When they last met: Commanders and Cowboys

“When they last met” is an ongoing series during the NFL season, recalling the preceding game between Washington and the next opponent on the Commanders’ schedule.

Dallas 34, Washington 26 – Week 12, November 24, 2024

The Washington Commanders gave up two kickoff returns for touchdowns and missed two extra points, falling to the Dallas Cowboys 34-26 at Northwest Stadium in Landover.

The Commanders looked a step slow from the very beginning of the game, and the loss to the 4-7 Cowboys gave Washington (7-5) its third consecutive loss.

Washington kicker Austin Seibert had been having a good year, but on this November Sunday, he missed an extra point in the third quarter and another in the final minute. The latter would have tied the game at 27-27 with 21 seconds remaining, most likely sending it into overtime.

However, Washington attempted an onside kick, which Juanyeh Thomas caught on the bounce and easily ran unchallenged to the end zone for a 43-yard touchdown for the final margin.

Trailing Dallas 20-9, Jayden Daniels connected with Zach Ertz from four yards, and the two-point Daniels run narrowed their deficit to 20-17.

However, on the kickoff, Cowboys’ returner KaVontae Turpin fumbled the ball, picked it up, spun to his left, and found no outside containment by the Commanders, which meant the lead was extended to 27-17 on his 99-yard return at 2:49.

Seibert’s 51-yard field goal split the uprights at 1:40 remaining, making the score 27-20. After a defensive stop, Daniels connected with Terry McLaurin from 86 yards out with 21 seconds remaining, setting the stage for Seibert to tie the game. However, he missed.

The Commanders blocked both a punt and a field goal attempt in the first half but also had two Jayden Daniels interceptions and a John Bates fumble. The Cowboys won the game, ending their five-game losing streak.