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The Cowboys 33-19 win over Washington brings them to 2-0 in the division while dropping Commanders to 0-3.
The last time the Dallas Cowboys blew out the Washington Commanders was in December of 2014, a 44-17 thrashing in Dallas’ 12-4 season. It just doesn’t happen all that often and today’s 14-point victory for the Cowboys came with a lot cardiac episodes for most fans. Since that game in 2014, the winner has been decided by 7.4 points and though the Cowboys swept them last season, it was by a combined nine points. Still, the Cowboys have a little bit of a streak going in Landover, Maryland:
The @dallascowboys have now won five straight games in Washington for the first time since 1966-1971. pic.twitter.com/Gq2CpMdpBm
— FOX Sports: NFL (@NFLonFOX) October 30, 2017
Let’s talk about this game though because it started about as rough as you could imagine. Ezekiel Elliott’s first carry on a dreary, wet day was a fumble at the 29-yard line. It lead to a quick three points after the Cowboys’ defense was able to soften the blow of the turnover.
Zeke looked like he was down ... very close and our first possession is a fumble ugh! Let's Go Cowboys #DallasCowboys #DALvsWAS pic.twitter.com/F1wAENvB76
— Tom Stokes (@SportsPlusShow) October 29, 2017
It could have been much worse but just think about how well Elliott takes care of the football, it was his first fumble since last year...in Washington.
Entering Week 8, Ezekiel Elliott had 131 carries without a fumble, most among RBs this season
Zeke’s last fumble lost: Week 2, 2016 vs WAS
— NFL Research (@NFLResearch) October 29, 2017
It’s okay though because that fumble only made him hungrier and he quickly made up for it.
Thanks @Commanders for making up for the fumble recovery - you went the opposite and didn't even touch Zeke #DallasCowboys #DALvsWAS pic.twitter.com/fQKU80x7YJ
— Tom Stokes (@SportsPlusShow) October 29, 2017
The Dallas Cowboys defense also looked like they were about to let a makeshift Washington offense that was decimated by injuries just walk over them. Damien Wilson was called for roughing the passer on third down and it allowed Rob Kelley to give the Commanders a 10-7 lead.
Newly signed kicker Mike Nugent would attempt and miss a game-tying 49-yard field goal and folks were screaming Dan Bailey to the heavens.
Mike Nugent is not gonna make anyone forget Dan Bailey is out. The miss from 49 yards in his #Cowboys debut. @BlueStarBlog
— Newy Scruggs (@newyscruggs) October 29, 2017
No one will replace Dan Bailey but we accept Mike Nugent as back-up!
Heal quickly Dan Bailey; we miss you!
— somekindashannon (@sdmc_mzde) October 30, 2017
Washington then marched 38-yards and put another three points on the board thanks to Nick Rose. The Cowboys’ ensuing drive was a disaster as a holding penalty ended up forcing the punt. Down 13-7, the Cowboys allowed Washington to pick up two first downs before David Irving finally broke through and sacked Kirk Cousins on third-and-six.
#Cowboys get their first sack courtesy of David Irving and they had to work for it. Cousins escaped twice. #DALvsWAS
— Matthew Postins (@PostinsPostcard) October 29, 2017
As Rose was lining up to give Washington a 16-7 lead, both Irving and Tyrone Crawford stuck their hands up, blocking the attempt, Orlando Scandrick would take it to the five-yard line.
#DALvsWAS Hɪɢʜʟɪɢʜᴛs : Tyrone Crawford with the FG block and #EzekielElliott #DakPrescott #Cowboys #CowboysHighlights #DC4L ✭ pic.twitter.com/C1G5a6gGnp
— nyspin (@NewYork_SPIN) October 30, 2017
Two plays later, Elliott had his second feeding of the day and the Cowboys got a huge swing of momentum.
#DALvsWAS
TOUCHDOWN #Cowboys !!
EZEKIEL ELLIOTT 1 YD TD#DallasCowboys LEAD 14-13 with 2:20 left in the 2nd#cowboyszone #NFL pic.twitter.com/1MSrmIZ6gG
— Dallas Nation (@Dallas__Nation) October 29, 2017
Irving would get his second sack of the game to send this one into halftime maintaining a one-point lead. Irving has been beasting and it’s incredible to think he’s done it in such a short time.
David Irving has played in 3 games since he rejoined the team Oct. 2.
