Cowboys 34 vs 26 Commanders, special teams TDs win game, summary: score, stats, highlights | NFL Week 12
Cowboys @ Commanders LIVE
Cowboys upset Commanders in NFC East rivalry match
A game that was 3-3 at halftime ended in a Cowboys' 34-27 win over the Commanders with almost all the action taking place in the final quarter of the game. Well, really in the last 5 minutes. Here's how it happened.
*Highlights below this post
Uneventful first half
To start the game, the Cowboys had a promising drive with two big passes by QB Cooper Rush of 11 and 24 yards to WR CeeDee Lamb and TE Luke Schoonmaker, respectively. Unfortunately, a penalty set them back and forced a field goal try by Brandon Aubrey which was blocked, resulting in a turnover. The Commanders got a field goal of their own after they took over, a 41-yarder by kicker Austin Seibert. Aubrey proceeded to miss another field goal try, which is uncharacteristic for him. But before the half was over, he made a 46-yard try to tie the game 3-3 at the half.
Bizarre second half
The second half was where things got interesting, finally. Commanders QB Jayden Daniels rushed 17 yards into the end zone in the third quarter for their first touchdown of the game, but Seibert missed the extra point. It was a 9-3 game at that point.
At the end of the third quarter, the Cowboys put QB Trey Lance in for one play at 1st and goal. He lost 3 yards and they put Rush back in. Rush immediately made a 6-yard touchdown pass to Tolbert and Aubrey's extra point made it a 10-9 game heading into the 4th quarter.
The Cowboys made a field goal and a touchdown (Rush to Schoonmaker for 22 yards) within 3 minutes of each other, but the Commanders responded right away with a touchdown pass from Daniels to TE Zach Ertz. Daniels then rushed it in for a 2-point conversion, making it a 20-16 game with the Cowboys ahead.
On the very next play, Cowboys' special teams receiver KaVontae Turpin muffed the punt only to recover it, spin around to dodge the Washington defense, and then take off for a 99-yard touchdown on the punt return. Aubrey's PAT was good to make it a 27-17 game.
With under 2 minutes in the game, the Commanders took a risk by opting for a field goal from 51 yards on 2nd and 10. It paid off as Seibert made the try to make it a one-score game, 27-20 with 1:40 left. Plenty of time. They stopped the Cowboys getting anywhere on their next drive, got the ball back with 40 seconds left, and Daniels made a pass to WR Terry McLaurin, who took off 86 yards for a touchdown to make it 27-26. The extra point would have tied the game, but Seibert MISSED it on a low snap.
The Cowboys got the ball back on the onside kick and Cowboys' special teams safety Juanyeh Thomas returned it 43 yards for a touchdown, making it a 34-26 score with just 14 second left, sealing the victory for Dallas.
The Commanders suffer their third-straight loss to move to 7-4 and the Cowboys broke a five-game losing streak to improve to 4-7.
Final Stats
Cowboys
Cowboys QB Cooper Rush finished 24-of-32 for 247 yards, two touchdowns, and no interceptions. Running back Rico Dowdle led in rushing with 19 carries for 86 yards. WR CeeDee Lamb finished with 10 receptions for 67 yards. TE Luke Schoonmaker finished with three receptions for 55 yards and a touchdown. WR Jalen Tolbert had two catches for 22 yards and a TD.
On defense, Josh Butler had a great day with 12 tackles, 10 solo, and one sack. Micah Parsons added two sacks on Jayden Daniels and DeMarvion Overshown added one more. Chauncey Golston and Israel Mukuamu both had interceptions.
Kicker Brandon Aubrey made two of four FGs. And Turpin and Thomas had the return TDs for 99 and 43 yards.
Commanders
QB Jayden Daniels finished 25-of-38 for 275 yards, two touchdowns, and two interceptions, plus seven carries for 74 yards and one rushing touchdown. WR Terry McLaurin finished with five receptions for 102 yards and a TD, WR Noah Brown finished with six receptions for 71 yards, and TE Zach Ertz finished with six receptions for 38 and a TD.
On defense, Bobby Wagner and Frankie Luvu led with eight tackles and five solos each. Daron Payne had one sack on Cooper Rush.
