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

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 season’s sloppiest games turned into a 41-point fourth-quarter sprint highlighted by a Madden-like 99-yard kickoff return touchdown by Dallas’ KaVontae Turpin and a stunning 86-yard touchdown by Washington’s Terry McLaurin with under 30 seconds to play.

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

NO GOOD.

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All three phases contributed mightily to this loss. What’s going wrong with the offense will garner the most attention. After 10 days of whispers about what, if anything, is poor, the Commanders’ shoddy performance loudly raises more questions. Though 26 points are often enough to win games, Washington only had nine points with under four minutes remaining.

If there is one thing we’ve learned, it is that limited talent requires good health and execution for success. 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 the lineup after a first-quarter ankle injury, and right tackle Andrew Wylie and center Tyler Biadasz were checked for concussions. Those absences — Wylie was ruled out — alone don’t explain the offense converting 4-of-12 third-down attempts or Daniels rarely finding any rhythm in the passing game against a defense that gave up at least 27 points in five consecutive 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 remaining, though the 86-yarder to McLaurin was an epic play. That he ran for 74 yards and did so confidently may quiet some of the injury talk since his Week 7 rib injury. Then again, his passing numbers are down over the last month and Daniels’ longest completion was a mere 20 yards before the long strike to McLaurin.

Is this another example of regression in offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury’s offense? Has Daniels hit a rookie wall? Have defenses adjusted to a group that lacks speed and playmakers? Those are among the questions everyone in town will ask this week. — Ben Standig, Commanders senior writer

COMMANDERS 86-YARD TOUCHDOWN WOW

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Cowboys overcome extremely sloppy first half

The first half might’ve been the worst half of football I’ve ever watched. There was a blocked field goal, a field goal that hit the upright, a fumble, a wild snap and a blocked punt. The final two quarters were a lot better, especially for the Cowboys. However, the second half started with a kickoff that fell short of 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 part most of the day. Cornerback Josh Butler was the defensive player of the game. He was targeted often and absolutely held his own, recording 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 still isn’t very good, but apparently still better than the Commanders. If you’re Team Tank, this wasn’t the result you wanted. But the coaches and players are thrilled 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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Commanders’ non-existent pass rush

The Commanders’ defense was at bend-but-don’t-break levels 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, though facing a negligible pass rush helped. The Commanders accounted for one late-game sack and two quarterback hits.

CeeDee Lamb didn’t throttle a secondary that has allowed gobs of production to opposing No. 1 receivers. However, Lamb was a reliable outlet for Rush, catching 10-of-12 targets for 67 yards. Washington acquired cornerback Marshon Lattimore for such matchups, but the four-time Pro Bowler missed his third consecutive game with a hamstring injury that began before the trade deadline move with the Saints.

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

Butler stood out in place of Diggs, Bland

The two areas of the Cowboys that were most decimated by injuries when the game began were the offensive line and the secondary. In the end, those spots proved to be two of the more 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 in their place, as Rush looked as comfortable as he has since sliding into the starting role this season.

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

With the Cowboys unable to 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 got picked on relentlessly by opposing quarterbacks and was a healthy scratch on Sunday. Butler gave the Cowboys the answer they were looking for, and another player to build upon at the position for the future. — Saad Yousuf, Cowboys beat writer

Seibert missed multiple kicks for first time this season

Washington’s special teams were anything but for much of the game. Seibert, a standout much of the season, missed the previous two games with 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 one, coming after the Commanders pulled to 20-17, was brutal. — Standig

Required reading

(Photo: Patrick Smith / Getty Images)