NFL
NFL Week 17
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The Dallas Cowboys and Washington Commanders are squaring off in an NFC East rivalry matchup for the first of three Christmas Day NFL games.
The Cowboys lead 24-10 at halftime. Follow for play-by-play updates and analysis on today's game.
That’s the type of first-half you should expect from the Cowboys’ offense, one of the NFL’s best, against that Commanders’ defense, one of the league’s worst. And without Jayden Daniels on the field, Washington doesn’t have much of an answer. The Cowboys scored three touchdowns on their first three possessions. They already have 289 total yards and have converted on all four fourth-down attempts. As bad as Dallas’ defense has been this season, even they have some answers against a Josh Johnson-led offense. Cowboys coach Brian Schottenheimer was asked on the Netflix broadcast about being aggressive offensively in the first half. “We trust our guys,” he said. “We trust Dak (Prescott). We got playmakers everywhere. That's the way we’re gonna play the rest of the year."
Legendary former Cowboys running back Emmitt Smith on the Netflix broadcast talking about the current Cowboys: "For the first time in a long time, for me, I feel like we're heading in the right direction."
Dak Prescott threw for 174 yards and two touchdowns in the first half, finding six receivers in the first two quarters.
CeeDee Lamb and Jalen Tolbert led the receivers with three catches each.
Dallas was 4-of-9 on third down in the first half, and it converted four of the five failed third-down tries on fourth down. The Cowboys were 4-for-4 on fourth down in the first half.
Washington doesn’t have a conversion, going 0-for-2 in the first two quarters.
Dallas’ offense was nearly perfect in the first half, and a lot of that has to do with its balance. The Cowboys have 162 yards passing and 127 yards rushing (Washington has just 38 yards rushing).
Washington ran 24 plays in the first half. Dallas had 17 first downs. That shows how much the Cowboys have dominated the first two quarters.
KaVontae Turpin's career-long 86-yard touchdown reception is the Cowboys' longest play of the season and longest since CeeDee Lamb's 92-yard touchdown against the Lions in 2023.
Total Yards
Passing Yards
Rushing Yards
First Downs
Turnovers
Possession Time
Q2 0:00 – Cowboys 24, Commanders 10
The game heads to halftime. Dallas scored on all four of its first-half drives.
Javonte Williams was having a big game — 13 carries, 54 yards and a TD — but his day might be complete.
Q2 0:19 – Cowboys 24, Commanders 10
Preston Smith with a big sack of Dak Prescott, and Dallas has to settle for a field goal. Brandon Aubrey knocks it in from 42 yards.
Q2 0:35 – Cowboys 21, Commanders 10
Dak Prescott has been on point since a slow start to this game, and he is just picking apart this Washington defense. The Cowboys are nearing the red zone again.
It just gets worse for Washington with injuries. Center Tyler Biadasz went down in the second quarter with a right knee injury and was deemed questionable to return. Nick Allegretti took his place on the field and Andrew Wylie took over at right guard, where Allegretti started the game, in place of Sam Cosmi.
Biadasz is the third starting O-lineman to go down for the Commanders, after they lost left tackle Laremy Tunsil to an oblique injury and Cosmi to a concussion.
Q2 2:00 – Cowboys 21, Commanders 10
Dallas is looking to add to its lead here at the end of the first half. The Cowboys are nearing midfield.
"Bill" now has seven rushing TDs.
Q2 4:35 – Cowboys 21, Commanders 10
Dallas is called for pass interference on third down, and the Commanders take advantage. Jacory Croskey-Merritt goes 10 yards for the score on the next play, and Washington has its first touchdown.
Q2 6:14 – Cowboys 21, Commanders 3
Deebo Samuel takes a reverse and goes for 29 yards, and Washington moves right back into Dallas territory. The Commanders need to finish off this drive and get back in this game.
Q2 7:00 – Cowboys 21, Commanders 3
The Commanders jump offside, and Dak Prescott knows he has a free play. So he goes deep and hits KaVontae Turpin behind the Washington defense for an 86-yard touchdown pass.
Three drives, three touchdowns for the Cowboys. Goodness.
Q2 8:20 – Cowboys 14, Commanders 3
An easy connection from Dak Prescott to CeeDee Lamb gives Dallas a first down and moves the ball to the 15-yard line. Dallas gets away from its goal line a bit.
Deebo Samuel has 68 yards on two catches, good for a 34 yards per catch.