Kicker Austin Seibert made two of his three field goal tries, but missed both extra point tries.
Injuries
There were unfortunately quite a few injuries for the Commanders. RB Brian Robinson injured his leg early in first quarter, but was able to come back in. RB Austin Ekeler left with an ankle injury in the final seconds after a kickoff return. RT Andrew Wylie suffered a concussion in the third quarter and did not return, and center Tyler Biadasz was evaluated for a concussion in the fourth quarter.
Next up
The Cowboys will host the Thanksgiving Day game against the New York Giants at 4 p.m. ET on Thursday. The Commanders will host the Tennessee Titans on Sunday before they head to their Week 14 bye week.
Thomas' TD return from the onside kick
Seibert's onside kick on the last-ditch effort here ended up getting picked up by special teams ace Juanyeh Thomas and returned 43 yards for another Dallas touchdown, sealing the victory.
Immediate regret
It started with a low snap and ended with a missed extra point.
But that STILL wasn't the end of the game...
McLaurin's incredible 86-yard TD
All the Cowboys needed to do to end the game here was tackle Terry McLaurin in bounds and let the clock run out. Instead, they let him get away for an 86-yard TD run.
The Commanders didn't try for 2, instead opting to tie the game with the extra point with 21 seconds left in the game, which they'd come to regret.
Best highlight of the game - Turpin's 99-yard TD return
Just when it looked like the Commanders might make a comeback, Turpin did THIS. He muffed the punt, recovered it, spun away from the defense, and ran 99 yards into the end zone.
Ertz TD + 2-point conversion
Daniels made the TD pass to Ertz. Jayden Daniels then ran in the 2-point conversion to bring the score to 20-17.
Schoonmaker's 22-yard TD
TE Luke Schoonmaker was wide open for this TD pass in the 4th quarter to extend the Cowboys' lead, and that's when things started to get crazy...
Tolbert TD
Cooper Rush's TD pass to Jalen Tolbert gave them their first lead of the game in the 3rd quarter.
Daniels 17-yard TD
Jayden Daniels made the Commanders' first TD himself on a 17-yard run. Unfortunately, Seibert missed the PAT.
Golston's interception
Chauncey Golston intercepted Jayden Daniels' pass in the 2nd quarter.
Aubrey misses 2 FGs in a row
Typically their only reliable player, Cowboys kicker Brandon Aubrey's first field goal try was blocked, and his second was missed.
Now it's time for the highlights you can't miss...
END GAME
Daniels pass deep to end zone is INTERCEPTED by Mukuamu to END the game and the Cowboys BEAT the Commanders!
Daniels pass to Ertz for 6 yards - 2nd and 4
Commanders' Ekeler was injured on the play
Aubrey kicks to the Commanders -2 and Ekeler takes it up 38 yards to the Commanders 36
Seibert's onside kick 8 yards to the Commanders 43 was picked up by Thomas and he took off 43 yards for a touchdown. Cowboys make it a 34-26 game after Aubrey's PAT with 14 seconds.
COWBOYS TOUCHDOWN!
Cowboys take final timeout
Daniels passed to McLaurin and he TOOK OFF 86 YARDS for an unbelievable touchdown, only for the PAT to be MISSED by Seibert after a low snap. Commanders trail by 1 with 21 seconds left.
COMMANDERS TOUCHDOWN!
Anger punts to the Commanders 14, Zaccheaus calls for the fair catch
Delay of Game on Cowboys
Dowdle picks up 7 yards - 4th and 12
Commanders take final timeout
Cooper SACKED by Payne for a loss of 6 yards - 3rd and 18
Commanders take second timeout
Rush tries to scramble, loses 2 yards - 2nd and 12
Seibert's onside kick 14 yards to the Commanders 49, Tolbert gets it and doesn't advance
Seibert's 51-yard field goal is good to make it a one-score game with 1:40 in the game.
COMMANDERS FIELD GOAL!
