CeeDee Lamb’s spectacular 74-yard touchdown reception highlighted his return from a three-game absence, propelling the Dallas Cowboys to a dominant 44-22 victory over the Washington Commanders on Sunday. The play underscored a resurgent offensive performance that lifted Dallas to .500 in the NFC East standings.
In a crucial Week 7 matchup at AT&T Stadium, the Cowboys seized control early with explosive plays on both sides of the ball. Dak Prescott’s deep connection with Lamb came on the first play of a first-quarter drive, with the receiver breaking free after catching a cross-field pass and celebrating alongside teammate George Pickens in the end zone. The touchdown gave Dallas a 17-8 lead and set the tone for a game where the Cowboys would score on six of their first seven possessions.
Lamb’s return from a high ankle sprain proved immediately impactful as he finished with 110 receiving yards on five catches. His chemistry with Prescott was evident on the long score, where he waved for the ball mid-route before securing the catch and outrunning the secondary. The reception marked Lamb’s first touchdown of the season and the second-longest of his career, demonstrating his value to an offense that had struggled in his absence.
Prescott delivered one of his best performances of the year, completing 21 of 30 passes for 264 yards and three touchdowns. Beyond the deep strike to Lamb, he connected twice with tight end Jake Ferguson, who extended his touchdown streak to four games. Ferguson’s production made him the first tight end in NFL history to record at least 50 catches and six receiving touchdowns through the first seven games of a season.
The Commanders’ challenges mounted when quarterback Jayden Daniels left in the third quarter with a right hamstring injury after losing a fumble on a sack. Daniels, who had already missed two games earlier in the season with a knee issue, had thrown for 156 yards and a touchdown while adding a rushing score before his exit. Backup Marcus Mariota struggled in relief, throwing an interception returned for a touchdown on his first possession.
Dallas’ defense capitalized on Washington’s mistakes, with cornerback DaRon Bland returning Mariota’s errant pass 68 yards for a pick-six. Bland’s score extended the Cowboys’ lead to 41-22 and continued his reputation for game-changing plays after he set an NFL record with five interception return touchdowns in 2023. The unit also recorded three sacks and limited Washington to 22 points despite the Commanders scoring on their opening drive.
Special teams contributed to the blowout as well, with kicker Brandon Aubrey drilling a 61-yard field goal in the second quarter. The kick made Aubrey the first NFL player with five field goals of 60-plus yards in his career, adding to his growing legacy as one of the league’s most reliable long-distance kickers. His 47-yarder in the first quarter had put Dallas ahead for good at 10-8.
With the win, the Cowboys improved to 3-3-1 and moved ahead of Washington in the NFC East standings. The loss dropped the Commanders to 3-4, compounding concerns after their Cinderella run to the NFC Championship game last season. Dallas now looks ahead to a road game against the Denver Broncos, while Washington faces a short week before visiting the Kansas City Chiefs on Monday Night Football.