Cowboys 38-10 Commanders, Cowboys clinch NFC East, summary: score, stats, highlights | NFL Week 18
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Cowboys clinch NFC East with win over Commanders
It was an expected win by the Cowboys, but it was not expected they'd clinch the division title - at least not a few weeks ago. Though their 38-10 win over the Commanders is what gave them the title, it's made a little sweeter that the Eagles removed all doubt with an embarrassing 27-10 loss to the Giants.
The Commanders end their season 4-13 and dead last in the division with no post season. On the bright side, though, they'll get a pretty great pick in the draft.
Cowboys to face Green Bay Packers in Wild Card round
The Cowboys also locked the No. 2 seed in the NFC with this win and will get home-field advantage for the Wild Card round, where they'll face the No. 7 Green Bay Packers. Playing at home really is an advantage for Dallas, as they're a perfect 8-0 at home this season and nearly all of last season, with the exception of one loss in the season opener.
Now, they'll look to make it to the Divisional Round for a second straight year and eventually, their first Super Bowl since the 1995 season.
Cowboys-Commanders recap
During their win over the Commanders, QB Dak Prescott threw two of his fourtouchdownpasses to WR CeeDee Lamb, and finished 31-of-36 for 279 yards.
Although they got off to a little bit of a rocky start, allowing the Commanders to take the lead in the first half, they got right back on track quickly. Lamb finished with 13 receptions for 98 yards and two touchdowns. RB Tony Pollard had a massive game with 17 carries for 70 yards and a touchdown. And WR Brandin Cooks had six receptions for 39 yards and a touchdown. CB DaRon Bland had his ninth interception of the season, the most made in the NFL.
One odd thing for the Cowboys in their win over Washington was that kicker Brandon Aubrey missed two field goals. Aubrey was at a perfect 35 for 35 made before the game, but on his first attempt, it was blocked by Commanders' Josh Pryor and his next hit the goal posts. He finally made his last attempt from 50 yards to give the Cowboys their last 3 points of the game.
Commanders to make major changes after another losing season
After finishing the season at 4-13, the Commanders are expected to fire head coach Ron Rivera, who is 26-40-1 now in Washington. And that's unlikely to be the only change they make within the organization.
The only bright side for the team is that they now hold the No. 2 overall draft pick for the 2024 NFL Draft. They'll likely be looking for a quarterback replacement as Sam Howell threw two interceptions vs the Cowboys, making a league-most 21 this season. He was also sacked four times to make a total of 65 this season.
When do the playoffs begin?
The NFL Wild Card weekend begins Saturday, January 13. The full schedule will be released after the end of Week 18.
COWBOYS DEFEAT COMMANDERS
The Cowboys have officially clinched the NFC East with their 38-10 win over the Commanders.
Gore gets 3 yards and the clock is winding down
Commanders take first timeout
Howell pass caught by McLaurin and he takes off for 15 yards and hits the 1,000-yard mark with that 1st down - his fourth straight season with 1,000+ receiving yards, a franchise record
Aubrey is BACK with a successful 50-yard field goal with 1:06 remaining in the game.
COWBOYS FIELD GOAL!
Rush pass to Tolbert is incomplete - 4th down
TWO-MINUTE WARNING
The Cowboys are 2 minutes away from officially winning the NFC East. With a 35-10 lead over the Commanders and the Eagles losing to the Giants, it's just a matter of time.
Dowdle gets nowhere, taken down by Barton and Mayo - 2nd and 10
Rush play fakes, passes to Hendershot and he LEAPS over a Commanders defender for 24 yards
Cooper Rush is in at QB. He throws to Tolbrert for 5 yards and the 1st down.
