Cowboys vs. Commanders score, takeaways: DaRon Bland makes history, Dak Prescott ties Tony Romo in blowout win

Dallas has won every home game this season by at least 20 points

ARLINGTON, Texas -- Plenty of families spend a good portion of their Thanksgiving cooking, and that's what quarterback Dak Prescott and his pass-catchers did Thursday in the Dallas Cowboys' matchup with the Washington Commanders: sautéing the Washington secondary. The host Cowboys won 45-10 to become the first team in NFL history to win each of their first five home games by 20 or more points.

Cowboys cornerback DaRon Bland put a bow on the Thanksgiving celebration for the Cowboys with a 63-yard interception return touchdown, his fifth pick-six of the season to set the NFL's all-time, single-season record. His 12 career interceptions since being selected in the 5th round of the 2022 draft are the most in the league. Seven of those have come in 2023, which also lead the NFL. 

It was evident early on that the Cowboys were going to get almost everything they wanted when dropping back to pass Thursday. On the opening drive, Pro Bowl wide receiver CeeDee Lamb blew past Washington corner Benjamin St-Juste for what should have been a walk-in touchdown, but Prescott overthrew him. He would atone for that in the second quarter by dropping a 31-yard touchdown pass into a wide-open Brandin Cooks' bread basket for a touchdown over the middle. Cooks left his defender in the slot and the middle-of-the-field safety in the dust with ease for the 31-yard touchdown, his fourth of the season – all of which have come since Week 6.

The touchdown was Prescott's second of the half, and it put Dallas ahead 14-3. His first came on a 15-yard catch-and-run screen pass to backup running back Rico Dowdle, marking his third career scrimmage touchdown. All three of them have come in 2023. Pro Bowler Tony Pollard concluded the Cowboys scoring in the first half with a seven-yard rushing touchdown on a scoring drive that took no time at all -- 1:25 to go 75 yards for the score. Prescott surgically drove them down the field completing three of his four passes. He finished the game with 331 yards and four touchdowns on 22-of-32 passing. Thursday marked his 10th career game with four or more passing touchdowns, tying Tony Romo's team record. 

Defensively, the Cowboys have generated the amount of pressure one would expect from the NFL's No. 1 quarterback pressure rate team: a lot. They only got four sacks, as Sam Howell hung in there as well as he could despite the duress, throwing for 300 yards through the air on 28-of-44 passing and a one-yard rushing touchdown. 

Why the Cowboys won

Their defense shut out Washington in the second half while their offense found the end zone multiple times -- on a 15-yard touchdown pass to CeeDee Lamb and a 34-yard touchdown pass to KaVontae Turpin -- as well as on defense with Bland's 63-yard house call that cranked the AT&T Stadium crowd volume to a thunderous roar. Dallas outclassed the Commanders in nearly every facet of the football except for time of possession (36:54 to 23:06 in favor of Washington), but that was because the Cowboys were scoring so quickly they didn't need extended marches.

Why the Commanders lost

They couldn't pressure Dak Prescott at all. He was only under pressure on 12.1% of his dropbacks Thursday, his lowest rate of the entire season. Offensively, they were unable to make big plays when they needed to, going 0-for-3 on fourth down. Thanksgiving Thursday simply wasn't their day. 

Turning point

The Cowboys had this game in the bag seemingly for most of the duration it was played, but once they scored their first touchdown of the second half, a 15-yard pass from Prescott to Lamb, this game was over. 

Play of the game

Breaking an NFL record will always get you play of the game. It was unclear if Bland would score as he needed to break a couple tackles to get into the end zone, but his immediate acceleration after the catch as well as the agility to evade the would-be tacklers en route to a spot in NFL history sealed the deal. That's the mark of a phenomenal play.

What's Next

The 8-3 Cowboys stay home to square off against the Seattle Seahawks on "Thursday Night Football" in Week 13. The 4-8 Commanders return home to face the Miami Dolphins in Week 13. 

[Nov 23, 2023 at 7:32 pm ET · Garrett Podell]

DaRon Bland's fifth pick-six of 2023, 63 yards, sets the NFL's all-time single season record and puts the Cowboys up 45-10 with 4:39 remaining.