Daniels spikes the ball to stop the clock - 2nd and 10
Daniels to Ertz for 13 yards and the 1st down
Daniels to Brown caught for 24 yards but an IllegalFormation call on Commanders' Coleman calls it back, they lose 5 yards - 3rd and 10
Daniels to Ertz for 5 yards - 2nd and 5
Cowboys' Kendricks was injured on the play
Daniels scrambles 23 yards all the way to the Cowboys 46 - 1st down
Daniels makes the pass to Ekeler and he FUMBLES, but it's recovered by Commanders' McLaurin at the 31
Aubrey kicked to the end zone - Touchback to the Commanders 30
Seibert kicked to the Cowboys 5 and TurpinMUFFED the catch, RECOVERED it, did a spin to confuse the defense, and then TOOK OFF for a 99-yard punt return for the touchdown! Aubrey's PAT was good and the Cowboys extend the lead with 2:49 to go in the game.
COWBOYS TOUCHDOWN!
Daniels pass to Ertzfor 4 yards in the end zone makes the touchdown and they go for 2 and make it as Daniels rushes it in himself to make it a 4-point game again with 3:02 still to go in the game.
COMMANDERS TWO-POINT CONVERSION SUCCEEDS!
Cowboys take second timeout as the Commanders look to try a 2-point conversion
COMMANDERS TOUCHDOWN!
McNichols takes it up 6 yards - 2nd and goal
Daniels to Ertz for 7 yards - 1st and goal
Daniels to McCaffrey for 7 yards - 2nd and 3
Daniels pass deep to Brown caught for 20 yards - 1st down
Offsides on Cowboys' Lawson - declined
Daniels SACKED by Parsons for a loss of 6 yards - 2nd and 16
Daniels pass 19 yards to Brown for another 1st down into Dallas territory at the 39
Daniels pass complete to 11 yards to Brown - 1st down
Daniels pass to McLaurin complete for no gain, 2nd and 10
Aubrey kicks to the Commanders 1 and Ekeler takes it up 30 yards to the 31
Rush passed deep to Schoonmaker for a 22-yard touchdown and Aubrey's PAT makes it an 11-point lead with 5:16 to go in the game.
COWBOYS TOUCHDOWN!
Dowdle gets 3 yards - 3rd and 5
False Start on Cowboys' Guyton, 5 yards - 2nd and 8
Dowdle runs up the middle for 7 yards - 2nd and 3
Rush tosses it to Lamb for 9 yards and the 1st down
Dowdle gets 9 yards - 2nd and 1 at the Commanders 35
Daniels pass to Bates caught and then FUMBLED, punched out by Hooker and RECOVERED by Cowboys' Kendricks at the Commanders 44
Aubrey kicks to end zone - Touchback to Commanders 30
After the play, two Unnecessary Roughness calls on Cowboys' Hoffman and Commanders' Armstrong - offsetting
Aubrey made the 48-yard field goal to make it a 4-point game with 8:11 to go in the game.
COWBOYS FIELD GOAL!
Rush pass to Luepke for 10 yards - 4th and 4 at the Commanders 30
Illegal Formation on Cowboys' Guyton, 5 yards - 3rd down and 14
Rush pass to Lamb complete for 16 yards and the 1st down, but there's a flag on the play...
Rush pass low to Mingo, incomplete - 3rd and 9
Lance gets one more play, tosses it to Lamb for a yard, comes back out and Rush is back in again - 2nd and 9
Dowdle picks up 10 yards - 1st down
Dowdle gets 4 yards - 2nd and 6
Way punts to the 50 and Turpin calls for the fair catch
Daniels was nearly sacked, but popped the ball out of his hands just in time, but Ekeler couldn't pick it up - 4th and 4
Ekeler gets 3 again, tackled by Parsons - 3rd and 4
Ekeler gets 2 yards - 2nd and 8
Anger punts to Commanders 5, downed by Fant
Rush pass to Brooks incomplete, broken up by Sainristil - 4th down
Cowboys take first timeout after some confusion on the field
Rush pass incomplete to Tolbert, who fell on the field - 3rd and 9
Elliott gets a yard - 2nd and 9
Rush pass to Lamb caught for 7 yards
Commanders' Wagner called for Roughing the Passer, 15 yards - automatic 1st down to the Cowboys 45
Another high snap and a FUMBLE by Rush, recovered by Cowboys' Elliott at the 23
END THIRD QUARTER
That takes us to the end of the 3rd quarter. The Cowboys are in the lead by one point and have the ball on 1st and 10 at their own 23.