Dowdle gets another 2 - 3rd and 4
Dowdle picks up 4 yards - 2nd and 6
Way punts 48 yards to the Cowboys 30 and Turpin takes it up 2 yards to the Cowboys 32
Howell SACKED again (ouch!), this time by Wlliams and Fowler for a loss of 3 yards - 4th and 25
Howell under pressure again by Wilson this time, loses another 4 yards - 3rd and 21
Howell SACKED by Armstrong for a loss of 7 yards - 2nd and 17
Gibson picks up 6 for the 1st down
Howell pass complete to McLaurin for 4 yards - 2nd and 6
Aubrey’s second field goal attempt, a 36-yarder hit the goal post and is NO GOOD. After a streak of 35 field goals without a single miss, he’s now had one blocked and one missed in today’s game against Washington.
Prescott overthrows the pass to Cooks in the end zone and it's incomplete 0 4th down
Pollard pushed back a yard by Hudson - 3rd and 7
Prescott to Cooks for 4 yards - 2nd and 4
Prescott to Dowdle is complete and he picks up another big 15 yards
Prescott to Lamb for 4 and Dowdle gets 3 - 3rd and 1
Unnecessary Roughness on Commanders' Forbes - 15 yards
Kind of a weird call...Forbes didn't even touch Brooks, though his helmet came downwards
Prescott pass incomplete to Brooks
Dowdle picks up 6 yards - 2nd and 4
Prescott pass to Ferguson caught for 15 yards and another 1st down
Pollard stopped by Anderson for no gain - 2nd and 10
Prescott pass to Cooks is good for 3 yards and the 1st down
END THIRD QUARTER
The Cowboys ended the third quarter with an interception by DaRon Bland and are now at 3rd and 3 at their own 16 with a 35-10 lead over the Commanders.
Pollard takes it up 4 twice in a row - 3rd and 2
Howell pass INTERCEPTED by Bland at the Cowboys 8 and they'll take over on offense again
Wilson takes a big hit to the shoulder but he's still in the game
It's Gibson again and he picks up 12 yards and another 1st down
Gibson gets just 2 this time as Wilson takes him down - 2nd and 8
Howell's pass to Gibson is good and he picks up 13 yards for the 1st down
Howell's pass to McLaurin is caught but Parsons stops him getting anywhere - 2nd down and 10
Prescott's pass to Cooks is CAUGHT in the end zone for 5 yards and Aubrey's PAT is good. The Cowboys keep the fire burning with a 25-point lead withe 4:06 to play in the 3rd quarter.
COWBOYS TOUCHDOWN!
Dowdle picks up 8 yards to the 5 - 3rd and goal
Prescott scrambled away for a 1-yard gain, but the Cowboys get another Holding penalty on Hoffman - 2nd and goal from the 13
Ferguson picks up 16 yards to the Commanders 3 - 2nd and goal
Pollard got 3 yards, but Ferguson was called for Holding to put them back another 10
And Way's punt is BLOCKED by Hendershot! Commanders' Gore was able to recover it but the Cowboys have the ball at 1st and goal at the Commanders 9
Howell SACKED by Parsons for a loss of 9 yards - 4th and 12, Commanders will punt
Robinson takes it up the middle for 6 yards - 3rd and 3
Robinson gets a yard - 2nd and 9
Aubrey kicks 64 yards from Cowboys 35 to Commanders and Pringle takes it up 26 yards to the Commanders 27
Prescott was under pressure and he was able to get out of the pocket, scramble and extend the play waiting for a player to get open and it was of course, CeeDee Lamb who made the catch in the end zone, 6 yards. Aubrey's PAT is good. Cowboys lead by 18 to start the second half with 8:28 to play in the third quarter.
COWBOYS TOUCHDOWN!
Kelly pushes Lamb back a yard after the catch - 2nd and goal at the 6
Dowdle breaks through for 20 yards all the way to the Commanders 5 - 1st and goal
Prescott throws underneath to Ferguson for 7 yards and the 1st down at the Commanders 25
Pollard pushed back by Hudson, loses a yard - 3rd and 5
Pollard picks up 6 - 2nd and 4
Prescott under pressure but he's able to get the ball away to Lamb, who turns on the speed and gets 10 yards - 1st down
Dowdle gets 7 this time taken down by Barton and the Cowboys are at 3rd and 5
Dowdle pushed back 2 yards by Hudson - 2nd and 12
Pollard gets 4 and Lamb gets 7 to get the 1st down for the Cowboys
Lamb leaps high to catch Prescott's pass for 12 yards and the1st down
And we're back!
