NFL Week 17 picks include Jaguars, Steelers and Niners
Lorenzo Reyes shares his three picks for NFL games through Christmas week.
The Dallas Cowboys kick started their late charge to .500 with a 30-23 victory over the Washington Commanders, as the Cowboys continue their mastery against poor teams.
With nothing left to play for this season other than a .500 record, which would worsen their draft position, Dallas could consider shelving its top players, it really doesn’t want injured going into the offseason, but quarterback Dak Prescott, who has been having a good year amidst the gloom, shot that down. Going .500 does mean something to him, it seems.
KaVontae Turpin made some NFL history, and it didn’t involve a kick return. Here is how Dallas begins the final week of its season.
Dak Prescott ‘pride’
With very little meaning to Dallas’ last game at the New York Giants next Sunday, obviously, Dak Prescott could be held out to give Joe Milton some more evaluation and to avoid a chance of injury to Prescott. After Dallas beat Washington 30-23 after another strong game from Prescott, he said he very much wants to play against the Giants.
“I’ll have some fight back,” Prescott said at the notion of him being held out. “It depends on how it comes, what’s the purpose, what’s the reason. Obviously, I understand being approached about it, but the conversations we’ve already had about it are for me to play.
“Lot of pride and I think that’s another reason I want to play. In a season (of) me being healthy, I’ve never had, in all of my life, career, a season under .500. So that tie is going to come into play really well. So it’s a huge difference. It’s one of those things that I mean, yeah, it’s just pride. It’s pride, honestly.”
Prescott was 19-of-37 passing for 307 yards and two touchdowns against the Commanders. He also ran four times for 24 yards on a day when he was sacked a season-high six times.
Dallas Cowboys No. 9 KaVontae Turpin
KaVontae Turpin is mostly known as a kick and punt returner, which is how he made the Pro Bowl last year, but he made history Sunday against Washington as a wide receiver. When Prescott found him for an 86-yard touchdown in the first half, it marked the longest touchdown in Christmas Day NFL history.
The Dallas-Washington game was the 33rd NFL contest on Christmas Day, and by the end of the day, that number was 35.
George Pickens
Before Dallas’ win over Washington, Pickens was asked about his future with the Cowboys — he’s only under contract for one more game — and has been the case all year, he expressed his desire to stay at the place where he’s had a career, Pro Bowl year.
“Definitely,” Pickens said. “Like I always said, the guys here, that’s why I always say, I feel like you cannot get that everywhere. I’ve kind of been at other places, top 30 visits when I was coming out of pre-draft, the guys here and the culture here is just a little different.”
He didn’t have a busy day against Washington, but he was efficient, catching four of five targets for 78 yards. That got him past 90 catches and 1,400 yards on the season, career bests.
CeeDee Lamb stats
CeeDee Lamb’s day likely didn’t make fantasy owners happy. Lamb had five catches for 46 yards, with a long of 24. He was targeted 10 times. The yardage total was his lowest this season, and the five catches were the second lowest.
Dallas Cowboys final score
The Dallas Cowboys held off the Washington Commanders for a 30-23 victory.
Dallas Cowboys record
The Dallas Cowboys moved to 7-8-1. With a win in its final game at the New York Giants next Sunday, Dallas will avoid a third consecutive losing season. It last had three straight losing seasons from 2000 to 2002.
Did Dallas Cowboys win today?
The Dallas Cowboys did win. They beat the Washington Commanders 30-23.
When does Dallas play next?
The Cowboys take on the New York Giants in the Meadowlands Sunday, Jan. 4, to close their season. Game time and TV details won’t be set until Sunday night or Monday morning. The 11 a.m. MT/noon CT seems probable, but no Sunday game is set yet.
Bret Bloomquist can be reached at bbloomquist@elpasotimes.com; @Bretbloomquist on X.