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 7-3 in the second quarter. Follow for play-by-play updates and analysis on today's game.
Q2 12:30 – Cowboys 7, Commanders 3
On fourth-and-1, Javonte Williams’ extra effort gets another first down for the Cowboys at the Commanders’ 9-yard line.
Two awful defenses have delivered. Not even a slow start from Dak Prescott, who surprisingly threw four consecutive incomplete passes, could stop Dallas’ offense. The Cowboys are already 3-for-3 on fourth down. Clearly they are not concerned with Washington’s ability to stop them on the ground or through the air.
Javonte Williams and Malik Davis are on pace for 312 rushing yards. There’s no reason to think this Washington defense will be able to consistently stop Prescott, CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens. Dallas’ defense isn’t very good, either. But that group has shown it can probably at least hold Josh Johnson and company to field goals. And that should be the difference in this game.
Q2 14:48 – Cowboys 7, Commanders 3
Dak Prescott hits Jalen Tolbert for a short completion on fourth down, and the Cowboys are 3-for-3 on fourth down. They’re also back in the red zone.
Q1 0:00 – Cowboys 7, Commanders 3
Dallas is closing in on the red zone again as it tries to add to its lead.
Perhaps the Netflix broadcast has played up the Commanders-Cowboy rivalry a little too much? This game, as well as the rest of today's games, has little on the line concerning the playoff race. So, it's understandable Netflix is looking for different selling points.
Q1 0:51 – Cowboys 7, Commanders 3
Fourth-and-1 from midfield, and the Cowboys go for it again. Dak Prescott has plenty of time and finds George Pickens over the middle for a first down down to the Commanders’ 31.
Q1 4:44 – Cowboys 7, Commanders 3
The Cowboys’ defense makes a stand inside its 10-yard line, and Washington has to settle for a field goal. Jake Moody hits the 29-yarder to get the Commanders on the board.
Q1 7:00 – Cowboys 7, Commanders 0
Three straight completions: to Treylon Burks, Terry McLaurin and Deebo Samuel. Josh Johnson and the Commanders are quickly inside the Cowboys’ 10-yard line.
Dak Prescott went just 2-for-6 for 25 yards on the Cowboys' opening drive, but after misfiring on his first four passes, he found George Pickens for 19 yards and Jake Ferguson made a one-handed catch in the back of the end zone for a 6-yard TD. Dallas leads Washington 7-0 with 9:42 left in the first quarter. The Cowboys ran the ball seven times for 44 yards on the game's opening drive.
Q1 9:42 – Cowboys 7, Commanders 0
The Cowboys finish off their opening drive in style with a Dak Prescott-to-Jake Ferguson 6-yard touchdown pass. Ferguson tips the ball up in the air to himself and comes down with it for the score.
Dallas goes 78 yards in 13 plays for the opening score.
Q1 12:28 – Cowboys 0, Commanders 0
And now, it’s Malik Davis. The Cowboys’ backup RB gashes Washington for 21 yards right up the middle, and Dallas is nearing the red zone.
Q1 12:28 – Cowboys 0, Commanders 0
It’s more Javonte Williams to get another first down. A powerful run, another incomplete swing pass and on fourth-and-1, Williams shows more power and gets the first down. Williams is a big part of the game plan early.
Q1 14:18 – Cowboys 0, Commanders 0
A short run for Javonte Williams and an incompletion on a swing pass to Williams put the Cowboys in a quick third-and-6. The third-down pass is incomplete, but the Commanders are called for pass interference, and it’s a first down for the Cowboys.
The Cowboys get the ball first. Here we go!
The Cowboys and Commanders kick off the tripleheader now!
Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said on the 1053thefan pregame show that he dressed up as Santa Claus and went around passing out gifts to players last night at the team hotel. "I know this (team) got so much out of it, I'll never forget it," Jones said, laughing. "A lot of fun."
Washington is 4-11 for a reason. Many reasons. Among them is its inability to finish drives and games. The Commanders can stay competitive for a half, but rarely have they played well in all three phases for a full game. Last weekend, they were competitive against the Eagles in the first half, but by the third quarter, and especially after Marcus Mariota left with injuries, the bottom fell out.
These last couple of games are basically glorified tryouts, similar to preseason. The roster will be overhauled in the offseason; Washington has nearly two dozen free agents and many more holes to fill. The team is also depleted, with 11 starters dealing with injuries. Washington is without its top two quarterbacks, its top two running backs, its leading tight end, its left tackle and right guard, its top two defensive ends, its best defensive tackle and its two starting cornerbacks. That creates opportunities for others. Ones I’ll be watching:
Week 16 was his first time in the huddle with Terry McLaurin and Deebo Samuel, and the first time the offensive starters (what’s left of them after injuries) heard his cadence. He had no practice reps with the starters because the backup and third-string QB never do in-season. So this week, which was shorter because of the Thursday game, Johnson finally got some reps with them to try to nail down timing and general nuances of the game plan.
Johnson is the third quarterback to play for the Commanders this season, and with each, there have been some tweaks to Kliff Kingsbury’s offense to feature each player’s strengths. How much it changes, and if it’s been pared, given the limited practice team, bear watching.
