Cowboys shock Commanders after chaotic 41-point fourth quarter: Key insights

By Ben Standig, Jon Machota, Saad Yousuf and Chris Licata

The Dallas Cowboys outlasted the Washington Commanders during a chaotic second half on Sunday, winning 34-26 at Northwest Stadium after entering as double-digit underdogs.

What started as one of the sloppiest games of the season turned into a 41-point fourth quarter sprint, highlighted by a Madden-esque 99-yard kickoff touchdown by Dallas’ KaVontae Turpin and a stunning 86-yard touchdown by Terry McLaurin of Washington with less than 30 yards. seconds to play.

However, the comeback effort was undone by Austin Seibert’s second missed extra point attempt. The Commanders (7-5) were plagued by special teams blunders all day, losing their third straight game after opening the season 7-2.

NO GOOD.

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All three phases contributed significantly to this loss. What goes wrong with the offense will draw the most attention. After ten days of whispers about what might be bad, the poor performance of the commanders loudly raises more questions. While 26 points are often enough to win games, Washington only had nine points with less than four minutes remaining.

If there’s one thing we’ve learned, it’s that limited talent requires good health and execution to be successful. With Jayden Daniels impressively running the show, that recipe had Washington setting efficiency records early in the season. Those were the days.

Running back Brian Robinson Jr. was in and out of the lineup after an ankle injury in the first quarter, and right tackle Andrew Wylie and center Tyler Biadasz were checked for concussions. These absences (Wylie was ruled out) alone don’t explain an offense that converted four of 12 third-down attempts, or Daniels rarely found any rhythm in the passing game against a defense that gave up at least 27 points in five straight games.

Daniels’ final numbers were boosted by production on Washington’s final two drives after the Cowboys took a 20-9 lead with 5:16 left, though the 86-yarder against McLaurin was an epic play. That he has run for 74 yards and done so with confidence may put some of the injury talk to rest since his rib injury in Week 7. On the other hand, his passing numbers have dropped over the past month and Daniels’ longest completion was just 20 yards before the long strike to McLaurin.

Is this another example of regression in offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury’s offense? Did Daniels hit a rookie wall? Has the defense adapted to a group that lacks speed and playmakers? Those are some of the questions everyone in town will be asking this week. – Ben Standig, senior writer of Commanders

COMMANDERS 86-YARD TOUCHDOWN WOW

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Cowboys overcome extremely sloppy first half

The first half was perhaps the worst half of football I have ever seen. There was a blocked field goal, a field goal that hit the upright, a fumble, a wild pop and a blocked kick. The last two quarters were a lot better, especially for the Cowboys. However, the second half started with a kickoff that fell just outside the landing zone. That’s a first.

Daniels, the favorite for NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year, didn’t look special for most of the day. The Cowboys defense did its job most of the day. Cornerback Josh Butler was the defensive player of the game. He was targeted often and absolutely held his own, with three passes defended, a sack and a team-high 12 tackles.

And then there was the wild Turpin kickoff return TD late in the fourth quarter. This Cowboys team is still not very good, but apparently still better than the Commanders. If you’re Team Tank, this wasn’t the outcome you wanted. But the coaches and players are excited to end a five-game losing streak and get a win over Dan Quinn and several former teammates. – Jon Machota, Cowboys staff writer

KaVontae Turpin goes 99 yards for the TD 🔥

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The non-existent pass rush of the commanders

The Commanders defense was at the bend-but-don’t-break level for much of the game. While it held the Cowboys to three points before halftime, Dallas scored three times after halftime. Credit Cooper Rush with solid work even though he faced negligible pass rush helped. The Commanders accounted for one late-game sack and two quarterback hits.

CeeDee Lamb has failed to strangle a secondary that has allowed large amounts of production to opposing No. 1 receivers. Lamb, however, was a reliable outlet for Rush, catching 10 of 12 targets for 67 yards. Washington acquired cornerback Marshon Lattimore for such games, but the four-time Pro Bowler missed his third straight game with a hamstring injury that started before the trade deadline with the Saints.

The trade for a player under contract until 2026 had short- and long-term justifications. Washington’s staff won’t rush Lattimore back, but the defense needs him on the field, if only to prepare for this playoff push. — Standing

Butler stood out in place of Diggs, Bland

The two areas of the Cowboys that were most decimated by injuries when the game started were the offensive line and the secondary. Ultimately, those spots proved to be two of the most encouraging parts of the Cowboys’ win, their first in a month and a half.

Left guard Tyler Smith is one of the best players on the Cowboys offense, and he missed the game due to injury, as did future Hall of Fame right guard Zack Martin. TJ Bass and Brock Hoffman filled in admirably as Rush looked as comfortable as he has since moving into the starting role this season.

On the other hand, Butler was the player of the game for the Cowboys defense. With Trevon Diggs out and DaRon Bland holding the other end, the Commanders tested Butler throughout the game and the undrafted cornerback continually answered the bell.

Since the Cowboys couldn’t get Diggs and Bland on the field together this season, the other outside cornerback spot has been a problem for the Cowboys. They tried rookie Caelen Carson in that role, but he was bullied mercilessly by opposing quarterbacks and was a healthy scratch on Sunday. Butler gave the Cowboys the answer they were looking for, and a new player to build on at the position for the future. – Saad Yousuf, Cowboys beat writer

Seibert missed multiple kicks for the first time this season

Washington’s special teams were anything but a big part of the game. Seibert, a standout for much of the season, missed the previous two games due to a hip injury. He botched two extra points and a field goal in the loss. Dallas’ second kick return for a touchdown actually gave Washington a chance to tie with a touchdown and a two-point conversion, but the first, after the Commanders had pulled within 20-17, was brutal. — Standing

Required reading

(Photo: Patrick Smith/Getty Images)