Washington, D.C. — In a back-and-forth offensive slugfest, the Washington Commanders edged out the Dallas Cowboys 43–41, improving their record to 6–1 while dropping Dallas to 5–3. The game featured gaudy passing totals, key red zone stops, and clutch plays when it mattered most.
Offensive Fireworks, But Defense Nearly Bites Back
From the opening whistle, both offenses showed little hesitation. Washington threw for 403 yards, while Dallas nearly matched it with 404 passing yards. Total yardage was virtually even—464 to 458 in favor of Washington. The difference: Washington converted 3 of 6 red-zone trips (2 touchdowns + 1 field goal) while Dallas was perfect, 6 touchdowns in 6 red-zone trips (100%). Washington’s defense got the job done when it counted most.
On third down, Washington was 3-of-6 (50.0 %), the Cowboys 4-of-8 (50.0 %). Dallas was perfect on fourth down: 1-of-1 (100 %). Each team forced 3 takeaways, and both recorded 1 sack.
Commanders’ Passing Game Finds Its Rhythm
Washington’s aerial attack managed to keep pace despite some turbulence. Quarterback Jayden Daniels completed 16 of 26 (61.5 %) for 382 yards, 1 touchdown, and 3 interceptions. He earned a 78.6 QB rating and scored 13 fantasy points in this simulation. Veteran Marcus Mariota chipped in, going 3-of-4 for 28 yards.
Tight end Ben Sinnott led the way with 4 catches for 130 yards. Wide receiver Jahan Lane hauled in 3 for 73 yards and a touchdown, while running back Jacory Croskey-Merritt added 6 catches for 72 yards. The ground game was modest: Croskey-Merritt had 8 carries for 32 yards and 1 touchdown; Daniels added 2 yards on 3 rush attempts with 1 score; running back Austin Ekeler chipped in 16 yards on 4 carries.
Cowboys’ Balanced Strike Nearly Pulls Through
Dallas countered with a two-quarterback approach. Rookie quarterback Jalen Milton III was sharp, going 17-of-21 (81.0 %) for 201 yards and 2 touchdowns, without an interception, for a 138.2 QB rating (16 fantasy points). Veteran Dak Prescott added 13-of-21 for 210 yards, 2 touchdowns, and 3 interceptions (rating 87.4, 10 fantasy points). Speedster KaVontae Turpin even got a cameo, going 1-for-1 for 2 yards and a touchdown.
Wide receiver George Pickens was Dallas’s workhorse, grabbing 10 receptions for 101 yards and 2 touchdowns. Tight end Jake Ferguson had 6 catches for 78 yards, and star receiver CeeDee Lamb posted 4 catches for 100 yards. Running back Javonte Williams chipped in a short touchdown through the air. On the ground, Williams carried the ball 9 times for 54 yards, highlighted by a 33-yard burst.
Defensive Plays & Special Teams
Washington’s defense came up big in the clutch. Cornerback Mike Sainristil, safety Quan Martin, and linebacker Khalid Medrano each recorded interceptions, with Sainristil and Martin returning theirs for touchdowns. Linebacker Frankie Luvu notched the team’s lone sack.
On special teams, kicker Justin Tucker was perfect for Washington, hitting all 3 field goals (longest 46 yards) and 4-of-5 extra points. Dallas kicker Brandon Aubrey was flawless on extra points but didn’t attempt a field goal.
The Decisive Moments
While Dallas was dominant in the red zone, Washington’s defense rose to the occasion. The Commanders, with fewer opportunities, made their red-zone trips count and leveraged turnovers into points. In a game where neither team backed down, Washington’s ability to capitalize in high-leverage situations proved decisive.
With this win, the Commanders look all the more dangerous heading into the midseason stretch. The Cowboys, meanwhile, will need to tighten things up, especially on defense, if they’re going to make noise in the NFC.
