Cowboys stuffing Commanders 20-10 at halftime

In the 11th Thanksgiving Day meeting between the two teams, the Dallas Cowboys are off to a 20-10 lead over the Washington Commanders.

A relatively quiet first quarter saw Dallas take a 7-0 lead on a 15-yard pass from Dak Prescott to Rico Dowdle.

The two teams got into a shootout in the second quarter.

Dallas added two more touchdowns. The Commanders put up a field goal and a late touchdown.

Washington holds a nearly 19-11 advantage in time of possession despite the score.

First Quarter

Dallas won the toss and elected to kick the ball to start the game and take the kickoff to begin the second half.

After a solid first three plays got the Commanders into Dallas territory, the Cowboys sacked Sam Howell to derail the drive.

The Commanders punted and Dallas took over at their own 14. Sam Williams stayed far away from Washington’s punter.

The Cowboys came out firing on their first drive.

But Prescott overthrew both CeeDee Lamb and KaVontae Turpin and Dallas punted.

Williams tackled the Commanders’ returner but used the facemask to make the tackle. Instead of being pinned at their own three, Washington took over at the 18.

The Commanders used rollouts and short passes to get to the Cowboys’ 44. But another punt followed as the drive stalled.

The Cowboys’ second possession started at their own 10.

A false start on Zack Martin moved the ball back to the five. Prescott finally hit a deep ball to Jake Ferguson for 35 yards on the next play.

The Cowboys finally got into Commanders’ territory three plays later.

A holding call on Lamb – when a Commanders’ player simply slipped and fell – and a false start on Lamb made it second-and-25 at their own 39.

But a 19-yard pass to Jalen Tolbert and a 14-yard gain by Pollard gave Dallas a first down at Washington’s 29.

Four plays later, Prescott hit Dowdle on a 15-yard screen pass for a 7-0 lead with 46 seconds left in the quarter.

With one second left, the Commanders converted a third-and-10 with a 30-yard pass to the Cowboys’ 45.

Second Quarter

A 12-yard pass and a 14-yard run moved Washington to the Dallas 19. Markquese Bell was injured on the play but walked off the field under his own power.

Bell returned later in the quarter.

But Dorance Armstrong stuffed Brian Robinson at the line and Damone Clark tackled Robinson for an eight-yard loss on a screen pass.

A two-yard pass was far short of a first down. The Commanders got a 43-yard field goal from Joey Slye.

Dallas got their third possession with a 7-3 lead with 11:27 left in the half.

The Cowboys drove the ball 75 yards on six plays, capped by a 31-yard pass from Prescott to Brandin Cooks.

Cowboys WR Brandin Cooks

Brandon Aubrey’s extra point made it 14-3 Dallas with 8:27 left in the half.

Washington responded with a strong drive of its own.

An 11-play drive moved the ball to a first-and-10 at the Cowboys’ 14 at the two-minute warning.

Two Minute Warning

Howell dove in from the one just two plays later to make it 14-10 with 1:51 left in the half.

The Cowboys answered just as quickly and back-to-back completions moved Dallas to the Commanders’ seven.

The first pass bounced off of Tolbert and into the hands of rookie Jalen Brooks. The next pass was hauled in by Tolbert.

Pollard punched it in on the next play for a 20-10 Cowboys’ lead with 26 seconds left.

But Aubrey’s point after slipped just left.

It is Aubrey’s third missed PAT of the year. He is still 21-of-21 on field goals.

Halftime Stats

Prescott was 13-of-18 for 221 yards and two touchdowns in the half. Pollard has 34 yards on six carries and the score.

Tolbert was the leading receiver with 49 yards on two catches.

Dallas will get the ball to start the second half.