Dallas Cowboys Halt Washington’s Win Streak 27-20

December 12, 2021

By Noonefromtampa

First Quarter

Washington won the coin toss and elected to defer. Dallas started on offense and was able to move the ball through short runs and quick passes, gaining 54 yards on 13 plays. Key plays were an 18 yard pass to CeeDee Lamb and a 15 yard swing pass Ezekiel Elliott. The drive stalled out inside Washington’s 20 yard line and Dallas settled for a 35 yard Greg Zuerlein field goal.

Washington’s first offense series opened with a 14 yard pass from Taylor Heinicke to Adam Humphries. After that it went downhill, with Charles Leno picking up a false start on third and eight. Dyami Brown fell down on a double move, after which Anthony Brown dropped a sure interception. Dallas was backed up to their own 5 yard line after Tress Way‘s punt.

Dallas picked up first down on a 12 yard pass from Dak Prescott to Lamb. Prescott and Elliott then fumbled an exchange. On the next play Landon Collins intercepted an overthrown pass to Lamb, but Dallas got the ball back three plays later when Randy Gregory tipped and then intercepted a screen pass.

Dallas scored a touchdown seven plays later on an 8 yard pass to Amari Cooper after a 24 yard reception by Michael Gallup. On the touchdown pass, Matt Ioannidis was called for roughing the passer, so Dallas elected to go for a 2 point conversion from the 1 yard line, with Elliott converting the attempt.

After an unnecessary roughness call on a third down completion to Humphries to get a first down, four plays later, Washington found themselves with a fourth and two yards to go situation. Washington tried to convert the first down, but Micah Parsons strip sacked Heinicke and the ball was returned for a 37 yards touchdown by Dorance Armstrong.

Kyle Allen came in for one play while Heinicke was being evaluated for an injury for the first of two times in the game. Allen picked up 11 yards on a designed keeper play. Heinicke came back in a was sacked for a 9 yard loss three plays later again by Parsons, forcing a Way punt.

Dallas 18, Washington 0

Second Quarter

Washington was able to force a punt on the next series when Dallas hurt itself via a holding call that negated a 46 yard completion to Gallup. Kendall Fuller made an excellent open field tackle on Lamb to force the punt.

Washington’s next series was a three and out with a 4 yard gain by Antonio Gibson sandwiched between two incompletions.

After the punt, Washington had Dallas in a third and 10 but poor tackling on a short throw to Lamb allowed him to pick up 12 yards and the first down. Dallas was then able to move into scoring range after a questionable defensive pass interference call on William Jackson III picking up 29 yards. After picking up another first down on two runs, Washington was able to stop them on third down with Jamin Davis almost intercepting a screen pass to Elliot. Zuerlein converted the 38 yard field goal.

Washington’s next series started off with a 6 yard run by Heinicke and a 5 yard run by Gibson. John Bates caught a 10 yard pass from Heinicke on second down, but the playe was negated thanks to an offensive pass interference making it second and 20. Washington was not able to overcome that with Heinicke twice throwing into coverage trying to move the ball up field.

After the Way punt, Dallas was able to move the ball quickly down the field, thanks to receptions by Gallup for 9 yards, Cooper for 14 and 20 yards, as well as an 11 yard scramble by Prescott. After an 8 yard sack by Jonathan Allen, Prescott threw two incompletions, forcing a 37 yard field goal by Zuerlein.

Dallas 24, Washington 0

Third Quarter

Washington started on offense in the second half, picked up a first down to Humphries on a 12 yard pass on the first third down. On Washington’s second third down, Heinicke scrambled away from the pass rush and threw a deep jump ball to Terry McLaurin, who caught it initially but dropped it when he hit the ground, forcing Washington to punt.  McLaurin left the game after that play and was evaluated for a possible concussion.

Dallas was able to move the ball on their next series as a result of a 12 yard reception by Gallup, 10 yard end around to Lamb and 11 yard reception by Lamb. Washington’s defense then stiffened, allowing a only short pass to Cedrick Wilson and forced two incompletions.

Washington had its best offensive series of the game after Dallas’ punt. Gibson picked up 13 yards on his biggest run of the game. Heinicke then hit Bates for 19 yards on a tight end screen. Gibson picked up 6 and Patterson gained 9 yards on a checkdown pass. The biggest of play of the game for Washington came next. Heinicke scrambled away from the fierce Dallas pass rush and threw a 43 yard jump ball to Cam Sims in the end zone. The official called him out of bounds for an incompletion, but Ron Rivera challenged the call. It was overturned and ruled a touchdown. Washington went for two with Heinicke scrambling away from the pass rush, diving for the pylon and converting the two-point attempt.

On the next Dallas series, Corey Clement picked up 10 yards on the first play, but the Washington defense held Dallas on the next three plays to force the punt.

When Washington got the ball back, the team lost a yard on a first down rush. Heinicke then threw a checkdown to Gibson, who picked up 6 yards, but fumbled the ball on the tackle, which was recovered by the Cowboys. Dallas picked up 10 yards on a throw to Gallup but Washington held them to 5 yards on the next three plays. Zuerlein kicked the 29 yard field goal.

Washington’s next series feature a 10 yard holding penalty by Erick Flowers and 10 yard sack by DeMarcus Lawrence to end the third quarter.

Dallas 27, Washington 8

Fourth Quarter

Facing a third and 25, Heinicke hit DeAndre Carter for 10 yards, forcing the Way punt. Washington returned the favor, holding the Dallas offense to 6 yards and forcing a three and out to get the ball back.

After the punt, Heinicke was sacked for a 10 yard loss by Neville Gallimore. Heinicke and Tyler Larsen were both hurt on the play. Allen came back in and completed a third down pass for 8 yards in a third and twenty to go situation.

Things got chippy on the next series. After Landon Collins sacked Prescott for a one yard loss and William Bradley-King then tackled Prescott hard on the sidelines, La’el Collins charged over to shove Bradley-King. A scrum ensued which was broken up by the officials. Collins was penalized and ejected. The television replay also showed Elliott throwing a punch but he was not penalized. Dallas was forced to punt after the penalty.

Washington was then able to put together a 15 play, 78 yard touchdown drive behind Allen. Jaret Patterson and Jonathan Williams were featured at running back. Patterson rushed for 24 yards on 3 plays while Williams picked 16 yards rushing and 19 yards receiving. Sims also had a big 19 yard reception for a first down after a delay of game penalty on Washington. Williams scored the touchdown on a 4^th and goal from the 1 yard line. The two-point conversion failed.

On the next series, Washington got the big break it needed. On second down and six, Cole Holcomb intercepted Prescott’s throw and returned it 31 yards for a touchdown. However, the extra point was blocked, so Dallas still had a 7 point lead.

Dallas was held to a three and out on the next series. After the punt, Carter dropped a well thrown deep ball that would have put Washington deep into Dallas territory. On the next play with 2:34 left on the clock, Allen fumbled while trying to avoid a sack and Dallas recovered, and the turnover was upheld on review.

Dallas was able to pick up a first down and run out the remaining time on the clock.

Dallas 27, Washington 20

Heroes

Cole Holcomb for his pick six to put Washington back into the game with 4:24 to play.

Cam Sims who stepped up to make 3 receptions for 69 yards and a touchdown

Zeroes

Quarterbacks: neither Taylor Heinicke or Kyle Allen did enough to win the game and between the two, essentially cost the Team the game.

Antonio Gibson, who had another key fumble which cost the team on the scoreboard.

Dallas, 11 points off turnovers which proved to be the final difference in the game.

The officials, who cannot call a penalty the same way two weeks running. The NFL needs to fix the sloppy officiating.