Rush pass caught by Lamb for 11 yards and the 1st down
Way punts to the Cowboys 13, Turpin calls for the fair catch
Daniels pass to Brown is broken up by Butler, 4th down
Ekeler gets no gain, taken down by Smith and Odighizuwa - 3rd and 6
Daniels to McLaurin for 4 yards - 2nd and 6
Anger punts to the Commanders 45 and Zaccheaus calls for the fair catch
Ruling on the field stands - incomplete pass
Commanders lose a timeout
Dan Quinn is challenging the call to see if it was actually a fumble recovered by Washington
Rush pass incompletet to Brooks, knocked loose by Chinn
Cowboys called for Illegal Formation, declined
4th and 12
Rush pass to Lamb for just enough, but Dallas gets a Holding call on Guyton that puts them back 10 yards, 3rd and 12
Dowdle stopped by Jean-Baptiste after a yard - 3rd and 2
Dowdle picks up 7 yards - 2nd and 3
Way punts to the Cowboys 16 and Turpin catches it but is tackled by Butler for a loss of 2 yards
Daniels pass batted down by Golston, 4th and 7
Daniels pass incomplete to Ertz - 3rd and 7
Ekeler picks up 3 yards - 2nd and 7
Aubrey kicks to the end zone - Touchback to Commanders 30
Rush came back in after Lance made one play and threw the touchdown pass to Jalen Tolbert, 6 yards. Aubrey's PAT is good and the Cowboys take the lead with 4:40 to go in the third quarter.
COWBOYS TOUCHDOWN!
Trey Lance is in at QB for the Cowboys, and he scrambles but is taken back 3 yards by Newton - 2nd and goal
Rush pass to Tolbert is incomplete, but Commanders' Igbinoghene is called for PassInterference, giving Cowboys the automatic 1st down
Dowdle gets 3 - 3rd and 2
Rush pass short to Dowdle for 5 yards - 2nd and 5
Rush pass to Spann-Ford is good for another 18 yards and the 1st down
Rush pass complete to Tolbert and he breaks a tackle to get 16 yards - 1st down
Dowdle picks up 2 for the 1st down
Dowdle picks up 9 yards - 2nd and 1
Seibert kicks to Cowboys 7 and Turpin takes it 13 yards to the 20
Quarterback Jayden Daniels ran the ball 17 yardsinto the end zone to give Washington their first touchdown of the game. Seibert MISSED the extra point. Commanders lead by 6 with 9:53 still to go in the third quarter.
COMMANDERS TOUCHDOWN!
Daniels picks up 4 yards, chased out by Parsons - 3rd and 3
McNichols takes it again, gets 3 - 2nd and 7
McNichols picks up 13 yards for the 1st down
Daniels scrambles for 5 yards and the 1st down
Daniels pass complete to Brown for 14 yards - 3rd and 3
Ekeler picks up 3, stopped by Kendricks - 2nd and 17
Ekeler picked up 8 yards, but a Holding call on Sinnott puts them back 10 instead - 1st and 20
Ekeler gets a yard, 1st down
Ekeler picks up 3, then Daniels pass complete to McLaurin for 6 yards - 3rd and 1
We're back!
Aubrey's kick to the 21 is short of the landing zone, Commanders will start at the 40
HALFTIME
Aubrey kicks to the Commanders -2, Ekeler takes it 31 yards to the 33 but that'll end the half
After a block and a miss, Aubrey finally makes the 46-yard field goal try with 3 seconds left in the half.
COWBOYS FIELD GOAL!
