Commander Country

Commanders vs. Cowboys Fourth Quarter Updates

With playoff seeding and history at stake, the Commanders seek revenge against the Cowboys in a Week 18 showdown.

Joanne Coley

Dec 29, 2024; Landover, Maryland, USA; Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels (5) celebrates with Commanders tight end Zach Ertz (86) after connecting on a touchdown pass against the Atlanta Falcons during the third quarter at Northwest Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images
Dec 29, 2024; Landover, Maryland, USA; Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels (5) celebrates with Commanders tight end Zach Ertz (86) after connecting on a touchdown pass against the Atlanta Falcons during the third quarter at Northwest Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images / Geoff Burke-Imagn Images
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The Washington Commanders are seeking revenge against the Dallas Cowboys in Week 18, the final game of the regular season.

Building on the momentum of an overtime win against the Atlanta Falcons and having already clinched a playoff spot, Commanders now aim to secure their seeding with another victory.

A Week 18 win would elevate Washington record to 12-5, their best 17-game performance since 1991 when they finished 14-2. With history on the line, the question remains: Can the Commanders secure the 'W'?

PREGAME

- Commanders Inactives: QB Jeff Driskel (emergency 3rd quarterback), WR K.J. Osborne, CB Marshon Lattimore, S Quan Martin, LB Jordan Magee, C Tyler Biadasz, T Cornelius Lucas


- Cowboys Inactives: QB Will Grier (emergency 3rd quarterback), LB Damone Clark, DE Earnest Brown, T Chuma Edoga, DE Tyrus Wheat, DT Justin Rogers

1st Quarter

  • Week 18 and the final game of the regular season is underway! Dallas won the toss and will defer. Mcaffrey and McNichols in the back to receive for Washington. Touchback, Commanders will take the ball on the 30.
  • Daniels first play of the game looking to throw, but is under pressure from Dallas defense. Parsons with the sack. Next play, Daniels to Ertz for 11 yards. 3rd and 3, Dallas blitz and Parsons sacks Daniels again. Commanders are forced to punt away.
  • Turpin on the punt return, but illegal block in the back against Dallas. They takeover on the Dallas 18. Dallas first posession, Lance hands off to Dowdle for 2 yards. Dowdle againt up the right for 7 yards. Hand off again to Dowdle, but false start on Dallas. 3rd an 6, Lance floats it to Tolbert for 31 yards.
  • 1st and 10 Dallas, Lance with a rifle to Turpin down the middle for 33 yards. Fake hand off, Lance finds Brooks for 13 yards. Flag on the play, illegible man down the field against Dallas. Repeat first down. Lance finds Schoonmaker for 6 yards. 2nd and 9, Dallas moves down the field with a Dowdle run. He picks up 6 yards. Lance to the middle, but it's almost intercepted by Frankie Luvu. Cowboys attempt a 34 yard field goal and its GOOD. Dallas on the board first. Commanders 0, Cowboys 3.
  • Touchback on the Dallas kickoff. Daniels with hand off to Robinson for a 2 yard gain. Daniels to Dyami Brown pick up of 6 yards. Next play, Daniels keeps the ball for a gain of 7 yards. 1st and 10, Daniels to Robinson for 4 yards, but PENALTY on Washington for holding.
  • 1st and 20 for Commanders, Daniels finds McLaurin for a gain of 5 yards. Daniels floats it to McLaurin but he can't get there in time. Pass incomplete. 3rd and 15, Daniels can't find anyone he scrambles until he's forced out of bounds. Commanders punt it away.
  • False start on Dallas. Lance to Dowdle for 4 yards. 2nd and 10, Commanders come in on Lance, he's forced to throw it away. Lance with a throw to Turpin for 7 yards, but not enough for a first down they punt it away. Commanders Crowder on the return but is unable to gain a yard.
  • Daniels back to work, finds McLaurin down field but its in and out his hands. Daniels on the next play, but cant find Ekeler for the hand off so he keeps it and runs. 3rd down, Daniels tries to find McLaurin, but pass is incomplete. Commanders punt the ball away. Dallas' Turpin calls for a fair catch.
  • Dallas with another long field will start inside their 20, Lance with a fake hand off keeps the ball and gains onyl 2 yards. Lance then finds Tolbert for 7 yards before running out of bounds. Luepke with the ball and plows through the middle for a Dallas first down.

