ARLINGOTN, TEXAS — The Dallas Cowboys lose 23-19 to division rival, the Washington Commanders, to close out the 2024-25 regular season.
Quarterback Trey Lance was the starter, his first regular season start since Week 2 in 2022; 840 days later, his fifth career start. The No. 3 overall pick by the San Francisco 49ers in the 2021 NFL Draft got the minutes over Cooper Rush, who started eight games-straight in place of Dak Prescott after his season-ending injury suffered against the Atlanta Falcons back in Week 9. While Rush has already received a $250k bonus for playing 45% of this season’s snaps, he won’t be able to reap the rewards of any other incentive. He needed to have played 55% of snaps in order to receive an additional $250k bonus.
Washington’s first drive saw QB Jayden Daniels get sacked twice within three plays by defensive end Micah Parsons. His 2.0 sacks in the first quarter brought him to 10.0 sacks in 2024; he now joins Reggie White, Derrick Thomas and Dwight Freeney as the fourth player since 1982 with at least 10.0 sacks in each of his four seasons.
The first drive for the Cowboys was a scoring one—kicker Brandon Aubrey’s 34-yard field goal got Dallas on the board. It was his 37th made FG of the season, the most in a single season in franchise history, surpassing the previous mark of 36, which he had in 2023.
Both teams traded punts throughout the remainder of the first quarter.
In the beginning of the second quarter, Washington’s fumble on a punt was recovered by Dallas’ cornerback C.J. Goodwin. The Cowboys finished the following drive with Aubrey kicking a 41-yard FG to make it 6-0.
The Commanders made it 6-3 when their drive with just under five minutes remaining in the second quarter culminated with a 47-yard FG by Commanders K Zane Gonzalez.
At the half, Washington rushed for just 44 yards and passed for only 20—Dallas rushed for 73, and passed for 117.
Aubrey’s 36-yard FG was good to open the second half and make it 9-3, in favor of the Cowboys, before the Commanders scored the day’s first touchdown.
Marcus Mariota took over for Daniels and fed tight end Zach Ertz a touchdown on Washington’s first drive of the third quarter. Gonzalez’s extra point was good to make it 9-10, giving the Commanders their first lead of the day.
Daniels finished the game going 6-12 for 38 yards, no touchdowns or interceptions.
Dallas felt it had a touchdown when Lance found TE Jake Ferguson in the end zone, but it was ruled incomplete. The very next play, the Cowboys thought they scored again, until a flag was thrown on Brandin Cooks’ catch for an illegal motion. Dallas ultimately settled for a 22-yard FG from Aubrey to retake the lead, 12-10.
With just over 11 minutes to go in the fourth, Mariota rushed it in for a TD of his own. The Commanders attempted to go for 2, but Mariota’s pass intended for wide receiver Terry McLaurin could not find him—Washington settling for a 16-12 lead.
Cowboys running back Rico Dowdle scored on a 2-yard rush, and Aubrey’s FG was good to make it 19-16, Dallas, with seven minutes to go.
But with just 5 seconds left on the clock, Mariota found McLaurin for the score that would seal the deal. Gonzalez’s PAT was good—Commanders take this one, 23-19.
Mariota finished going 15-18 for 161 yards and two TDs in just the second half. Lance was 20-34 for 244 yards, no touchdowns or interceptions.
Dowdle led all on the ground with 22 carries for 72 yards and one TD, while Mariota led the Commanders with 5 carries for 56 yards. WR Jalen Tolbert’s four receptions for 98 yards led all receivers, and Dallas’ defense finished with six sacks.
Washington finishes the season 12-5, its best record through 17 games in over 30 years.
The Commanders take the sixth seed in the NFC playoff picture, while the Cowboys finish 7-10 to end the regular season.
