NFL

Dallas Cowboys at Washington Commanders

· National Football League
4-7, 4-2 Away
Final
34 - 26

Seibert misses an extra point late as the Commanders lose their 3rd in a row, 34-26 to the Cowboys

Cowboys hang on in chaotic finish vs. the Commanders

All of those late mistakes contributed to the Washington Commanders' third consecutive loss, 34-26 to the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday in a game that was wholly unremarkable until fourth quarter chaos. The teams combined to score 31 points in the final four minutes, the most in an NFL game in more than a decade, and the Commanders (7-5) came out on the wrong end of it in a defeat that further endangers their playoff chances.

“Any time you lose a game or you lose a game in that type of fashion, it’s very difficult and it’s tough, but it never comes down to one play,” rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels said. “There’s plays throughout the game where little things add up to big things.”

There were a lot of little things.

After Bates fumbled, the Cowboys (4-7) took an 11-point lead and the Commanders made a 2-point conversion to cut the deficit to three, Dallas' KaVonte Turpin returned the ensuing kickoff 99 yards for a touchdown.

“I didn’t make the play when it was there to make, and it cost us,” said Reaves, one of the league’s top special teams players and the All-Pro pick for that two seasons ago. “No excuse, man. I’ve made that play 100 times, and I didn’t make it today and it cost us the game. It’s unacceptable. It’s solely on me. It’s going to sting for a while. It’s going to hurt.”

After Seibert made a 51-yard field goal, Daniels connected with Terry McLaurin on an 86-yard TD that made it 27-26 with 21 seconds left.

Coach Dan Quinn said no thought was given to going for 2 in that situation. Seibert, who missed the past two games with a right hip injury, was wide left on the point-after attempt.

“I just wasn’t striking it well,” said Seibert, who added he felt fine and did not blame a low snap for his miss. "It didn’t make a difference at all. It was on me.”

Juanyeh Thomas returned the onside kick immediately after 43 yards for a touchdown to put Dallas up eight with 14 seconds left.

The 31 combined points are the second most in a game since at least 2000, behind only Minnesota and Baltimore's 36 in their game Dec. 8, 2013. Cowboys-Commanders was the first game in the Super Bowl era to have two missed extra points, two kickoff return touchdowns and a blocked punt.

“We got down to the end there and it was a game-situational extravaganza,” Dallas coach Mike McCarthy said. “It was like Yahtzee. Everything was in there."

While Washington's skid continued, the Cowboys ended their losing streak at five thanks to strong play from QB Cooper Rush, a defense that forced two turnovers and, of course, special teams success. Rush was 24 of 32 for 247 yards and TD passes to Jalen Tolbert and Luke Schoonmaker.

“Lot of games left,” Rush said. “We’re sitting at 4-7. This is why you play them.”

The Commanders have some soul-searching to do after losing as a 10 1/2-point favorite in the meeting of NFC East rivals and doing so in a way that left players so emotional.

“The crazy games, I know they feel a little bit better whenever you win them,” punter and holder Tress Way said. “But that’s a tough pill to swallow.”

Injuries Cowboys: LG Tyler Smith was inactive with ankle and knee injuries. ... RG Zack Martin (ankle), CB Trevon Diggs (groin/knee) and TE Jake Ferguson (concussion) were ruled out prior to game day and did not travel for the game.

Commanders: RB Austin Ekeler was concussed on a kickoff return in the final seconds and taken to a hospital for further evaluation. ... RB Brian Robinson Jr. left with an ankle injury in the first half, returned and then left again. ... RT Andrew Wylie was concussed in the third quarter and did not return. ... C Tyler Biadasz was evaluated for a concussion in the fourth. ... Marshon Lattimore (hamstring) missed a third consecutive game since being acquired at the trade deadline from New Orleans.

Up next Cowboys: Host the New York Giants on Thursday in the traditional Thanksgiving Day game in Dallas.

Commanders: Host the Tennessee Titans next Sunday in Washington’s final game before its late bye week.

How can I watch Cowboys vs. Commanders?

  • TV Channel: Cowboys at Commanders 2021-22 NFL, week 12 is broadcasted nationally on FOX and NFL Sunday Ticket.
  • Online streaming: Sign up for Fubo.
    In Canada, viewers can watch Cowboys vs. Commanders on DAZN.

Matchup Prediction

Commanders: 77.2%
Cowboys: 22.6%
*According to ESPN's Football Power Index

Scoring Summary

WSH FG 1st Period 9:01 Austin Seibert 41 Yd Field Goal
DAL FG 2nd Period 0:03 Brandon Aubrey 46 Yd Field Goal
WSH TD 3rd Period 9:53 Jayden Daniels 17 Yd Rush (Austin Seibert PAT Failed)
DAL TD 3rd Period 4:40 Jalen Tolbert 6 Yd pass from Cooper Rush (Brandon Aubrey Kick)
DAL FG 4th Period 8:11 Brandon Aubrey 48 Yd Field Goal
DAL TD 4th Period 5:16 Luke Schoonmaker 22 Yd pass from Cooper Rush (Brandon Aubrey Kick)
WSH TD 4th Period 3:02 Zach Ertz 4 Yd pass from Jayden Daniels (Jayden Daniels Run for Two-Point Conversion)
DAL TD 4th Period 2:49 KaVontae Turpin 99 Yd Kickoff Return (Brandon Aubrey Kick)
WSH FG 4th Period 1:40 Austin Seibert 51 Yd Field Goal
WSH TD 4th Period 0:21 Terry McLaurin 86 Yd pass from Jayden Daniels (Austin Seibert PAT Failed)
DAL TD 4th Period 0:14 Juanyeh Thomas 43 Yd Kickoff Return (Brandon Aubrey Kick)

Statistics

https://a.espncdn.com/combiner/i?img=/i/teamlogos/nfl/500/dal.png&h=100&scale=crop&w=100&location=originDAL https://a.espncdn.com/combiner/i?img=/i/teamlogos/nfl/500/wsh.png&h=100&scale=crop&w=100&location=originWSH
19 1st Downs 19
12 Passing 1st downs 11
3 Rushing 1st downs 8
4 1st downs from penalties 0
2-11 3rd down efficiency 4-12
0-0 4th down efficiency 0-0
61 Total Plays 67
332 Total Yards 412
5.4 Yards per Play 6.1
15 Total Drives 16
241 Passing 267
24/32 Comp/Att 25/38
7.3 Yards per pass 6.4
0 Interceptions thrown 2
1-6 Sacks-Yards Lost 4-8
91 Rushing 145
28 Rushing Attempts 25
3.3 Yards per rush 5.8
2-3 Red Zone (Made-Att) 2-2
4-20 Penalties 8-78
1 Turnovers 3
1 Fumbles lost 1
0 Interceptions thrown 2
1 Defensive / Special Teams TDs 0
35:12 Possession 24:48

Game Information

Northwest Stadium

Location: Landover, MD
Attendance: 64,955 · Capacity:

2024 NFC East Standings

TEAM W L PCT T PF PA
Philadelphia 12 3 .800 0 402 283
Washington 10 5 .667 0 432 348
Dallas 7 8 .467 0 324 404
New York 2 13 .133 0 215 362
Full Standings

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