On Christmas Day, the Dallas Cowboys silenced Washington with a 30-23 victory, powered by Dak Prescott’s 307-yard, two-touchdown performance that tied a franchise record.
Early Dominance
The Cowboys reached the end zone on each of their first three possessions, building a 21-3 lead. “It was huge,” Prescott said. “Not playing for anything, you want to get on top and not give them any hope. It’s important to make them play from behind, but we’ve got to do a better job of finishing.”
Washington, already eliminated from playoff contention, cut the gap to a touchdown on three separate occasions but could not complete a comeback, absorbing their 10th loss in 11 games.
Key Plays and Stats
Prescott finished 19 of 37, throwing for 307 yards and two touchdowns. His two TD passes gave him 30 total for the season, tying Tony Romo for the franchise record of four seasons with at least 30 touchdown throws.
The Cowboys ran 87 offensive plays to Washington’s 41, dominating the time of possession by more than 17 minutes. They kept the ball for the final two minutes, converting a fourth down to seal the win.
Washington’s 39-year-old journeyman Josh Johnson made his 10th career start and first since 2021. He went 15 for 23 for 198 yards with no touchdowns or interceptions. Johnson said, “I was just trying to play clean and give us a chance to win the game,” adding, “Unfortunately, we just came up short.”
Jacory Croskey-Merritt scored on runs of 10 and 72 yards for Washington, the latter touchdown bringing the Commanders to 24-17 in the third quarter. Dallas restored its double-digit lead with a 52-yard field goal by Brandon Aubrey, who later added a 51-yard kick to make it 30-20 with 3:59 remaining.
After Prescott’s 7-yard touchdown pass to tight end Jake Ferguson on the opening drive, Johnson went 3 for 3 for 68 yards to give Washington a 7-3 lead. A 41-yard completion to Deebo Samuel-Johnson’s longest since 2018-ended the drive. Samuel finished by running into safety Donovan Wilson, knocking the safety’s helmet off.
On the Cowboys’ second possession, they converted three fourth downs on a 17-play march that ended with a touchdown run by Javonte Williams. Prescott then threw an 86-yard scoring pass to KaVontae Turpin, making it three touchdowns in three drives.
Injuries and Future Games
Cowboys: Williams sustained a shoulder injury; Ferguson missed the second half with a calf injury. Commanders: Tyler Biadasz left with a right knee and ankle injury.
The Cowboys will close the season at the New York Giants on Jan. 3 or 4. The Commanders’ season finale will be at Philadelphia on Jan. 3 or 4.
Key Takeaways
- Dak Prescott’s 307-yard game tied a franchise record for touchdown passes.
- Dallas built a 21-3 lead early and never relinquished control.
- Washington’s attempts to rally fell short despite multiple touchdown runs.
The Cowboys’ decisive win on Christmas Day underscores their resilience and sets a positive tone as they head into the final stretch of the season.
