Since Dak Prescott became quarterback and Mike McCarthy became head coach, the Dallas Cowboys have been strong versus NFC East teams. So excellent that a Sunday victory against the 4-12 Washingtоn Commanders seemed like a formality, even with the Cowboys on the road and seeking the NFC East division. The Cowboys not playing nearly as well away from AT&T Stadium, and losing two of their last three at Washingtоn, and being down two starting оffensive linemen in Tyler Smith and Zack Martin, would not be a factor in Dallas taking care of business in all three phases to end the 2023 regular season with a 38-10 rout.

 

This season, the Cowboys defeated the Commanders 83-20, the Giants 89-17, and the Eagles by avenging a five-point setback on the road with a 20-point triumph at home in primetime. Their 5-1 division record helped them win 12 games for the third consecutive season, make the playoffs again, and capture the division title to face the Green Bay Packers on Sunday at 4:30 PM ET.

 

McCarthy will coach against his previous squad, and much will be written, said, and reiterated before this game. Dallas fans will recall playoff heartbreaks at Lambeau Field in 2014 and Sunday’s showdown in 2016 with Prescott making his first postseason start. When it ultimately comes down to pick the team that will continue into the Divisional Round however, McCarthy and his coordinators, plus Prescott and his connection to CeeDee Lamb and Jake Ferguson, offers the Cowboys an excellent opportunity to win every time they foot on the field.

 

In Week 18, the Cowboys completed their regular season on a two-game winning run at the Commanders, playing the complimentary style that has helped them win nine games by at least 20 points this season. Some comments on their 38-10 hat-and-t-shirt triumph against Washingtоn.

The Cowboys trailed 10-7 in the first half again, the same as last year’s 26-6 defeat in the last week. The Commanders turned over the ball on downs when Brian Robinson was stopped by Damone Clark and Jayron Kearse after a good opening drive. Robinson scored on a short field after a blocked field goal, Brandon Aubrey’s first miss of the season and one of two on the day, and a Prescott interception gave the Commanders three points and the lead. The Cowboys spent the early portion of this game attempting to play to a tight script that gave them momentum in areas they need to improve on, like rushing between the tackles, but when Dallas needed it, most of the guys who placed them in this position to win the East would deliver. Prescott was flawless 19-19 for 167 yards and two touchdowns while targeting Ferguson or Lamb, opening up the run game with Tony Pollard.

The Cowboys’ lead was crucial again, as Dan Quinn’s defense responded to December losses to the Bills and Dolphins to start a new win streak entering the playoffs. Kearse, Clark, and Markquese Bell made long plays to hold Washingtоn to 3.7 yards per play and 2-10 third-down conversions. Donovan Wilson intercepted a third-and-long pass after Bell broke up a pass on second down in the second quarter.

DaRon Bland’s second interception this season in as many games against the Commanders wasn’t as exciting as his NFL record-breаking pick-six on Thanksgiving, but with Wilson and Bland intercepting and CB Stephon Gilmore avoiding a major ιnjury to play next Sunday, the Cowboys defense is playing well at all three levels at the right time.

 

Dallas felt in control after Lamb’s second score on the first possession of the second half. After a Peyton Hendershot blocked punt, Brandin Cooks scored to make an 18-point game a 25-point blowout. After another third-down stop, Micah Parsons scored a career-high 14th sack of the season to block the punt. Edge rushers gave the Cowboys four sacks as Johnathan Hankins returned at defensive tackle.

Quinn’s аggressive defensive fronts on running downs pressured Jared Goff against the Lions. When Hankins returned, the Cowboys used Parsons and DeMarcus Lawrence as defensive ends more often against the Commanders. Cowboys winning these close matches ended Commanders’ chances of a comeback. With the Cowboys facing a Packers team that’s allowed the third fewest sacks this season and made the playoffs with a 17-9 “grinԀ it out” win over the Bears led by Aaron Jones’ 22 carries for 111 yards, staying disciplined in rush lanes and forcing throws into coverage like in Week 18 will be crucial.

 

After settling into the game, the Cowboys finally looked like the club they’ve been in Dallas away from home. Brandin Cooks’ third-quarter score came on a corner route, a mainstay of their high-scoring offense at home this season. Adding Tony Pollard and Rico Dowdle to the passing game gave Prescott options underneath against a Commanders team that would sit back in coverage and force tight passes. After Pollard caught and ran 12 yards inside the five-yard line, Prescott threw a perfect pass to Jalen Tolbert for the game’s first touchdown. Prescott trusting Tolbert, who had only one touchdown coming into this game, to throw the ball before he even turned his head and McCarthy getting his backs involved in a game where Lamb and Ferguson were dominant gives the Packers defense plenty to prepare for this week, like Quinn’s defense did.

The Cowboys are a full touchdown favorite to extend their AT&T Stadium winning streak to 17 games on Wild Card weekend at the moment, with veterans on the roster that have been a part of past teams that fell short at the hands of the Packers – many of which still helping Dallas get in this position by beating Washingtоn convincingly and clinching the NFC East.