Cowboys defeat Redskins 38-14

All is right in Cowboys land after the Cowboys improved their record to 6-6 with a 38-14 win against the Washington Redskins. This was the 70^th time the Cowboys have beat the Redskins, most against any team in the NFL.

Both teams played on Thanksgiving. The Redskins won their game 20-10 over the New York Giants and the Cowboys lost on 28-6 to the Los Angeles Chargers. Both teams came into the game 5-6 and needed a win to keep any chance at a playoff run alive. So this game was essentially an elimination game.

Coming into the game there were major questions on the injury front with the right side of the offensive line. Right guard Zack Martin and right tackle La’el Collins both started. However, Sean Lee missed his third straight game.

Cowboys did make some changes ahead of tonights game on defense. Rookie defensive back Chidobe Awuzie made his first career start and had three pass breakups. Second year starter Anthony Brown was demoted. Anthony Brown did record an interception late in the fourth quarter. Xavier Woods also started at nickel back for the Cowboys.

It didn’t start off well as it took the Cowboys the entire first quarter to pick up a first down.  However, the Redskins weren’t much better there in the first half. The two combined for five punts and a turnover in the first quarter. Jeff Heath ended the Redskins most successful drive in the red zone with his team high 2^nd interception.

The Cowboys had three first half takeaways but only came up with three points off of those turnovers. Ryan Switzer made his presence felt with an 83 yard punt returner. It was his first punt return for a touchdown of his NFL career. The Redskins scored before half and the Cowboys took a 17-7 lead into the half.

The scored remained 17-7 through the third quarter and that is when Dez Bryant made an appearance. He had a 24 yard reception on third down and then leaped into the number one spot in career touchdowns in Cowboys history with his 72^nd career touchdown that made it 24-7. It was Dez Bryants first touchdown since week 7. Redskins then answered that with a quick touchdown drive of their own. That made the score 24-14.

Alfred Morris made sure that momentum didn’t last. On the following drive he had seven carries for 42 yards and scored the game clinching touchdown. Morris finished his night with 27 carries for 127 yards. It was Morris’ first 100 yard game since 2015 when he played for the Redskins against the Cowboys. It was the 2^nd time in NFL history that one player has had a 100 yard game for both the Redskins and the Cowboys.

Cowboys will head to New York next Sunday to try to make it two games in a row against the 2-9 Giants.