Cowboys pull away after Jayden Daniels elbow injury on final play of first half

Washington went for the end zone instead of a tying field goal at AT&T Stadium, and Dallas used the ensuing momentum to win 37-20.

ARLINGTON, Texas — The Dallas Cowboys beat the Washington Commanders 37-20 on Sunday in a game that turned on a single snap at the end of the second quarter. Washington, down 17-10, had first-and-goal at the Dallas 1 with 12 seconds left in the half.

With three seconds showing, the Commanders passed on a short field goal that would have tied the game and ran one more play. Quarterback Jayden Daniels slipped after contact with lineman Chris Paul and came down hard on his left arm, injuring his elbow and knocking him out of the game. Washington got no points from the drive, and Marcus Mariota played quarterback in the second half.

Before leaving, Daniels had completed throws for 96 yards and a touchdown and run for 69 more, and his scrambling had kept the Dallas defense off balance. Washington opened the third quarter with a field goal, but Dallas kicker Brandon Aubrey answered from 44 yards to restore a seven-point lead.

The Cowboys then created separation. Jaishawn Barham stripped the ball and Dee Winters recovered, setting up Dak Prescott's 12-yard touchdown pass to Jake Ferguson, the second scoring connection between the two on the day. After a missed Washington field goal, Aubrey connected from 60 yards, making it 30-13 as part of a 13-0 Dallas run.

Washington never mounted a response, and the Cowboys closed out the win to move past a first half in which Daniels had given them trouble on nearly every possession.