2nd Quarter

  • Dallas' Cooks gets the ball but loses a yard. 2nd and 15, Lance with a toss to Turpin but he's shy of the 4 yard line. 3rd and 10, Lance with a incomplete pass to Cooks. Dallas boots it away. Crowder with the fair catch, but its touched and becomes a loose ball. Dallas gets the recovery.
  • Dallas with the ball, Lance gives it to Dowdle and picks up 3 yards. Lance is under pressure and gets smashed by Commanders Jeremy Chinn. 3rd and 15, hand off to Dowdle for 4 yards. Dallas attempts a field goal and its GOOD. After the play PENALTY on Commanders Daron Payne for unnecessary roughness. Dallas extends their lead. Dallas 6, Commanders 0
  • Dallas with the kickoff out of bounds. Daniels with a screen pass to Dyami Brown for 11 yards. Robinson to the left for no gain. Daniels under pressure and gets wrapped up loss of a yard. 3rd and long for the Commanders. Daniels with an incomplete pass to Zaccheous. Turnover on downs.
  • Turpin will call fair catch. Lance fires to Cooks for a gain of 8 yards. Dowdle with the run for a Dallas first down. Next play, false start on Dallas' Guyton. Next play, another flag. The play clock dwindled down. Dallas calls their first timeout.
  • Lance hands off to Dowdle but loss of a couple. He was stopped by Bobby Wagner. Lance with the pressure, throws a deep right to Turpin. Pass is incomplete. Lance launches down the field to Turpin but pass falls incomplete again. 4th and long for Dallas. Dallas punts it. Commanders Crowder with the 23 yard return.
  • Daniels connects with Ertz for 6 yards. Daniels then to Ekeler for 5 yards. Daniles tries to find Zaccheous, but get sandwiched by two Cowboys defenders. Pass is incomplete. 2nd and 10, Daniels takes a shot to Dyami Brown, but he can't hold on. 3rd and 10, Daniels keeps the ball and runs for 16 yards for the Commanders first down.
  • Daniels with a toss to Dyami Brown, Dyami Brown throws deep to Zaccheous in the endzone, but its incomplete. Dyami Brown then on the carry for 8 yards. Back to Brown but a loss of a yard. Commanders attempt a 47 yard field goal and its GOOD. Commanders on the scoreboard. Cowboys 6, Commanders 3.
  • Commanders punt, but its a touchback. Dallas will take in from the 30. Lance with a short screen to Cooks for 3 yards. He's stopped by Fowler. Dowdler on the run for the next play. He gains 7 yards. Next play, Lance finds Mingo for 13 yards and first down.
  • Lance quick throw to Flournoy for 4 yards. 2 minute warning now in effect. 2nd and 6, Lance looking and throwing right to Tolbert, but pass is incomplete. Coverage by Mike Sainristil. Next play, Lance keeps the ball and runs to the left. Gain of 5 yards. Dallas takes its 2nd timeout.
  • 4th and 1, Luepke runs up the middle and gets the first down. Lance swings it to Dowdle for 12 yards. Lance to Dowdle for no gain. Frankie Luvu on the stop. Lance will run it for 9 yards.
  • Dowdle gets the first down, its 1st and goal for Dallas. Commanders use its last timeout. Lance to the corner of the endzone, but is thrown out of bounds. Dowdle tries to punch his way through and makes it to the 2 yard line. Dallas next play to Books, but incomplete pass. Sainristil on the coverage.
  • Lance under pressure, scrambles to by time, and throws to Dowdle in the end zone but its short. Commanders take the ball and kneels it. End of the second quarter.

Halftime: Cowboys 6, Commanders, 3

3rd Quarter

  • Dallas will receive the ball in the second half. Turpin is back deep for Dallas. It will be a touchback and Dallas will get the ball on the 30.
  • Lance with a pass to Mingo for 10 yards. Sainristil tried to break it up. Lance to Dowdle with a 5 yard gain. Lance with the handoff to Dowdle. He picks up 2 yards. Lance to Cooks for the first down Cowboys. Crossing route to Tolbert and he picks up 28 yards. Vaughn for the carry. He gets 3 yards.
  • Lance under pressure and the throwthe ball to the ground for an incompletion. Lance under pressure again, but he gets away. Runs to get the Dallas first down.
  • 1st and Goal, Dowdle on the run, but is stopped but Frankie Luvu. Dowdle with another run but is stopped by Fowler. Loss of 3 yards. Next play, Lance gets swalloed by Jonathan Allen. Dallas settle for a field goal. Dallas 9, Commanders 3.
  • Commanders with the touchback. Will take the ball on the 30. Marcus Mariota has stepped in for Jayden Daniels. Mariota to Austin Ekeler for a gain of 6 yards. Then Robinson up the middle but only gains a yard. Mariota to Ekeler for 14 yards and a first down. Mariota with a fake to Robinson but keeps the ball for a 10 yard run.
  • Mariota with the handoff to Robinson loss of a yard. Mariota with a screen to Robinson for 5 yards. Mariota to Zaccheous for a big play of 30 yards. Mariota then to Ertz for a Commanders touchdown. Commanders with the extra point and its GOOD. Commanders take the lead 10-9.
  • Touchback on the kickoff. Cowboys take the ball on the 30. Lance connects with Schoonmaker for 10 yards. Fake to Vaughn, Lance keeps the ball and runs to the right for 2 yards. PENALTY on the play on Dallas for offensive holding.
  • Next play, Lance to Tolbert but incomplete after a hit from Sainristil. Ferguson with a catch in the middle from Lance and powers to a first down for Dallas. Lance with a hand off to Vaughn for 9 yards. Vaughn then picks up 8 for a first down.
  • Lance hands off to Vaughn for a 4 yard run to the right. Lance under immediate pressure, he tosses to Feguson but a loss of 7 yards. Chinn on the stop. Quick screen to Turpin. He gains 13 yards before being pushed out of bounds. Dowdle to the left for 5 yards. End of third quarter.

