Photo by Andre Odums/ossports
Andy Dalton returned from the COVID-19 IR list, but three other Cowboys departed in the first quarter with injuries. Of the three defensive end Randy Gregory returned to the game after suffering a poke to the eye. Still, two offensive linemen, Cameron Erving (knee) and Zackary Martin (calf), did not return. Add in the loss of conditioning coordinator Markus Paul, and the emotional roller coaster ride continues.
Last week, third-string quarterback Gilbert started in place of Dalton. Also, Ezekiel Elliott suffered his fifth fumble of the season. The sure-handed running back had only lost five fumbles in four previous seasons until this season.
Washington (4-7) took advantage of opportunities, and its defense forced five turnovers in defeating Dallas, 41-16 on Thursday at AT&T Stadium.
With a balanced team effort, no essential adjustments scratched the service, including Alex Smith completing 19/26 for 149 yards, a touchdown, and one interception. Antonio Gibson bruised the Cowboys defense by rushing for 115 yards on 20 carries and three scores.
With the score knotted at 10 with 7:13 left in the second quarter, Dallas took possession of the ball at its 25-yard line. After picking up nearly ten yards, the Cowboys, facing fourth and inches, went for it. But cornerback Ronald Darby broke up Dalton’s pass to CeeDee Lamb, forcing a turnover on downs. In addition, tight end Dalton Schultz drew a personal foul, giving Washington a fresh set of downs at the Dallas 19.
Greggory sacked Smith back at the 28. However, standout rookie running back Gipson picked up ten yards on an inside carry to the 18. Smith followed with a quick pass to elusive running back J.D. McKissic out of the backfield, which rambled to the 6-yard line. Two plays later, Smith found tight end Logan Thomas to cap the remaining four yards. Washington led 17-10 after Dustin Hopkins’ extra-point kick.
Asking much of Dalton and Elliott seemed to be a bad idea without starting tackles, Erving and Martin. Still, a 212-yard passing day had its share of light moments. 112 of those yards found the hands of Amari Cooper, and Elliott gained 32 yards on ten carries.
The Cowboys (3-8) trimmed the lead to four, 17-13 before halftime when Greg Zuerlein drilled a 32-yard field goal, his second of the game with 19 seconds left in the second quarter. That’s as close as Dallas would get.
The opportunities were well intact, yet the Cowboys did not take advantage.
At the third-quarter opening, Ezekiel Elliott fumbled as he took a carry up the middle, where he launched for extra yards at the 33. Washington’s defensive tackle Jonathan Allen recovered the ball with 14:17 left in the third quarter.
Washington drove down into field goal range where Hopkins kicked a 36-yard field goal. Defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence made sure Washington would only come away with three points when he blasted through the offensive line on third and one, sacking Smith five yards behind the original line of scrimmage to force the attempt.
Dallas continued its struggles on offense. Schultz absorbed his second infraction, Lamb dropped a touchdown pass, and Dalton suffered his second sack to defensive tackle Daron Payne.
A glimpse of light peaked out at the end of the tunnel when middle linebacker Jaylon Smith intercepted Smith and looked to wrap up a pick-six, had outside linebacker Leighton Vander Esch gotten over near the sideline in time to block Washington’s receiver, Terry McLaurin. McLaurin raced down Smith and made the tackled at the four-yard line. Eventually, Zuerlein booted a 28-yard field goal to draw within four points once again, 20-16.
However, the fourth quarter watched the undoing of the Cowboys. Dalton absorbed his third sack, which led to fourth and ten from its 24. Then Dallas failed to execute a fake punt. That sent the Cowboy faithful to the exit.
One play later, Gipson slashed through the left side and scored to increase Washington’s lead, 27-16 following the bonus kick.
After the Cowboys’ drive stalled, Washington scored two touchdowns in seven seconds when Gipson broke up the middle on his way to a 37-yard touchdown run. Defensive end Montez Sweet made an athletic play on the ball when he attempted to bat down Dalton’s pass. Instead, the ball fell in his hands, and he raced 16 yards to the end zone to conclude the scoring, 41-16.
Early in the first quarter, Dallas’ defense rose to the occasion when Greggory sacked Smith to force a punt.
That led to the Cowboys’ first score, a 32-yard field goal. It also brought bad news in losing two offensive linemen in the same series of downs. Cameron Erving (Knee) and Zack Martin (calf).
Washington responded with a 12-play, 75-yard drive, finished on Gipson’s five-yard touchdown run. Washington led 7-3 with 1:37 to go in the first quarter.