LANDOVER, Md. — The Cowboys didn’t quite cover the spread on Christmas Day (but they didn’t fail to cover, either, as long as you were giving 7 points) as they raised their record to 7-8-1 in a 30-23 win over Washington. It was far from perfect, but for a team that had not won since Thanksgiving, it was a nice holiday turnaround.
Offense
There’s not a ton of fault when a unit produces 480 yards and no turnovers. And I’m not sure I’ve ever seen a team get 20 third-down opportunities (Dallas 8-for-20). But where were the second-half points? Three field goals was the extent of Dallas’ scoring, kind of like Minnesota when the Cowboys couldn’t duplicate the first half and lost. Malik Davis and Javonte Williams did the heavy lifting with 33 carries for 157 yards and a touchdown. Dak Prescott getting sacked six times might lead coach Brian Schottenheimer to reconsider his status for the finale in New York.
Grade: B-minus
Defense
Cowboys
No turnovers and two sacks. This is against an offense that has lost quarterbacks Jayden Daniels and Marcus Mariota and tight end Zach Ertz and tackle Laremy Tunsil, to name a few. Only three NFL players have a run longer than Jacory Croskey-Merritt’s 72-yard touchdown in the third quarter. Deebo Samuel had a 41-yard catch and a 29-yard run as big plays continue to haunt the defense.
Grade: C
Special teams
Brandon Aubrey went 2-for-3 from beyond 50 yards (also had a 42-yard FG) and in cold weather outdoors that is awfully good for most kickers. He has kicked to a different standard in Dallas. Bryan Anger doesn’t get much action this year but when his net punting is 53.0 yards — OK, it’s one kick — it’s worth noting.
Grade: B
Coaching
Should Schottenheimer have even tried to have Aubrey kick a 58-yard field goal, knowing the field position shift a miss would create? Probably not, although Washington’s offense isn’t among the more frightening in the NFC. There’s only nitpicking on the offensive side and the usual head-scratching on the defensive side.
Grade: B-minus
Overall
Can’t completely dismiss a win over Washington, although third-string quarterback Josh Johnson now has a 1-9 career record, so an upset for Dallas would have been borderline tragic. When a team has stumbled its way out of the playoffs, you never know what to expect, but the Cowboys had no trouble piling up the first downs (28) and yards (480).
Grade: B
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