After the football blew off the tee, we've reset. Slye kicks 65 yards from the 35 to the end zone - touchback
Giants clobbering Eagles in NY
For those of you wondering about the NFC Easy title, elsewhere in the league, the other two rivals are playing and the Giants are leading the Eagles 24-0 at halftime.
If Philly loses, the Cowboys will win the East regardless of the outcome with Washington. Still, they'll want the win to make the no. 2 seed in the NFC.
END FIRST HALF
Howell takes the knee and that's it for the first half.
The Cowboys lead 21-10 over the Commanders at halftime.
The Cowboys went 65 yards in 6 plays that ended in a CeeDee Lamb 4-yard touchdown, his 9th straight game with a TD. Aubrey's PAT is good and the Cowboys extend their lead with just 23 seconds to play in the 1st half.
COWBOYS TOUCHDOWN!
Cowboys take second timeout
Prescott pass to Cooks is caught for 8 yards and the Cowboys are at 1st and goal
Prescott pass caught by Lamb and he dodges one defender and then gets taken down at the 4 - 2nd and 4
Prescott pass caught by Lamb for 15 yards and another 1st down at the Commanders 18
Prescott pass is CAUGHT this time by Dowdle who turned on the speed for a 32 yards to the Commanders 33
Prescott pass to Dowdle is dropped - 2nd and 10
Howell pass INTERCEPTED by Wilson at the Cowboys 35 and they will get the ball back from Washington with under 2 minutes to play in the half.
Howell under pressure, pass is incomplete - 3rd and 10
Howell pass blocked by Bell, incomplete - 2nd and 10
Cowboys' Gilmore was injured on the play
Howell passes to McLaurin and it is CAUGHT for 13 yards, good for the 1st down!
TWO-MINUTE WARNING
With 2 minutes left in the first half, the Cowboys have a 4-point lead over the Commanders.
Washington has the ball but they're not in a great situation now as Howell was just sacked. They now sit at 3rd and 13 at their own 40.
Howell SACKED by Fowler for a loss of 8 - 3rd and 13 Commanders
Howell throws a bullet pass to Dotson and it's caught again for 6 yards - 2nd and 4
Howell passes to Dotson and he runs it up for a gain of 11 - 1st down
Howell tosses the ball to Samuel for 6 yards to the Commanders 31 - 2nd and 4
Pollard continues his great game with a touchdown. He took the ball up 9, then 12, then 1 to finish off the drive. Aubrey's PAT was good and the Cowboys have taken the lead back from the Commanders with 4:12 to play in the first half.
COWBOYS TOUCHDOWN!
Commanders' Martin was injured on the play
Pollard pushes through all the way to the 1 for 12 yards!
Pollard sprints up for 9 yards - 2nd and 1
Commanders' Hudson was injured after the last play and is down on the field.
Dowdle pushes through for 5 yards and the 1st down at the 22
Pollard takes it up another 9 yards - 2nd and 1
Prescott pass to Ferguson and he runs it up for the 1st down, 12 yards and a 1st down
Prescott pass caught by Lamb for 8 yards to the Cowboys 37 and Commanders' Barton is called for a PersonalFoul on him, 15 yards - a1st and 10
Slye kicks 65 yards from the Commanders 35 and Turpin takes it up 29 yards to the Cowboys 29
The Commanders defense gave them another chance to score and they did so. After Martin caught the interception, the Commanders made it to the red zone, but couldn't get in the end zone and instead opted for a field goal. Slye's 36-yard attempt was good and the Commanders take the lead for the first time with 7:04 to play in the first half.
COMMANDERS FIELD GOAL!
Howell pass caught by Crowder for 8 yards, short of the 1st and Commanders send the field goal unit on at 4th and 2 rather than go for it this time.
Another FalseStart, this time on Cosmi - 3rd and 11 now
False Start on Bates, 5 yards. Washington is now at 3rd and 6.
