LANDOVER, Md. (AP) – Ezekiel Elliott ran for 150 yards and two touchdowns and the Dallas Cowboys took advantage of a blocked field goal return and three turnovers to beat the Washington Redskins 33-19 Sunday and move into sole possession of second place in the NFC East.
Playing in a driving rainstorm that made it difficult to hold onto the ball, let alone throw it, Dak Prescott completed 14 of his 22 passes for 143 yards as Dallas (4-3) heeded the message on Elliott’s cleats to “Feed Zeke.” With another hearing on his NFL suspension coming Monday, Elliott carried the ball 33 times, scored twice for the second consecutive game and surpassed 100 yards for the third time in a row.
The game turned in the second quarter when Dallas’ Tyrone Crawford blocked Nick Rose’s field goal attempt and Orlando Scandrick returned it 86 yards to set up a 1-yard Elliott TD run two plays later. Instead of the Redskins (3-4) leading 16-7, the Cowboys went up 14-13 and never trailed again.
Washington QB Kirk Cousins lost one fumble and kick returner Chris Thompson lost another. Cousins was 26 of 39 for 263 yards and a 1-yard TD pass to Josh Doctson that cut it to 26-19, but Rose missed the extra point and Dallas sealed it with an interception return for a touchdown by Byron Jones with 21 seconds left.
NO PROBLEM, NUGENT
Signed to fill in for injured kicker Dan Bailey, Mike Nugent was wide left from 49 yards on his first attempt for the Cowboys. Nugent shook it off and made field goals from 36, 48, 27 and 37 yards in the second half.
Bailey injured his groin last week, pressing safety Jeff Heath into action. Heath made two of three extra-point attempts against San Francisco.
FEEL THE RUSH
The Cowboys took full advantage of the Redskins’ bevy of injuries along the offensive line, sacking Cousins four times. Washington was without starting left tackle Trent Williams, center Spencer Long and right guard Brandon Scherff because of knee injuries and had two rookies making their NFL debuts – Chase Roullier at center and Tyler Catalina at right guard.
INVISIBLE PRYOR
Redskins WR Terrelle Pryor was a nonfactor for a second consecutive game. Cousins threw Pryor’s way just once, a week after four targets and two receptions in a loss at Philadelphia.
INJURIES
Cowboys: WR Cole Beasley left in the third quarter with a concussion.
Redskins: TE Jordan Reed injured his right hamstring late in the second quarter and did not return. … TE Niles Paul was concussed on a helmet-to-helmet hit during Rob Kelley’s 1-yard TD run in the first quarter. … LT T.J. Clemmings left with an ankle injury and LG Shawn Lauvao left with a stinger. … DL Matt Ioannidis suffered a hand injury, S Stefan McClure a hamstring injury and S Montae Nicholson a shoulder injury. … CB Bashaud Breeland was inactive with a knee injury.
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