Cowboys devour Commanders 45-10 to extend home winning streak

Dak Prescott – upload.wikimedia.org

The Dallas Cowboys dominated the Washington Commanders with a 45-10 victory in the Week 12 game on Thanksgiving Day. This marked their third consecutive win since their loss against the Philadelphia Eagles on November 6.

The Cowboys delivered a stellar performance in the fourth quarter, scoring 25 points after a scoreless third quarter. The Commanders put up some resistance during the second quarter, where Washington scored 10 points compared to Dallas’ 13 points.

Dallas cornerback DaRon Bland set a single-season record in the league with his fifth pick-six this year. Bland successfully avoided multiple tackle attempts during a 63-yard return and intercepted Washington quarterback Sam Howell.

“To have the fans, the family, the coaches there and do it on Thanksgiving Day is another thing to be thankful for,” said Bland after the win. “On that play, I saw the ball, saw the receiver run an out route, and I just had to go get it. And then, all I saw was an open field.”

During the game broadcast, Bland and Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott were compared to John Madden players. This comparison arose from Bland’s new NFL record for his fifth pick-six in a single season. Meanwhile, Prescott has 22 of 32 passes for 331 yards with zero interceptions, four tackles down and a 142.1 passer rating.

Bland’s interception seals victory

Cowboys wide receiver CeeDee Lamb opened the game by rolling past Commanders cornerback Benjamin St-Juste before failing a walk-in touchdown. Lamb attempted a more successful touchdown in the second quarter, dropping a touchdown for 31 yards to Dallas wide receiver Brandon Cooks.

Bland’s 63-yard interception in the fourth quarter added another touchdown, extending Dallas’ final score to 45 points as the game concluded. His fifth pick-six this season broke a three-way tie with Eric Allen (Eagles, 1993), Jim Kearney (Chiefs, 1972) and Ken Houston (Houston Oilers, 1971).

Despite not being as prominent as Bland and Prescott, Cowboys defensive tackle Johnathan Hankins successfully earned two sacks despite his imposing body profile. The two sacks mark Hankins’ first multi-sack game in almost nine yards, dating back to his performance against Washington on December 14, 2014.