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Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy will face questions over his decision making after two fourth attempts that blew up in his face. Washington stopped Dallas on his two fourth downs – one on a pass in the fourth and one and another on a false punt in the fourth and 10 – setting up touchdowns from 19 and 23 yards.
That – and Washington wide receiver Terry McLaurin chasing Cowboys linebacker Jaylon Smith to save a touchdown on an interception return – helped Washington to a 41-16 win in the Cowboys’ annual Thanksgiving game. Washington sits alone atop the NFC East with a 4-7 record, half a game ahead of the Eagles with the Giants 3-7 and the Cowboys now 3-8.
Washington scored 21 points in nine minutes of the fourth quarter – a 23- and 37-yard touchdown pass by Antonio Gibson and a 12-yard interception return by Montez Sweat – to turn the game into a rout.
Maybe it would have been a blowout anyway, but Washington had three possessions deep in Dallas territory. A fumble from Ezekiel Elliott at Dallas 33 led to a Washington field goal and McCarthy’s two fourth calls set up touchdowns in Washington.
The game was tied 10-10 when the Cowboys chose to go for fourth and 1 on their own 34 with 5:22 left in the first half. Andy Dalton’s pass was incomplete for CeeDee Lamb, who appeared to be hampered by Ronald Darby, but no flag was thrown. On top of that, Cowboys tight end Dalton Schultz has been called up for unsportsmanlike conduct.
Washington took over the Cowboys’ 19-yard line. Five plays later, Logan Thomas caught a 5-yard touchdown pass from Alex Smith.
The Cowboys had a chance to draw late in the third quarter when Smith intercepted a Smith pass intended for McLaurin. Smith had no one in front of him for what should have been a 47-yard intercept return for a touchdown, but McLaurin caught him from behind at the 4-yard line.
This turned out to be important as Dallas never came close, retreating before settling for a 28-yard field goal from Greg Zuerlein. The Cowboys scored three field goals on red zone possessions that reached Washington’s 15, 14 and 10.
With Washington hanging on to a 20-16 lead, Dallas attempted a false punt on the fourth and 10 of his own 24. Cedrick Wilson was tackled for a loss of 1 yard on a backhand, and Gibson had scored on the next set.
Gibson finished with 115 rushing yards and three touchdowns in 20 carries. He also caught five passes for 21 yards. Thomas ran for 3 yards, threw a 28-yard pass at McLaurin and caught four passes for 20 yards and a touchdown.
Washington ran 182 yards with a total of 338.
Smith went 19 of 26 for 149 yards with one touchdown and one interception in winning back-to-back starts. McLaurin had seven catches for 92 yards.
Elliott made 10 carries for 32 yards and lost his fifth fumble of the season. He’s leading all running backs in lost breakaways this season. Dalton was 25 of 35 for 215 yards with one touchdown and one interception, Amari Cooper catching six passes for 112 yards and one touchdown.
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