goal to make it 7–3 Cowboys with 4:44 left in the quarter.
The Cowboys shook off a bad penalty by Tyler Booker, as well as a sack, and drove the ball down to the Commanders’ 23. The quarter came to an end with Dallas facing a third-and-two.
Prescott’s pass in the endzone to Jalen Tolbert to open the quarter was broken up, and the Cowboys went for it on fourth down for a third time.
This time, Tolbert hauled in a short pass for a first down.
Three plays later, Dallas successfully converted on fourth down for the fourth time as Brian Schottenheimer clearly decided it was touchdown or bust.
Williams capped a...