Commanders take first timeout.
Howell pass caught by Samuel in the end zone but his second foot is out of bounds - incomplete. 3rd and 1.
Howell had defenders all over him, but Samuel didn't. He gets it away for him for a gain of 9 yards - 2nd and 1
McLaurin dodges Parsons, then Bell and picks up 19 yards
They get it this time with a Robinson run for 2 yards - 1st down
Howell goes under center for the QB sneak and he gets nowhere. 4th down and 1 and they go for it for a third time.
Howell pass complete to Thomas for 9 yards - 3rd and 1
Howell passes deep to Bates and it's incomplete - 2nd and 10 at the Commanders 45
Prescott's pass was deflected by Harris and then INTERCEPTEDbyMartin. Martin took it up 6 yards to the Commanders 45 and they get ANOTHER turnover.
Prescott pass caught by Pollard but he's stopped by Barton - 4 yards, 2nd and 6
Prescott pass caught by Ferguson and he runs out of bounds after 11 yards for another 1st down
Prescott pass caught by Cooks at the 46 for 4 yards and the 1st down
Lamb dodged defenders for a gain of 7 - 2nd and 3
Pollard gets another 5 for the 1st down
Prescott hands it off to Pollard for a gain of 5 - 2nd and 5
The Commanders decided to go for it on 4th and goal and it paid off. Howell's pass to Robinson was bobbled but eventually caught in the end zone for the 1-yard touchdown. Slye's PAT was good to tie up the game at the start of the second quarter.
COMMANDERS TOUCHDOWN!
END FIRST QUARTER
That takes us to the end of the 1st quarter already.
The Cowboys are ahead 7-0 after a Tolbert TD on their opening drive. After the Cowboys' field goal attempt was blocked and then returned 66 yards by Washington, the Commanders now have the ball at 4th and goal with time to decide if they'll go for the TD or play it safe with a field goal attempt.
Parsons chased down Howell and he is stopped JUST short of the end zone. At 4th and goal, the Commanders put the field goal unit on and then took them off. They are going for it.
Commanders pull a trick play with a handoff to Brown and he passes it to QB Howell for 3 yards - 3rd and goal
Robinson swallowed up by Lawrence after 2 yards - 2nd and goal
Howell's pass to Armah is caught for 10 yards to the Cowboys 10 - 1st and goal Commanders
Robinson got no gain on the 1st down. Howell's pass deep in the end zone is incomplete to Dotson - 3rd and 10
Aubrey's FG attempt was BLOCKED by Prior and Whittaker took it up 66 YARDS to the Commanders 14.
Prescott pass caught by Lamb but he gets just 9. The Cowboys will try for a field goal.
Prescott way overthrows in the end zone to Gallup - incomplete, brings Cowboys to 3rd down and 10
Pollard can't get anywhere, taken down by Harris - 2nd and 10
Prescott pass to Ferguson complete for 8yards for the 1st down!
Prescott tosses to Cooks in the end zone but Martin was all over him and the pass is incomplete. Cowboys at 4th and 3 and they will go for it.
Prescott pass to Turpin caught for 6 yards. Pollard takes it up next for another 1 and the Cowboys are at 3rd and 3.
Oh dear. Washington gets the ball and immediately gives it back to the Cowboys! RobinsonFUMBLED the ball after 6 yards and Cowboys' Lewis RECOVERED it. The Cowboys take over again at the Commanders 31.
Prescott tossed the ball directly into the end zone and Tolbert makes the catch for 3 yards and a Cowboys touchdown on their first drive of the game. Aubrey's PAT was good and the Cowboys take an early lead with 6:26 to go in the first quarter.
COWBOYS TOUCHDOWN!
Prescott passes deep to Pollard and he leaps up to catch it for a gain of 12yards to the 3
Prescott pass caught by Cooks for 3 yards
Pollard picks up 4, good enough for the 1st before Burgess takes him down
Prescott pass caught by Lamb again for another 9, 2nd and 1
Prescott pass is caught by Lamb for 15 yards and another 1st down
Pollard takes it up the middle 5 yards
Prescott pass to Cooks is caught for 15 yards and a 1st down to start the Cowboys off on a good foot
They don't get it this time as Clark takes down Robinson for a loss of 2 and the Cowboys will get the ball at their own 33
They go for it again and...
