On Christmas Day, the Dallas Cowboys edged the Washington Commanders 30-23 in a game that saw Dak Prescott throw for 307 yards and two touchdowns, but the Commanders’ comeback attempts fell short.
Game Overview
The match, played at Northwest Stadium in Landover, Maryland, featured two teams that had already been eliminated from playoff contention, reducing the stakes for the NFC East rivals. Dallas opened the contest with a dominant 21-3 lead after scoring touchdowns on its first three possessions. Washington managed to cut the deficit to a single touchdown on three separate occasions, yet they could not complete the comeback, ending the game with their 10th loss in 11 games.
Key Performances
Dak Prescott finished the game 19 of 37 with 307 yards, two passing touchdowns, and no interceptions. He also shrugged off six sacks-three of them by Jer’Zhan Newton-and helped the Cowboys convert all six of their fourth-down attempts, a feat that contributed to the early lead. Prescott’s two touchdown passes tied him with Tony Romo for the most seasons with at least 30 touchdown throws in franchise history.
Washington’s backup quarterback, 39-year-old Josh Johnson, made his 10th career start and first since 2021. He completed 15 of 23 passes for 198 yards without scoring a touchdown or throwing an interception. Johnson’s most notable play was a 41-yard completion to Deebo Samuel, the longest pass of Samuel’s career since 2018. Samuel finished the drive by running into safety Donovan Wilson, knocking the safety’s helmet off.
Running back Jacory Croskey-Merritt provided the Commanders with two rushing touchdowns, a 10-yard run and a 72-yard run that gave Washington a 24-17 lead in the third quarter. Despite the late rally, the Cowboys restored their advantage with a 52-yard field goal by Brandon Aubrey, followed by a 51-yard kick that pushed the score to 30-20 with 3:59 remaining.
Game Highlights
- The Cowboys’ first three drives all ended with touchdowns, setting a 21-3 cushion.
- Prescott’s 86-yard scoring pass to KaVontae Turpin on the second drive was the longest play of the game.
- Washington’s only touchdown in the third quarter came from Croskey-Merritt’s 72-yard run.
- Dallas converted three fourth-down plays on a 17-play march that ended with a touchdown run by Javonte Williams.
Key Takeaways
- Dak Prescott’s 307-yard performance and two touchdown passes tied a franchise record for consecutive seasons with 30+ touchdown throws.
- Josh Johnson’s debut start for Washington was efficient but yielded no touchdowns or interceptions.
- The Cowboys’ early lead and successful fourth-down conversions proved decisive in a game with no playoff implications.
The Christmas Day clash ended with the Cowboys holding a 30-23 victory, underscoring the importance of early momentum and clutch conversions even in a game that carried little postseason relevance.
