Instant Reactions: Cowboys snap three-game skid with Christmas Day win over Commanders

The Dallas Cowboys defeated the Washington Commanders 30-23 on Christmas Day.

A game that was a part of the $150 million package from Netflix featured Dak Prescott vs. Josh Johnson. Dallas has now swept the season series vs. Washington and has now won four of the last five meetings.

Up next, the season finale as the Cowboys will head to the Meadowlands for an NFC East matchup against the New York Giants.

Instant Reactions

Ali Jawad

Dak Prescott was not taking a back seat, Quinnen Williams was healthy, and the Cowboys were playing to win.

Dallas jumped out to a 21-3 lead, but the Commanders found their way back into it, even down key pieces and with starting journeyman Josh Johnson at quarterback, before the Cowboys ultimately held on for a 30-23 win to complete the season sweep.

Prescott finished with 307 yards and two touchdowns but took a beating with six sacks and missed a few throws to CeeDee Lamb, who finished with five receptions for 46 yards, while George Pickens had 78 yards off four receptions.

After the number of times Prescott went down, the Cowboys should sit their $160 million investment in the season finisher at the Giants next week.

The offense played aggressively, going 5-for-5 on fourth-down attempts. Dallas’ biggest play of the day was a KaVontae Turpin 86-yard touchdown pass, during which Turpin reached over 20 MPH.

JaVonte Williams, who scored his 11th touchdown of the season, left the game early with a shoulder injury, which forced the offense to turn to Malik Davis, who stepped up with a 100-yard rushing performance, the first of his career, and averaged 5.2 yards per carry.

The defense once again had its struggles, allowing Johnson to throw for nearly 200 yards, but the run defense, even with Quinnen Williams back, still allowed 138 yards, 8.6 yards per carry, and Jacory Croskey-Merritt to score twice, including a 72-yard score in the third quarter that cut the lead to 24-17.

Dallas sacked Johnson just once and has just one sack over the last two games.

Overall, the Cowboys’ defense against a third string passer still allowed 328 yards and an average of 8.0 yards per play.

Clarence Hill

This was arguably the worst performance of the season by a Cowboys defense that has cornered the market on being bad.

The Cowboys turned a 21-3 blowout into a fourth-quarter dogfight against a Washington offense playing with a third-string quarterback, Josh Johnson, a 39-year-old playing on his 14th team, all because the defense turned into Santa Claus, giving up yards like gifts on this Christmas Day game.

It was a downright embarrassment.

Washington averaged more than 8 yards per play for much of the game.

Credit quarterback Dak Prescott and the Cowboys offense for saving the day. Prescott didn’t have his best game. He was off for much of it but passed for two touchdowns and converted a key fourth down in the fourth quarter to close the game.

It should be the last time Prescott plays this season. He should be in bubble wrap for the season final.