Robinson tries to take it up but he's stopped and the Commanders are at 4th and 1 AGAIN.
McLaurin gets 5 and Gibson gets 3 to put Commanders at 3rd and 2
Howell pass complete to Robinson for 11 yards and the 1st down!
McLaurin pulled a Wild Cat and passed deep to McLaurin but it was deflected by Gilmore and it's incomplete. Commanders at 4th down and 1 and they'll go for it.
Robinson gets a good gain of 8 before he's stopped by Lawrence - 3rd and 1
Parsons takes Robinson back on the next play and he gets nowhwere. Washington is at 2nd and 10.
Great start for the Commanders as Samuel takes the ball up 15 yards to the Commanders 40 for a 1st down
GAME TIME!
The Cowboys won the toss and have elected to defer.
The Commanders start us on offense. Let's go!
Cowboys and Commanders INACTIVES Week 18
Washington Commanders INACTIVES
S Kam Curl
DE Andre Jones Jr.
OL Andrew Wylie
TE Cole Turner
DT Jonathan Allen
DE Casey Toohill
QB Jacoby Brissett
Dallas Cowboys INACTIVES
OG Zack Martin
OG Tyler Smith
S Sheldrick Redwine
CB Noah Igbinoghene
CB Eric Scott
DL Junior Fehoko
QB Trey Lance
Ron Rivera's seat is hot, hot, hot
While the Cowboys look to clinch the division, the Commanders have had an entirely different season.
Washington enters the Week 18 season finale at 4-12 and the very bottom of the division, having lost in all division games and having been eliminated from playoff contention three weeks ago.
Josh Harris expected to make some changes
In fact, they are now at risk of having their head coach fired after today's game. Ron Rivera is expected to be one of a few coaches to be let go, which is unsurprising considering his lack of success with the Commanders, coupled the purchase of the franchise by Josh Harris last summer.
Harris said then that he'd use the season to make some changes and he already has. He fired defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio midseason and expressed very openly his disappointment and frustration. Since then, the Commanders have not won a game, so imagine how he's feeling now.
Rivera took the Panthers to the Super Bowl back in 2016, when they lost to the Denver Broncos and has a 102-102-2 career. With the Commanders, however, he's 26-39-1. He did lead them to an NFC East win in 2020, but that was with a 7-9 record. Now, he's sitting in the hot seat and expected to be gone by this evening.
What's at stake for the Cowboys?
The Cowboys had a bit of a controversial win over the Lions last week. Their 15th straight home win, 20-19, was squeaked out after giving up 420 yards to Detroit. But a win is a win and as they have a 4-1 division record, including a win over the Philadelphia Eagles, the Cowboys are sitting at no. 2 in the NFC and will clinch the East with a win today. That means a home game in the wild card round. And as you may have heard, the Cowboys have not lost a home game in quite a while (since Game 1 of the 2022 season, to be exact), so a win today is quite significant for them.
In order for the Eagles to win the NFC East over the Cowboys, Dallas would need to lose and Philly would need to win, which would also drop the Cowboys all the way down to the fifth seed in the NFC.
Good afternoon, everyone! Welcome to our live text coverage of the Dallas Cowboys at Washington Commanders!
Not only is this a hot NFC East matchup, but it's also the regular season finale for both these teams. A win gives the Cowboys the NFC East division win and honestly, a loss for the Commanders at this point is in their favor as well, as they're likely to pick no. 2 overall in next year's draft and are already a lock to pick within the top five. They were eliminated from playoff contention in Week 15. And yet, the Cowboys did manage to lose to the Commanders in last year's season finale in embarrassing fashion (26-6, ouch) and anything can happen in an NFC East rivalry.
Follow along with it all as we bring you the latest scores, highlights, stats, and commentary!