The call was on Washington, Pass Interference - declined
Rush pass deep to Brooks is CAUGHT for 45 yards, but there's a flag
Rush's pass was INTERCEPTED by Igbinoghene, but he's called for Pass Interference, giving Dallas the 1st down
Rush pass to Schoonmaker for 9 yards, 2nd and 1
Way punts to Cowboys 14, downed by Butler
Daniels scrambles again but is pushed out of bounds by Butler, 4th and 9
Daniels loses a yard - 3rd and 9
Daniels scrambles for 2 yards - 2nd and 8
Daniels to Zaccheaus for 8 yards - 1st down
Daniels pass to McLaurin for 6 yards - 2nd and 4
Daniels pass to Brown for 11 yards and a 1st down
TWO-MINUTE WARNING
That takes us to the 2-minute warning in the first half. Commanders have the ball at 2nd down and 7 at their own 19.
Ekeler stopped by Wilson after 3 - 2nd and 7
Anger punts to the Commanders 16, Zaccheaus calls for the fair catch
Rush's pass to Lamb bobbled but caught, 4th and 7
Rush pass complete to Lamb for 4 yards - 3rd and 9
Dowdle taken back 3 yards by Luvu - 2nd and 13
Daniels pass INTERCEPTED by Golston and he takes it up 18 yards to the 50
This time, Robinson gains 11 for the 1st down
Robinson stopped by Odighizuwa - 2nd and 10
Anger's punt is BLOCKED by Mathis and Payne, downed by Cowboys at the 39
Holding call on Cowboys' Schoonmaker, declined
Elliott takes it and is stopped by Payne - 4th down and 1
Officials have called Dowdle's run just short - it's 3rd and inches instead of a 1st down
Cowboys take second timeout
Dowdle runs it up 7 yards for the 1st down
Rush scrambles for 3 yards - 2nd and 7
Way punts to the Cowboys 7, out of bounds
Daniels pass deep to Brown, broken up by Butler - 4th and 9
Daniels pass short to Brown for 2 yards - 3rd and 9
Daniels SACKED by Parsons for a loss of 1, 2nd and 11
Daniels pass complete to Brown for 13yards and the 1st down
False Start on Commanders' Ertz, 5 yards - 2nd and 12
Daniels pass to Brown complete for 3 yards - 2nd and 7
Anger punts to the Commanders 24 and Zaccheaus takes it up 18 yards to the 42
Rush's pass is batted AGAIN by Luvu, incomplete, 4th down
Hoffman FUMBLES the snap, recovered by Rush at the 21 - 3rd and 22
Rush pass incomplete to Lamb, batted by Luvu - 2nd and 10
Rush pass to Turpin caught as he picks up 8 yards for the 1st down
Elliott picks up 5 yards - 2nd and 5
Commanders called for Defensive Too Many Men on Field, Cowboys get the automatic 1st down
Dowdle pushed back by Wagner for a loss of a yard - 4th and 2
Dowdle picks up 3 - 3rd and 1
Rush pass complete to Spann-Ford for 6 yards - 2nd and 4
Way punts to the Cowboys 6 and Turpin calls for the fair catch
Daniels under pressure by Parsons, throws it away - 4th and 7
END FIRST QUARTER
That takes us to the end of the first quarter. After the Cowboys had one field goal attempt blocked and one missed, the Commanders lead by a field goal.
They have the ball at the Cowboys 44 at 3rd and 7
Commanders' Coleman injured on the play
Ertz makes the catch for 3 yards - 3rd and 7
Daniels pass deep to McLaurin is incomplete, 2nd and 10
It's ruled a FUMBLE and takeaway by Commanders' Wagner
Dowdle picks up 6 yards
Wagner knocks it loose, but it's not clear if forward progress was called or not...
Commanders MISS field goal
Seibert's 51-yard try was NO GOOD.
Cowboys take over at their own 41.
Daniels' pass broken up by Butler, 4th down
Robinson taken down by Wilson after 2 yards - 3rd and 2
Robinson picks up 6, brought down by Parsons - 2nd and 4
Brown runs around and up for 14 yards and another 1st down
Robinson, back in, picks up 7 yards and the 1st down
Daniels scrambles for 7 yards - 2nd and 3
*Robinson back in for Commanders
Cowboys MISS field goal
Aubrey's 42-yard field goal is nearly blocked again, sails wide right and is NO GOOD.
The Commanders will take over at their own 32.
