The Dallas Cowboys finally looked like a team with something to prove. In what may have been their most electrifying and chaotic performance of the season, Dallas snapped a five-game skid with a thrilling 34-26 upset over the Washington Commanders. It was the kind of game that had everything — except dull moments.
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Facing former defensive coordinator Dan Quinn and several ex-Cowboys he brought to Washington, Dallas showed they can still deliver the big plays when it counts most. Cooper Rush, stepping up once again, was sharp and steady, completing 24-of-32 passes for 247 yards and two touchdowns. Meanwhile, Rico Dowdle provided some much-needed balance on the ground, rumbling for 86 yards on 19 carries.
But make no mistake, this game wasn't about stats — it was about drama. A quiet first half that ended in a 3-3 tie exploded into a 30-point frenzy in the final 3:02. The fireworks started with Jayden Daniels connecting with Zach Ertz for a 4-yard touchdown and following it up with a two-point conversion run to cut the Cowboys' lead to three. That's when KaVontae Turpin delivered the dagger — or so it seemed — with a jaw-dropping 99-yard kickoff return for a touchdown.
Even then, the Commanders wouldn't go away. Austin Seibert's 51-yard field goal with 1:40 left gave Washington a glimmer of hope, and Daniels turned that glimmer into a blaze with an 86-yard touchdown pass to Terry McLaurin. But Seibert's second missed PAT of the game proved costly, leaving the Commanders down by one instead of tied.
The ensuing onside kick was another wild twist, as Juanyeh Thomas scooped it up and sprinted 43 yards for a score. That decision to score instead of sliding down gave Washington one last chance, but Daniels' Hail Mary came up short and was picked off by Israel Mukuamu to seal it.
For the Cowboys, it was far from perfect. They allowed two blocked kicks, missed a field goal, and gave up some explosive plays on defense. But when it mattered, Micah Parsons and the defense stepped up, with Parsons recording two of the team's four sacks on Daniels.
At 4-7, Dallas still has plenty of work to do, but this win showed they're not done fighting. For Washington, now 7-5, it's a tough loss that stings even more given the missed opportunities. In a game this chaotic, though, the Cowboys simply made more of the big plays.