To date, he’s got 7 tackles, 5 sacks, 2 TFL, 3 PD & a blocked FG
— David Helman (@HelmanDC) October 30, 2017
After halftime, the rain started picking up and that’s when this game got a little wacky. The Commanders’ got the ball to start the second half and Tyrone Crawford was back for more:
Tyrone Crawford having a big day. Already with a game-changing blocked field goal, now gets the sack of Kirk Cousins to force the fumble that is recovered by DeMarcus Lawrence.
— Brandon George (@DMN_George) October 29, 2017
Still, the Cowboys found trouble converting a third-down pass that landed at the feet of Jason Witten. Out marched Nugent to a sound of grinding teeth but he put the 36-yarder through and Dallas took a four-point lead.
On the ensuing kickoff, the Cowboys’ special teams got a huge boost from Keith Smith:
On that Commanders fumbled kickoff, Cowboys FB Keith Smith forced the fumble and CB Bene Benwikere recovered it.
— Brandon George (@DMN_George) October 29, 2017
Once again, the Cowboys offensive line was questionably penalized for holding, their fourth penalty and third for Tyron Smith on the night. It was incredibly uncharacteristic of a line headed up by three All-Pros and Dallas was forced to settle for a field goal attempt. Nugent walked out with the rain pouring down and drilled a 48-yarder giving the Cowboys a seven-point advantage.
One of the most lethal offenses over the last month wasn’t able to make the Commanders pay the ultimate price for consecutive turnovers. Cowboys Nation was getting a little restless as the lead didn’t feel comfortable.
Cowboys might regret kicking all those field goals earlier.
— Rachel ✭ (@RClovesherboys) October 29, 2017
It didn’t stop there either as two Commanders’ punts ended with Nugent kicking his third and fourth field goals of the game. It kind of reminded you of the Patriots’ game from earlier in the day.
If you liked the Patriots kicking non-stop field goals today you'll love the Cowboys kicking non-stop field goals today.
— Aaron Schatz (@FO_ASchatz) October 29, 2017
Despite this, points are points and the Cowboys were mainly in control thanks to Mike Nugent’s rebound:
Money Mike Nugent with his fourth field goal to make the score 26-13.
— Clarence Hill Jr (@clarencehilljr) October 29, 2017
That was until Kirk Cousins converted four straight times to keep the drive alive. On fourth and 10, with less than five minutes to play, Anthony Brown was flagged for pass interference. The call itself gave Washington 22-yards but was another questionable decision to say the very least.
Troy Aikman: "I didn't see much there. I think Anthony Brown has every right to be arguing that call." pic.twitter.com/D5WzIbyNsQ
— Sung Min Kim (@sung_minkim) October 29, 2017
Anyway, it lead to Kirk Cousins making it look easy with a connection to Josh Doctson in the back of the end zone. Most importantly, Washington was given life.
Kirk Cousins to Josh Doctson in the back of the end zone for SIX! #DALvsWAS pic.twitter.com/b4xPPh2MLB
— NFL (@NFL) October 29, 2017
Nick Rose missed the extra point and the Cowboys remained in the lead 26-19. The Cowboys went with their methodical control-the-clock offense. Ezekiel Elliott continued to pad his stats as he got to 150 rushing yards and Dallas took almost five minutes off the clock.
Unlike the Packers game, Scott Linehan kept it on the ground and forced Jay Gruden to use all of his timeouts. With less than a minute, Kirk Cousins finally connected on the interception he was trying to throw to Taco Charlton and Jaylon Smith earlier but they couldn’t hang on. This time, there was no doubt about it as Byron Jones took it to the house and ended this one, 33-19.
Pick 6!!!!! IT’S OVER!!!! Byron Jones! You like that? Cowboys win! 33-19 #DALvsWAS #DallasCowboys #cowboyszone pic.twitter.com/VxMWQWqr70
— CowboysFanInCLE (@Cowboy16_) October 29, 2017
Anytime you fight through a game where both teams commit mistake after mistake, it’s about committing one less than the opponent. Dallas struggled early but snagged two fumbles, an interception, and blocked a kick. The Cowboys were able to get a lot of redemption in 60 minutes of football. Elliott ran wild over a Commanders’ defense that was allowing less than 100 yards per game. Mike Nugent made four consecutive field goals and all his extra points after his first miss. The defense picked up four more sacks, giving them 25 on the season.
Dallas may have missed a few opportunities as Dak Prescott threw for less than 150 yards with zero passing touchdowns but they got the win in a hostile and messy environment. That’s really the only thing that ever matters in the NFL.
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