[Nov 23, 2023 at 7:30 pm ET · Garrett Podell]

Dak Prescott enjoys a turkey leg after throwing for 331 yards, four touchdowns and no interceptions on 22-of-32 passing. 

[Nov 23, 2023 at 7:29 pm ET · Garrett Podell]

This game is over. Dak Prescott rips a 34-yard missile over the zone coverage in the middle of the field to a wide open KaVontae Turpin for a touchdown. The Cowboys go up 38-10 with just under six minutes left in the game. Turpin jumps in the Salvation Army red kettle to celebrate, like former running back Ezekiel Elliott  once did, and Prescott began to eat a turkey leg on the sideline.

[Nov 23, 2023 at 7:24 pm ET · Garrett Podell]

Commanders are now 0-3 on fourth down after Howell's incomplete pass to Terry McLaurin on fourth-and-four. Cowboys take over on their own 35.

[Nov 23, 2023 at 7:20 pm ET · Garrett Podell]

CeeDee Lamb now has five receiving touchdowns across the last five games after his 15-yard receiving touchdowns on the up-and-out route. Dallas only needed three plays to go 24 yards for the score, and they lead 31-10 with 10:32 left to play. 

[Nov 23, 2023 at 7:13 pm ET · Garrett Podell]

Sam Howell gets smacked for a sack on fourth-and-one by defensive tackle Johnathan Hankins, allowing the Cowboys to start their next drive 24 yards away from the end zone. Dallas leads 23-10 with 12 minutes left to play. This is only the second game Hankins' 11-year career with multiple sacks

[Nov 23, 2023 at 7:09 pm ET · Garrett Podell]

Cowboys move the ball somewhat, but their drive stalls out. Rookie kicker Brandon Aubrey drains his 22nd consecutive field goal to start his career, an NFL record, from 52 yards out. Dallas leads 23-10 with 13:36 left in the game.

[Nov 23, 2023 at 7:06 pm ET · Garrett Podell]

The Cowboys being up 20-10 represents the closest home score they have had entering the fourth quarter. the previous closest was when they led the Jets 24-10.

[Nov 23, 2023 at 6:56 pm ET · Garrett Podell]

Impressive deflection by Cowboys slot corner Jourdan Lewis, who is in his first season back from a major foot injury that caused him to miss the final 10 games of 2022 and the opening game of 2023, in coverage on Curtis Samuel. Commanders punt the ball back to the Cowboys at their own 17. Dallas leads 20-10 late third quarter. Still no offense for either team after halftime.

[Nov 23, 2023 at 6:45 pm ET · Garrett Podell]

Two drives, two punts for the Cowboys in the second half. They have been unable to find the easy rhythm from their final drive of the first in which they went 75 yards for a touchdown in 1:25. Commanders take over on their own 20 down 20-10 with 6:43 left in the third quarter.

[Nov 23, 2023 at 6:41 pm ET · Garrett Podell]

Cowboys cornerback Stephon Gilmore, at 33-years-old, went step-for-step in coverage with Commanders Pro Bowl wide receiver Terry McLaurin, 28-years-old, to knock down a potential touchdown pass on third-and-one on their 39. That play marked a significant momentum shift as the Dallas defense stuffed a Brian Robinson run up the middle for a loss two and a turnover on downs. The Cowboys maintain their 20-10 lead with 8:13 left in the quarter. 

[Nov 23, 2023 at 6:34 pm ET · Garrett Podell]

Impressive spin move by Commanders QB Sam Howell to evade the interior of the Cowboys pass rush to not only avoid being sacked but then also take off for a first down scramble of 12 yards. 

[Nov 23, 2023 at 6:30 pm ET · Garrett Podell]

Cowboys opening drive of the second half lasts just four plays, and they are forced to punt after consecutive incompletions. Commanders take over on their own eight. Cowboys lead by 10, 20-10. 

[Nov 23, 2023 at 6:27 pm ET · Garrett Podell]

Cowboys begin the second half with the football, and Dak picks back up where he left off, completing a pass to Tony Pollard for a gain of 10 and a first down. 

[Nov 23, 2023 at 6:07 pm ET · Garrett Podell]

The Cowboys enter the locker room at halftime up 20-10 on the visiting Washington Commanders. They averaged over five more yards per play, 10.5 to 5.4, than the Commanders. 

