What we learned in the Dallas Cowboys NFC East clinching 38-10 win over Commanders
Somewhere in the middle of the Dallas Cowboys must-win game against the Washington Commanders to guarantee the NFC East title, the Philadelphia Eagles threw in the towel against the New York Giants.
Down 24-0 before losing 27-10, the Eagles pulled their starters, seemingly gifting the division title to the Cowboys.
It didn’t matter.
The Cowboys left no doubt and nothing to chance in a 38-10 blowout victory before a largely Cowboys crowd at Fed Ex Field.
The Cowboys will play the Green Bay Packers in the first round of the NFC playoffs next weekend.
After trailing 10-7 against Washington team, the Cowboys scored twice in the second quarter en route to 28 straight points.
Quarterback Dak Prescott powered the surge with three touchdowns passes as part of his four on the day to cement a season in which he led the NFL in touchdown passes — one year after leading the NFL in interception.
It was a perfect momentum builder for the Cowboys going into the playoffs one year after losing to Commanders 26-6 in the season final en route to the postseason.
The win secured the No. 2 seed in the playoffs and a home game against the Los Angeles Rams or Green Bay Packers in the NFC wild-card playoffs next weekend.
The Cowboys finished 12-5 for the third consecutive season under Mike McCarthy, the only time a Dallas coach has achieved that trifecta.
It’s his second division title in four seasons.
The NFC East has not had repeat champions since 2004.
What we learned in the Dallas Cowboys NFC-East clinching 38-10 victory vs. Washington Commanders:
Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb continue to set records
Prescott and receiver CeeDee Lamb have been unstoppable all season and that trend continued in the division-clinching win against Washington.
Prescott’s only mistake was an interception that was tipped as the line of scrimmage.
Outside of that, he was on fire, completing of 31 of 36 passes for 279 yards and four touchdowns.
He became the second Cowboys quarterback to lead league in touchdowns passes. Hall of Famer Roger Staubach did it in 1973.
Lamb also had a huge game, with 13 receptions for 98 yards and two touchdowns.
He added to his team record for yards and receptions in a season.
He became the first Cowboys player to lead in the NFL in receptions.
Offensive line, running game shine without two starters
Even the Cowboys were heavily favored against Washington, there was some pre-game concern when left guard Tyler Smith (foot) and right guard Zack Martin (illness) were ruled out.
Playing without two starters up front against the best part of the Washington defense, defensive tackles Daron Payne and Johnathan Allen, was not the ideal scenario, especially when you running game has been struggling for much of the season.
But give T.J. Bass and Brock Hoffman credit for filling in at guard and the Cowboys offense not missing beat.
Prescott was not sacked.
Tony Pollard and the running game feasted.
Pollard rushed 17 times for 70 yards to top the 1000-yard mark for the second consecutive season.
Rico Dowdle also added 46 yards on nine carries as the Cowboys totaled 131 yards on the ground, which was supplanted by runs from receivers Lamb, KaVontae Turpin and Brandin Cooks.
Micah Parsons, defense fends off desperate Washington with turnovers
The Cowboys expected the unexpected from a desperate Washington team that had nothing to lose.
And that’s what they got.
Washington opened the game with three fourth down tries, a blocked field game and a pass back to quarterback Sam Howell on the famed Philly Special trick play.
But their 10-7 lead was short-lived thanks to an onslaught from the Cowboys that fueled a defense that forced two first half turnovers.
Cornerback Jordan Lewis had a forced fumble and but the tied was turned on a interception by Donovan Wilson with less than 2 minutes left in the first half.
Defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence hit Howell’s arm, causing the ball to float into the hands of Wilson, who has now had interceptions in back back games.
Prescott turned it into a touchdowns pass to Lamb and a 21-10 halftime lead.
The Washington offense was punchless in the second half.
Dante Fowler and Micah Parsons had sacks. It was the 14th sack of the season for Parsons, giving him a new career high.
Cornerback DaRon Bland added an interception in the third quarter, giving him an NFL-high 9 on the season.
Dallas held Washington to 180 total yards.
Brandon Aubrey’s record streak snapped on block — shy of NFL mark
Rookie kicker Brandon Aubrey’s NFL-record streak of 35 consecutive kids to start his career was snapped in the first quarter against Washington.
A 32-yard field-goal attempt was blocked by Joshua Pryor and recover by Jace Whittaker, who ran it back 51 yards.
It set up a 1-yard touchdown catch by running back Brian Robinson which tied the game at 7-7.
Making 35 straight to start his was not only and NFL record but it tied him with with former Vikings kicker Gary Anderson for the second-most field goals made without a miss.
It left him three shy of breaking Mike Vanderjagt’s all-time record of 37-of-37 which he set in the 2003 season with the Indianapolis Colts.
Aubrey also missed an extra point in the game and made a 50-yard field goal.