Rush pass to Dowdle, shoved back by Luvu and Wagner for a loss of 3, 4th and 5
Rush pass complete to Mingo for 8 yards - 3rd and 2
Rush pass batted down by Luvu - 2nd and 10
Rush pass to Lamb for 13 yards - 1st down
Dowdle picks up 3 yards, good for the 1st down
Rush pass complete to Lamb for 6 yards but he gets nowhere, tackled at the 45, 2nd and 4
Dowdle takes it up again, this time gains 9 yards for the 1st down
Dowdle picks up another 4 yards - 3rd and 4
Dowdle picks up 3 yards - 2nd and 7
Seibert kick to the Cowboys 3 and Turpin returns it 29 yards to the 32
Austin Seibert is back from injury to give the Commanders their first points of the game on a 41-yard field goal with 9 minutes left in the first quarter.
COMMANDERS FIELD GOAL!
Daniels pass incomplete, too high to Ertz - 4th and 7
Ekeler taken down by Lewis, gets nowhere - 3rd and 7
Ekeler picks up 3 yards - 2nd and 7
Daniels scrambles for 16 yards and the 1st down
Daniels under pressure by Wilson, throws it away - 3rd and 12
Robinson's right leg bent underneath him on that tackle
Robinson takes it on the Commanders' first drive and Odighizuwa takes him down for a loss of 2 yards - 2nd and 12
Brandon Aubrey's 35-yard field goal was BLOCKED by Martin and RECOVERED by Commanders' Davis, who ran it up 34 yards to the Cowboys 40
Rush pass incomplete to Tolbert - 4th down
Commanders take first timeout
Rush tosses it to Lamb but Armstrong takes him down for a loss of 4 yards - 3rd and 5
Rush gives it to Dowdle for 4 yards - 2nd and 1
Encroachment penalty on Commanders' Newton, 5 yards to Commanders 17
Rush fakes it to Dowdle, tosses it to Schoonmaker and he takes off for 24yards and another 1st
Rush tosses it short to Lamb and he rushes 11yards for the 1st down
Rush pass complete to Lamb for 8 yards - 2nd and 2
Seibert kicks to the -3 and Turpin returns it 38 yards to the 35
Game time!
The Commanders have won the toss and elected to defer.
Cowboys start us off on offense.
Let's go!
Bland is back with the 'Boys
The Cowboys may be down several players, but they will have cornerback DaRon Bland back for the first time this season. The NFL leader in interceptions last year and record setter for pick-sixes in a season, missed the first 10 games this season with a foot injury. He's finally back to face the divisional rivals.
Jay-Z in attendance for Cowboys vs Commanders!
Rapper Jay-Z is a die-hard Cowboys fan. He's showing it by attending a game they're probably going to lose in the midst of a five-game losing streak as it is. But despite growing up in New York, Jay-Z became a fan of the Cowboys because of his father, who was around for their 1970s prime.
You know the rivalry between the Commanders and Cowboys has a long history, but did you know part of that history actually came from a song?
Cooper Rush is set to remain as the Cowboys' starting QB with Prescott out, although head coach Mike McCarthy said he regretted not giving Trey Lance playing time last week. So we may just see a little of him this week as well.
Rush improved in his second week starting for Dallas last week with career-highs in attempts (55) and passing yards (354), but was only able to notch one touchdown in their 34-10 loss to the Texans.
Commanders vs Cowboys: INACTIVES
The Commanders and Cowboys released their final inactives for the game today and, as expected, the Cowboys' list is much more extensive.
Commmanders' injuries
Cornerback Marshon Lattimore was ruled out earlier this week as he has been dealing with a hamstring injury since they acquired him ahead of the trade deadline and has yet to make his debut with the Commanders.
The Commanders also listed linebacker Nick Bellore, who is dealing with a knee injury, as questionable. However, he was a full participant in practice on Friday, so he's trending in the right direction to be able to play.
Commanders Inactives
CB Emmanuel Forbes Jr.
QB Jeff Driskel (third QB)
CB Marshon Lattimore
LB Dominique Hampton
G Chris Paul
Cowboys' injuries
The Cowboys ruled out WR Brandin Cooks (knee), G Zack Martin (ankle), CB Trevon Diggs (groin), TE Jake Ferguson (concussion), and S Markquese Bell (shoulder) earlier in the week.
