If you’re still in a Turkey-induced coma from yesterday then you had a great holiday. Even if you aren’t it was still a great holiday.
The Dallas Cowboys put a gloriously magnificent whooping on the Washington Commanders yesterday.
The 45-10 final was tied for the third-highest points Dallas has scored against Washington in their 127 meetings.
Dallas thumped Washington 56-14 at home in 2021. They clocked the then-Redskins 47-16 at AT&T Stadium in 2019.
Washington’s highest points scored in a game against the Cowboys is 41.
They’ve done it twice. Once in 1986 in Washington and again in 2020 at AT&T Stadium.
Dallas has scored 40 points or more in a game against Washington on nine different occasions.
Dallas Dominance
The win moved Dallas to 77-48-2 all-time against Washington. They 43-17-2 at home and are 9-2 when they play Washington on Thanksgiving Day.
In short, the Cowboys have dominated the series since it began with ties in 1961 and 1962.
Washington’s first victory over the Cowboys didn’t even come until 1966.
Dallas also moved to 12-4 against the Commanders when they play on the twelfth week of the season.
The Cowboys are now 41-23 over all in Week 12 contests. They are 32-9 at home in Week 12 and are 18-7 against NFC East teams in Week 12.
Dallas’ Turkey Day numbers are equally solid.
The Cowboys are now 33-22-1 on Thanksgiving Day and have outscored their opponents 1,386-1,165.
Dallas is 11-4 against NFC East teams with a 387-321 scoring advantage in the annual holiday classic.
Say What, Mr. Sports Scribe?
So yesterday I volunteered to do the halftime and postgame writeups here. The game was all but over except for the final five minutes.
So I was wrapping up work on the post gamer, waiting for the final score and stats and typed this nugget:
“It is the first win for Dallas when its defense failed to pick off a pass. They did sack Howell four times.”
Not three seconds later…
DaRon Bland is an NFL record holder after collecting his fifth Pick Six of the year. He’s done it in just 11 games.
With six games left to play – and the way Bland has become a ball hawk – who knows what the record will be by the end of this season.
By the way, Bland also set the career record for most Pick Sixes for the Cowboys.
Not just for a single season, but for an entire career. And this is just his second year in the NFL.
He had been tied with Dexter Coakley and Dennis Thurman coming into Thursday’s game.
Lions’ Loss Helps Dallas
The Cowboys are now tied for the second-best record in the NFC with the Lions and 49ers at 8-3.
Even though they trail the Eagles by 1.5 games, they are still very much alive for the No. 1 seed in the playoffs.
The Eagles have the Bills on Sunday, the 49ers after that and then come to Dallas. Philadelphia could leave AT&T Stadium at 9-4.
If Dallas is 10-3 after that game they would likely need a win over Detroit on Dec. 30th and one loss from the 49ers.
That would almost certainly give Dallas a first-week bye and home field throughout the playoffs.
The Bad News About The Defense
The Cowboys’ defense is clearly the terror of the NFL. That’s good.
It’s also bad.
Because in all likelihood the Cowboys will be shopping for a new defensive coordinator after this season.
There’s no way Dan Quinn doesn’t get hired somewhere else – with the Commanders likely suitors.
Riverboat Ron Rivera might not be coaching the Commanders on Dec. 3rd when they face the Dolphins. Even if he survives to the end, he likely will be fired after Jan. 7th.
The only way Dallas would retain Quinn is with a hefty salary increase and a promise to take over if/when Mike McCarthy departs.
This Insult Shall Not Stand
A shoutout to my colleague here at InsideTheStar, Mario Herrera Jr., for annoying an Eagles’ fan enough to get put on a list.
Although I admit to be a tad insulted. I do not see my mug on this list.
This shall not go unavenged. Oh yes, Based, I’m coming for ya, bro…