4th Quarter

  • Lance hands off to Vaughn for a 12 yard run. 1st and goal for Dallas. Frankie Luvu injured on the play. Vaugh then carries for 1 yard. 2nd and goal for Dallas. Lance next pass to Ferguson in the back of the end zone is incomplete, but the play is challenged by Dallas. Pass is ruled incomplete.
  • 3rd and goal for Dallas, Commanders call a timeout before the play. Lance floats it to Cooks in the endzone ruled incomplete. PENALTY on Dallas, illegal motion. 4th and goal, Cowboys settle for 3 points. Dallas takes the lead. Dallas 12, Commanders 10.
  • Commanders take the ball on the 30. Mariota still in for Daniels. Mariota to Zaccheous for 22 yards. Washington B. Coleman injured on the play. Mariota takes a shot at Bates, but it falls incomplete. Next play, Mariota keeps the ball for a run of 7 yards.
  • 3rd and 3 for Commanders, Mariota to McLaurin on the catch. Hand off to Ekeler for 7 yards. Mariota pass to McLaurin for 10 yards. Then next pass to Ertz for 11 yards. Next play, Mariota slips the tackle and runs the ball in for a Commanders touchdown. Commanders no go for the 2-point conversion. Pass intended for McLaurin is incomplete. Commanders lead by 4.
  • Commanders on kickoff results in a touchback. Dallas will take it on the 30. Lance to Ferguson but can't keep hold of the ball. Pass is incomplete. Dowdle on the carry and picks up 5 yards. Lance then tries for Cooks but pass is overthrown. Lance looks down field for Tolbert for a 33 yard connection.
  • Lance pass to Flournoy for 10 yards. Next play is a false start on Dallas. Dowdle on the hand off but only picks up a couple of yards. Lance shot to Mingo in endzone but is sandwiched by Commanders defense. PENALTY against Washington, pass interference. Hand off to Luepke for no gain. 2nd and goal for Dallas.
  • Hand off to Dowdle and Washington defense stops him for no gain. 3rd and goal for Dallas. Dowdle again and pushes his way to the endzone for a TOUCHDOWN. Cowboys take the lead. Before the extra point, falst start on Dallas. They attpempt the extra point and its GOOD. Cowboys 19, Commanders 16. 3 point Dallas lead with 7 minutes remaining in the 4th quarter.
  • Toucback on Dallas kicking team. Commanders will take the ball on the 30. Mariota slips back 2nd and 20 Commanders. Screen pass to McLaurin. He gets 8 yards. Mariota can't find no one open. He scrambles until he's sacked. PENALTY, offensive holding on Washington. Commanders have to punt it away. Turpin with the fair catch. 5:34 left in the 4th quarter.
  • Dowdle with a run to the left but loss a yard. Dowdle again to the left and is able to get 10 yards. Lance tries to go to the left but does not gain a yard. 4th and 1, Dallas PENALTY for delay of game. Dallas punts the ball away. Commanders Crowder calls for a fair catch.
  • Mariota hands off to Robinson. He runs up the middle for 6 yards. Mariota is sacked on the next play, but PENALTY on Dallas for face mask. Mariota deep right to McLaurin is throw his hands. Pass incomplete. Pass to McLaurin again complete. 2 mintue warning.
  • Mariota to McLaurin for a Commanders first down. 1st and 15, Mariota pitch to Ekeler for no gain, but Ekeler runs out of bounds to stop the clock. Throw to McLaurin is complete for 13 yards. Mariota scrambles and is shy of the first down. Mariota with the scramble and he picks up 33 yards. Mariota to Ertz for 11 yards. 2nd and goal for Commanders. Mariota spike the ball to stop the clock. Dallas takes a timeout.
  • Mariota with a short pas to McLaurin for Commanders TOUCHDOWN. Extra point is GOOD. Commanders win with :03 seconds left on the clock 23-19.

FINAL: Commanders 23, Cowboys 19

Stick with CommanderGameday and the Locked On Commanders podcast for more FREE coverage of the Washington Commanders throughout the 2024 season.

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Joane Coley
JOANNE COLEY

Joanne Coley, from Prince George’s County, MD, is a communications professional passionate about storytelling and sports. She holds a bachelor’s in Communications from Kent State University and a Master’s in Communications/Public Relations from Southern New Hampshire University. Since 2018, she has served as Communications Manager at the Council of the Great City Schools. A foodie and traveler, Joanne is also a former state champion in high school shotput and standout athlete in softball.

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