In the midst of their longest losing streak since 2019 and without five key starters, the Dallas Cowboys desperately needed a win to keep their fading playoff hopes alive. On Sunday against the Washington Commanders, they got it in the most improbable, heart-stopping fashion imaginable.
Forty-nine days after their last victory, the Cowboys rode a wild finish to a 34-26 upset of the Commanders at FedExField. Dallas overcame the absences of injured stars like quarterback Dak Prescott, pass rusher DeMarcus Lawrence and receiver Brandin Cooks to snap a five-game skid and improve to 4-7 on the season.
Turpin’s Electrifying Kickoff Return Touchdown
The Cowboys trailed 20-17 with under three minutes remaining when return man KaVontae Turpin delivered the play of the game. Turpin initially muffed the kickoff return at his own 1-yard line, but he scooped up the loose ball, dodged would-be Commanders tacklers with a nifty spin move, and raced 99 yards to the end zone.
I just busted it out of the back, Houdini style.
– KaVontae Turpin on his game-changing kickoff return TD
Onside Kick Recovery Seals Victory
Washington quickly responded with an 86-yard Terry McLaurin touchdown to make it a 27-26 game. But on the ensuing extra point attempt, Commanders kicker Austin Seibert hooked it wide left. Dallas then recovered the onside kick, with Juanyeh Thomas returning it 43 yards for another touchdown to ice the 34-26 final score.
The victory was especially sweet for the Cowboys given the key players out injured. In addition to Prescott, Lawrence and Cooks, Dallas was without perennial All-Pro right guard Zack Martin and standout cornerback Trevon Diggs. Left guard Tyler Smith was also sidelined.
Rush, Parsons Step Up with Stars Out
Backup quarterback Cooper Rush, starting in place of Prescott, tossed a go-ahead 22-yard touchdown pass to rookie tight end Luke Schoonmaker in the fourth quarter. Rush finished 24 of 40 for 235 yards, 2 TDs and 1 INT. On defense, All-Pro linebacker Micah Parsons picked up the slack for Lawrence’s absence, racking up 2 sacks and a forced fumble.
We got the win, that’s all that matters. We’ve been looking for one for a few weeks. I feel good about it. We just got to clean things up.
– Cornerback Jourdan Lewis on ending the losing streak
Glimmer of Hope for Cowboys’ Playoff Chances
At 4-7, the Cowboys still face an uphill battle to make the playoffs. But in the parity-filled NFC East, they remain just two games out of a Wild Card spot with six games to play. Dallas will look to build off this momentum as they host the New York Giants on Thanksgiving Day.
For one day at least, the Cowboys showed the resilience and “tremendous fight” that head coach Mike McCarthy has praised all season. Time will tell if this proves to be a turning point or merely a temporary reprieve. But in snapping the longest losing streak of the McCarthy era in such dramatic fashion, Dallas injected life into a once-promising season that was teetering on the brink.