[Nov 23, 2023 at 6:05 pm ET · Garrett Podell]

Dak Prescott surgically marched the Cowboys up the field in response to the Howell TD with the Cowboys getting to the end zone, via a Tony Pollard seven-yard rushing, in just 1:25 seconds. He completed three of his four passes, including a 31-yarder off a tip to rookie Jalen Brooks. 

[Nov 23, 2023 at 5:55 pm ET · Garrett Podell]

Sam Howell executes a quarterback option run play to perfection on the one-yard keeper for Washington's first touchdown of the game. Dallas gets the ball back up 14-10 with 1:51 left in the half. 

[Nov 23, 2023 at 5:53 pm ET · Garrett Podell]

Markquese Bell is back in the game. 

[Nov 23, 2023 at 5:34 pm ET · Garrett Podell]

Cowboys wide receiver Brandin Cooks left his defender in the slot and the middle of the field safety in the dust for an easy 31-yard touchdown. Washington appeared to run Cover 1 coverage, and there was no else back there after Cooks made his move toward the left side of the field. 14-3 Cowboys with 8:27 in the half. 

[Nov 23, 2023 at 5:32 pm ET · Garrett Podell]

Dak Prescott hits CeeDee Lamb over the middle on a quick slant play for a gain of 16 that has been a staple of their offense since Week 6 when everything got jumpstarted. 

[Nov 23, 2023 at 5:25 pm ET · Garrett Podell]

Washington Commanders kicker Joey Slye drains the 43-yard field goal, trims the Cowboys lead to four, 7-3, with 11:27 left in the half. 

[Nov 23, 2023 at 5:22 pm ET · Garrett Podell]

Cowboys linebacker Markquese Bell took a knee before a play. The Dallas medical staff ran on to the field, and he is now being examined in the blue tent. Veteran Rashaan Evans, who was signed a few weeks ago, checks in for him

[Nov 23, 2023 at 5:10 pm ET · Garrett Podell]

The Dallas Cowboys get on the board first with a screen pass that backup running back Rico Dowdle took 15 yards for the first touchdown of the day. It looked identical to Dowdle's first career scrimmage touchdown on a screen pass in Week 3 at the Arizona Cardinals. Cowboys lead 7-0 with 46 seconds left in the first quarter. 

[Nov 23, 2023 at 4:56 pm ET · Garrett Podell]

The Cowboys once again get through the Commanders o-line for another pressure on third down. Howell's pass falls harmlessly to the turf, and Washington punts it away on their first two drives. Dallas will have its second drive on their own 10. 

[Nov 23, 2023 at 4:49 pm ET · Garrett Podell]

After being unable to connect with their deep passing game, the Cowboys are forced to punt on their opening drive. Still scoreless in Arlington

[Nov 23, 2023 at 4:46 pm ET · Garrett Podell]

Dak Prescott just missed a wide open CeeDee Lamb for what would have an easy touchdown. Major overthrow on what would have been a jog in touchdown for Lamb. 

[Nov 23, 2023 at 4:42 pm ET · Garrett Podell]

After allowing an initial first down, Hankins' sack derails the Commanders opening drive. Following the Washington punt, the Cowboys will take over for their first drive on their own 15. 

[Nov 23, 2023 at 4:41 pm ET · Garrett Podell]

Sack number one is credited to Cowboys defensive tackle Johnathan Hankins. Could be the first of many on Sam Howell today, who is the NFL's most sacked quarterback, 52 sacks absorbed. 

[Nov 23, 2023 at 4:37 pm ET · Garrett Podell]

The Cowboys won the toss and deferred 

[Nov 23, 2023 at 4:30 pm ET · Garrett Podell]

Howell will likely see a fair amount of zone coverage from defensive coordinator Dan Quinn's defense despite the Cowboys running man-to-man coverage on 37.4% of defensive plays, the second-highest rate in the NFL behind only the Cleveland Browns 44% rate. Howell is completing 61% of his passes against Cover-1, traditional man, coverage with six touchdown passes and no interceptions. Against Cover-3, traditional zone, coverage, he is completing 73% of his passes with only one touchdown and five interceptions.