They also listed four players as questionable: DE Marshawn Kneeland (knee), G Chuma Edoga (toe), LB Nick Vigil (foot), and OT Tyler Smith (ankle).
Cowboys Inactives
CB Trevon Diggs
CB Caelen Carson
RB Deuce Vaughn
RG Zack Martin
LG Tyler Smith
TE Jake Ferguson
DE Tyrus Wheat
Former Cowboys turned Commanders reflect ahead of rivalry game
It may be true that the Cowboys are not in playoff contention the same way the Commanders are, and that the Commanders are having an unexpectedly great season. But that doesn't negate the rivalry. Within the division, there will always be a rivalry and the one between the Cowboys and Commanders is historic.
However, it used to be Dallas who dominated the rivalry and this is changing this year. Especially considering the amount of talent that left Dallas for Washington.
Cowboys-turned-Commanders
For one, defensive coordinator Dan Quinn is now in charge of the Washington team as their head coach, and he brought defensive end DoranceArmstrong, edge rusher DanteFowler, center TylerBiadasz, wide receiver NoahBrown and cornerback NoahIgbinoghene with him. Here's what they had to say ahead of their reunion.
“I feel like it’s one of the biggest games for me," said Armstrong. "Every game is a big game, but when you play the team you came from, you have more urgency."
“It’s definitely cool to be in that type of position, rather than being on the other side," said Fowler. "Cool to see what coach Quinn has done since he came here. As far as the Cowboys, I’m going to be happy. It’s going to be really cool to play against them. Playing against a lot of my old friends.”
“It will be cool to see some of those guys," said Brown. "At the end of the day, I’m there to win the game. It’s a division game. I feel like all division games hold the same weight. You got to win them to put us in good position for the end of the year. Division game, records don’t really matter, everyone is coming to play.”
“We don’t look at records," said Biadasz. "We know it’s a division game, and we need to win. I’m always excited about rivalries. That’s what it’s all about. Being on this side, this is our brotherhood now, but I’m excited.”
The Cowboys just can't catch a break with the injuries. On Saturday, the Cowboys announced that guard ZackMartin and cornerback TrevonDiggs would sit out against the Commanders. In addition, wide receiver BrandinCooks, who's been out since Week 4, was still not activated.
Cowboys and Commanders: Where they stand
Both the Cowboys and the Commanders are on a losing streak right now, though they can't really be compared. The Cowboys have lost their last five while the Commanders have lost their last two.
Where the Cowboys stand in Week 12
The Cowboys are at 3-7 on the season and in third place in the NFC East ahead of just the 2-8 Giants. They lost starting quarterback Dak Prescott in Week 9 and are now playing with backup Cooper Rush, who hasn't been his best self the last few weeks in the Cowboys' losses to the Eagles (34-6) and Texans (34-10). They've been a mess all season and have been dealing with injuries throughout as well. Many issues have contributed to their losing streak, including their inability to stop the run, their lack of a run game themselves, and what looks to be a very poor culture within the team. They haven't won a home game all season and set an NFL record by trailing by at least 20 points in all six of their last losses.
Where the Commanders stand in Week 12
The Commanders started out the season strong and have only recently started to slip. They are now at 7-4 after losing their last two games against the Steelers (28-27) and Eagles (26-18). They are now in second place in the NFC East behind the 8-2 Eagles. Rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels and the Dan Quinn-led defense led them to a 7-2 start, and those last two losses can be attributes partially to the fact that Daniels is dealing with a rib injury. Since suffering the injury in Week 7, his numbers have slipped significantly, going from completing 75% of his passes to completing just 59%. They will be looking to break that streak today against a banged up Dallas team as they continue to get their first season with double-digit wins since 2012.
Welcome!
Hello everyone and welcome to our LIVE text coverage of the Dallas Cowboys at Washington Commanders game!
Today's NFC East showdown will kick off at 1 p.m. ET from Northwest Stadium as both teams look to kick their respective losing streaks. It's Jen here to bring you all the latest scores, stats, highlights, and commentary throughout the game, starting from an hour before kickoff.