Jerry Jones: Dallas Cowboys 'Can Win the Whole Thing!' Super Bowl Hope After 45-10 Thanksgiving Win Over Washington
America hoped that Dolly Parton would deliver an iconic halftime performance with her rendition of “We Are the Champions.” Dallas Cowboys fans hoped it was foreshadowing on the part of NFL scriptwriters.
Per usual, the Cowboys hosted Thanksgiving dinner. The meal had all the fixings, complete with a masterclass from quarterback Dak Prescott and a record-breaking performance from cornerback DaRon Bland. Dallas defeated the Washington Commanders 45-10.
Advancing to 8-3, the Cowboys have once again blown out a bad football team, and in turn, extended their home winning streak to 13 games. They are firmly in contention for the conference’s top seed and first place in the NFC East—though it's hardly anything to bank on before a Dec. 10 clash with the Philadelphia Eagles.
Cowboys running back Rico Dowdle scores the game's opening touchdown. Dallas would not trail on Thursday.
Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
For now, optimism will replace certainty. There were plenty of good feelings to pass around the table on Thursday.
Owner Jerry Jones spoke after the win with the Super Bowl in mind. When asked whether this Dallas team can end the drought, he was happy to provide assurance.
“It can,” Jones said. “There are four or five others at least that can win it, too, that are sitting there … we’ve got to play and some of them we’ll go by to get one. But this team is certainly capable of winning this whole thing.”
Dallas is undoubtedly in this position in large part due to a defense that has continued to dominate, despite injuries. Linebacker Leighton Vander Esch is considering retirement after another neck injury, and cornerback Trevon Diggs is sidelined with an ACL tear.
Bland’s rise in particular has eased the pain of losing Diggs. After tying the single-season record for pick-sixes on Sunday, he found another on Thursday. With five, the record is his, and it feels like more could be coming. Could his performance, on arguably the regular season’s biggest stage, land him Defensive Player of the Year?
“I don’t know about that,” Jones said. “But I sure thought he got that Defensive Player of the Week. He may be [Offensive Player of the Week] with the way he made that run into the end zone. Pull that one out for consideration.”
There will be an asterisk next to the Cowboys' statistical prowess until they beat up on one of the league’s best, but they won’t be short on opportunity down the stretch. Each of the next five games will come against teams with legitimate Super Bowl aspirations, including of course that fateful night against Philadelphia.
If they play anywhere close to the level they did on Thursday, a championship run could be in the cards. These final six weeks will give them the opportunity to prove Dolly—and Jerry—right.
