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NFL Thanksgiving: Bears, Cowboys, Saints prevail on Turkey Day

By Russell S. Baxter

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - NOVEMBER 22: Cameron Jordan #94 of the New Orleans Saints and Mark Ingram #22 eat turkey after a game against the Atlanta Falcons the Mercedes-Benz Superdome on November 22, 2018 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - NOVEMBER 22: Cameron Jordan #94 of the New Orleans Saints and Mark Ingram #22 eat turkey after a game against the Atlanta Falcons the Mercedes-Benz Superdome on November 22, 2018 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images) /
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ARLINGTON, TEXAS – NOVEMBER 22: Dak Prescott #4 hands the ball off to Ezekiel Elliott #21 of the Dallas Cowboys during the game agains the Washington Redskins at AT&T Stadium on November 22, 2018 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Richard Rodriguez/Getty Images)

Dallas Cowboys 31, Washington Redskins 23

Just as was the case in Detroit earlier in the afternoon, the visiting team would be down its starting quarterback. With Alex Smith out for the rest of the season with a broken leg, Colt McCoy would open for Jay Gruden’s team as the Redskins looked to sweep the Dallas Cowboys for the first time since 2012.

Things didn’t look good for the NFC East leaders early on. Jason Garrett’s club took the opening possession of the game and marched 75 yards in 10 plays. The drive was capped off by running back Ezekiel Elliott’s 16-yard touchdown run and a quick 7-0 Dallas’ lead.

In the second quarter, McCoy would find veteran tight end Vernon Davis for a 53-yard touchdown to get Washington back in business. Dallas took a 10-7 lead at halftime but the Redskins would take a 13-10 lead in the third quarter when McCoy struck again — this time a 10-yard score to Trey Quinn to give the ‘Skins the lead. The former SMU product had set up the team with 30-yard punt return. But kicker Dustin Hopkins missed the PAT and Gruden’s club appeared to lose the momentum.

Over the next few minutes, Cowboys’ quarterback Dak Prescott and wide receiver Amari Copper would combine for scores of 40 and 90 yards, respectively. Early in the fourth quarter, the Dallas’ signal-caller manipulated his way into the end zone from five yards out to give Dallas a 31-13 lead. Washington made the final score respectful with 10 unanswered points.

McCoy threw for 268 yards and two scores but was sacked three times and was picked off on three occasions. Elliott ran for 121 yards and the aforementioned touchdowns and Cooper’s eight receptions added up to 180 yards. And the Cowboys leapfrogged the Redskins in the NFC East due to a better divisional record.

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