Dallas Cowboys vs Washington Commanders Box Score on Dec 12, 2021

Micah Parsons and Randy Gregory swarmed Washington Football Team quarterback Taylor Heinicke, leading the dominant defense of Dallas as the Cowboys survived a late scare on the way to a 27-20 victory Sunday afternoon in Landover, Md.

Dak Prescott completed 22 of 39 passes for 211 yards and a touchdown and Greg Zuerlein added four field goals as the Cowboys (9-4) halted the four-game winning streak of the Washington Football Team (6-7) and increased their lead in the NFC East to three games with four left.

Dallas led 27-8 late in the fourth quarter before Washington scored two touchdowns in a span of 56 seconds. Cole Holcomb's 31-yard interception return touchdown made it 27-20 with 4:13 left.

Washington got the ball back but with 2:34 left but Gregory sacked reserve quarterback Kyle Allen, forcing a fumble that teammate Jayron Kearse recovered.

Dallas defense limited Washington to 224 yards and 14 first downs, registering five sacks. The Cowboys limited Washington starter Heinicke to 11 completions in 25 attempts for 122 yards and a touchdown. Heinicke's two turnovers (one interception, one fumble) in the first quarter put Washington into a big hole.

In his first game back from the injured list after suffering a calf strain a month ago, Gregory tipped and intercepted a Heinicke screen pass to set up a touchdown. Five plays later, Prescott threw a 7-yard scoring pass to Amari Cooper and Ezekiel Elliott scored on a two-point conversion run for an 11-0 lead.

On the ensuing possession, Parsons, who enhanced his candidacy for defensive Rookie of the Year, forced Heinicke to fumble as he made one of his two drive-halting sacks. Teammate Dorance Armstrong scooped up the ball and returned it 37 yards for a touchdown that put the Cowboys up 18-0 with 29 seconds left in the opening quarter.

Washington was trailing 24-0 before it got on the scoreboard in the third quarter. Cam Sims made a spectacular jump-ball catch of a Heinicke pass in the end zone on a 43-yard touchdown play.

Washington stopped Dallas on its ensuing possession, but the Cowboys got the ball back moments later as Jourdan Lewis forced and recovered a fumble by Antonio Gibson, setting up one of Zuerlein's four field goals, all from inside 40 yards.

In the fourth quarter, Neville Gallimore sacked Heinicke and knocked him from the game with a knee injury. Allen took over for Washington, directing a late touchdown drive as Jonathan Williams, picked up last week from the practice squad of the Giants, scored on a 1-yard plunge on fourth down.

Moments later, Holcomb made his pick-six to tighten up the game.

--Field Level Media