Game Recap – Dallas Cowboys at Washington Commanders

January 9, 2023

By Noonefromtampa

First Half

Washington won the coin toss and elected to defer to the second half.  Ezekiel Elliott picked up 5 yards on two consecutive carries. On third down, the Commanders rushed only three and dropped eight men into coverage. Dak Prescott was able find Noah Brown for a 10 yard completion and a first down. After a first down incomplete pass, Tony Pollard picked up 8 yards on two carries forcing a punt on third down and two. Punter Bryan Anger dropped the ball and Milo Eifler was able to tackle him at the Dallas 20 yard line.

The Sam Howell era started with a Jonathan Williams 4 yard run. On the next play Howell hit Terry McLaurin in stride on a drag route across the middle of the field and McLaurin took it into the end zone for a 16 yard touchdown. Commanders 7, Cowboys 0.

The next Dallas series was a three and out featuring a 10 yard sack for a loss by Efe Obada after Prescott was chased out of the pocket by Montez Sweat and Chase Young.

Washington’s second series was also a three and out after McLaurin dropped a sure first down catch on third down. KaVontae Turpin muffed the fair catch and Christian Holmes recovered the ball in the air for Washington. Williams picked up 5 yards on two carries, but Howell was sacked on third down. Joey Slye missed a 31 yard field goal attempt.

The Cowboys were unable to generate much offense on their next drive, picking up 6 yards on three plays before being forced to punt again. Washington the had their best drive of the quarter on their next possession. Starting from the own 33 yard line, Washington was able to move into Dallas territory, aided by a defensive pass interference call on Trayvon Mullen against McLaurin. Jaret Patterson picked up 14 yards on a second down and 13 running play. McLaurin picked up a first down on a third catch to give Washington a first and goal at the Dallas 2 yard line. Williams lost three yards on a running play into the middle.  At that point, Howell made his first rookie mistake forcing the ball into triple coverage and Malik Hooker made the interception in the end zone.

On Dallas’ possession, Pollard picked up 4 yards on first down, and then Kendall Fuller dropped a sure interception and possible pick 6. Fuller redeemed himself on the next play by getting the pick 6 on back-to-back poor throws by Prescott. Slye missed the extra point wide right. Commanders 13, Cowboys 0.

Washington’s defense continued to stymie the Cowboys offense, holding them to 4 yard on the next series and forcing another punt. Patterson picked up 6 yards on first down, but Howell threw an incompletion on second down. Howell then showed his running ability by picking up 9 yards on a scramble on third down. Howell hit Jahan Dotson in stride on a slant on the next play, and Dotson ran 30 yards up field. The drive petered out after that and Slye missed another field goal attempt, hitting the left upright on a 52 yard field goal attempt.

The Cowboys went three and out again on their next possession. Washington then had a short drive of 21 yards and 6 plays. Howell picked up another first down on a third down scramble to extend the drive for another three plays.

The Cowboys were able to pick up a first down on their next series behind two straight completions to CeeDee Lamb for 11 yards. Prescott was able to spread the ball around, completing passes to Michael Gallup, Dalton Schultz and T.Y. Hilton. Prescott picked up 9 yards on a third down play, avoiding Sweat trying for the sack, then picked the first down on a quarterback keeper on fourth down. Prescott hit Lamb for a 15 yard touchdown two play later. Kicker Brett Maher missed the extra point wide left. Commanders 13, Cowboys 6. Washington took a knee to end the half.

Commanders 13, Cowboys 6

Second Half

Patterson returned the second half kickoff 27 yards to the Washington 29.  Williams picked up 9 yards on first down but was held to no gain on second down.  Third down was a strange play call with a run wide left that lost 2 yards. Tress Way punted it away on fourth down.

Dallas was called for offensive holding on their first play, which started them off in a first and 20. Percy Butler showed good speed, tackling Elliot for no gain. Lamb picked up 12 yards on a second down catch. Third down and 9 saw Elliot miss a throw to Lamb. Dax Milne returned the Anger punt 16 yards to put Washington near midfield to start their second drive.

On the subsequent possession, Patterson picked up 4 yards on two runs, before Washington took a chance going deep to Dotson. Howell threw a well-placed and accurate throw, but Dotson could not make the catch. It appeared that the defensive back grabbed his left arm before the ball got there, which interfered with his ability to catch the ball. No call was made. Way’s punt went into the end zone for a touchback.

Washington’s defense held the Cowboys to another three and out on the next drive, stopping the run on first down with a one yard gain and forcing two straight incompletions by Prescott. The two teams then traded three and outs two times in a row.

Washington’s offense then picked up. Howell hit Dotson on a stop route, Dotson sprinted up the sidelines for 20 yards. After a penalty on Chris Paul for Ineligible Downfield Pass, Howell hit Dotson for another 20 yard completion. Patterson picked up 12 yards on two carries putting the ball on the Dallas 9. Howell ran through the middle of the Dallas defense for a touchdown from there.  Commanders 20, Cowboys 6.

After the kickoff, Prescott threw two incompletions and Tony Pollard was stopped for no gain, forcing yet another three and out for Dallas. After the punt, Howell launched a bomb to McLaurin down the right sideline for 52 yards. McLaurin made a beautiful, outstretched catch at the Dallas 15 yard line to end the third quarter. Patterson picked up 4 yards on first down, but the next two plays were incompletions. On the third down incompletion it appeared that McLaurin was interfered with and again there was no call made. Slye converted the 29 yard field goal. Commanders 23, Cowboys 6.

Dallas then had their best drive of the second half, moving the ball 30 yards in nine plays. The biggest plays were an 8 yard completion to Hilton and a 13 yard completion to Lamb. Washington stopped Prescott on a fourth down sneak at the Washington 45 yard to force a turnover on downs. Washington picked up 7 yards on the next possession before being forced to punt.

After a fair catch at the Dallas 9, Prescott threw three straight incompletions under a heavy pass rush. Milne returned the punt 15 yards to the Dallas 45 yard line. Patterson picked up 9 yards on a first down run. Dallas was called for unnecessary roughness, which added 15 yards to the end of the run. Patterson picked up 11 yards on first down and followed that up with 8 yards on three more carries. Facing fourth and 2, the Commanders elected to have Slye kick a 22 yard field goal. Commanders 26, Cowboys 6.

Cooper Rush replaced Prescott on the next series, but the Cowboys still went three and out. After the punt, the Commanders ran the three straight times to take more than two minutes off the clock.

Final Score: Commanders 26, Cowboys 6

Game Thoughts

Without Jonathan Allen, the defense still held Dallas to 10 three and outs, which is amazing considering how they played against Cleveland.

For one game, Sam Howell looked like a quarterback you can build a team around. His throws were accurate and on time. He also throws a very nice deep ball. Howell also showed his mobility and running ability extending several drives by running for the first down.

Joey Slye has been above average all season but fell apart today. He is going to be a free agent and this did not help his case to get extended.

I don’t know how you don’t re-sign Daron Payne to a new deal. He has been a force inside all season long and he collapsed the pocket several times today, which allowed others to get sacks on Prescott.

The offensive line needs an overhaul this offseason, especially if the Commanders go forward with Howell as the starting quarterback.

The special teams were the unsung heroes of the win, putting the team into good field position most of the game.