LANDOVER, Md. (AP) — The ball bounced through KaVonte Turpin's legs and stopped at the 1-yard line. He picked it up, made a spin move and was off to the races.
Turpin's 99-yard kickoff return touchdown was the highlight of the Dallas Cowboys' 34-26 win at Washington on Sunday that ended their losing streak at five. That came with just under three minutes left, and then Juanyeh Thomas returned an onside kick for a TD to provide a little happiness in the middle of a lost season.
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Dallas Cowboys tight end Luke Schoonmaker (86) celebrates after scoring a 22-yard touchdown during the second half of an NFL football game against the Washington Commanders, Sunday, Nov. 24, 2024, in Landover, Md. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)
Dallas Cowboys tight end Luke Schoonmaker (86), center, celebrates after scoring a 22-yard touchdown during the second half of an NFL football game against the Washington Commanders, Sunday, Nov. 24, 2024, in Landover, Md. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)
Dallas Cowboys safety Juanyeh Thomas (30) celebrates after scoring a 43-yard touchdown off a kickoff return during the second half of an NFL football game against the Washington Commanders, Sunday, Nov. 24, 2024, in Landover, Md. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)
Dallas Cowboys safety Juanyeh Thomas (30) celebrates after scoring a 43-yard touchdown off a kickoff return during the second half of an NFL football game against the Washington Commanders, Sunday, Nov. 24, 2024, in Landover, Md. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)
Dallas Cowboys wide receiver KaVontae Turpin (9) celebrates with teammates after scoring a 99-yard touchdown off a kickoff return during the second half of an NFL football game against the Washington Commanders, Sunday, Nov. 24, 2024, in Landover, Md. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
"Feels good to win," coach Mike McCarthy said. “It’s been a minute.”
Chauncey Golston ripping the ball out of Brian Robinson Jr.'s hands for what counted as an interception of Commanders rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels and Donovan Wilson forcing a fumble of John Bates earlier in the game helped put the Cowboys in position to make it a game, as did the play of Cooper Rush.
Turpin's monster return after initially muffing the retrieval had everyone buzzing.
"He did that for timing," McCarthy said. “That was part of the plan. He’s a special young man. Obviously a huge play for us.”
Commanders safety Jeremy Reaves, the All-Pro special teams selection two seasons ago, was the first one down the field and blamed himself for not tackling Turpin when he had the chance.
“I’ve made that play 100 times,” Reaves said. “I didn’t make it today, and it cost us the game.”
Turpin's spin move will likely be replayed over and over — and not stopped by many. Receiver CeeDee Lamb called it “his escape move” because Turpin has been showing it off in practice.
“I know I can just get them going one way and then spin back the other way,” Turpin said. "That’s just one of my moves when I’m in trouble and I've got nowhere to go: something nobody ever seen before.”
In a wacky finish that McCarthy likened to a game of Yahtzee, Thomas' return was almost as unexpected. It came with 14 seconds left after Washington kicker Austin Seibert missed the extra point following Daniels' 86-yard touchdown pass to Terry McLaurin to leave Dallas up 27-26.
“I kind of waited a second and I was like: ‘Should I try? Should I try?’” Thomas said. “I said, ‘I think I’m gonna score the ball,’ so just ran and I scored.”
The Cowboys' playoff odds are still incredibly long at 4-7, but with the New York Giants coming to town next for the traditional Thanksgiving Day game at Dallas, players are willing to dream after winning for the first time since Oct. 6.
“Lot of games left,” said Rush, who threw two TD passes. “Pretty insane. ... I think both sides of the ball and special teams picked each other up all game. I think it was a full team effort. Finally picking each other up like we’re supposed to.”
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Dallas Cowboys tight end Luke Schoonmaker (86) celebrates after scoring a 22-yard touchdown during the second half of an NFL football game against the Washington Commanders, Sunday, Nov. 24, 2024, in Landover, Md. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)
Dallas Cowboys tight end Luke Schoonmaker (86), center, celebrates after scoring a 22-yard touchdown during the second half of an NFL football game against the Washington Commanders, Sunday, Nov. 24, 2024, in Landover, Md. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)
Dallas Cowboys safety Juanyeh Thomas (30) celebrates after scoring a 43-yard touchdown off a kickoff return during the second half of an NFL football game against the Washington Commanders, Sunday, Nov. 24, 2024, in Landover, Md. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)
Dallas Cowboys safety Juanyeh Thomas (30) celebrates after scoring a 43-yard touchdown off a kickoff return during the second half of an NFL football game against the Washington Commanders, Sunday, Nov. 24, 2024, in Landover, Md. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)
Dallas Cowboys wide receiver KaVontae Turpin (9) celebrates with teammates after scoring a 99-yard touchdown off a kickoff return during the second half of an NFL football game against the Washington Commanders, Sunday, Nov. 24, 2024, in Landover, Md. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
LANDOVER, Md. (AP) — Austin Seibert choked back tears taking responsibility for missing the extra point that would have tied the score in the final minute. Jeremy Reaves choked back tears blaming himself for a missed assignment that led to a kickoff return touchdown. And John Bates choked back tears talking about moving forward from his costly fumble.
All of those late mistakes contributed to the Washington Commanders' third consecutive loss, 34-26 to the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday in a game that was wholly unremarkable until fourth quarter chaos. The teams combined to score 31 points in the final four minutes, the most in an NFL game in more than a decade, and the Commanders (7-5) came out on the wrong end of it in a defeat that further endangers their playoff chances.
“Any time you lose a game or you lose a game in that type of fashion, it’s very difficult and it’s tough, but it never comes down to one play,” rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels said. “There’s plays throughout the game where little things add up to big things.”
There were a lot of little things.
After Bates fumbled, the Cowboys (4-7) took an 11-point lead and the Commanders made a 2-point conversion to cut the deficit to three, Dallas' KaVonte Turpin returned the ensuing kickoff 99 yards for a touchdown.
“I didn’t make the play when it was there to make, and it cost us,” said Reaves, one of the league’s top special teams players and the All-Pro pick for that two seasons ago. “No excuse, man. I’ve made that play 100 times, and I didn’t make it today and it cost us the game. It’s unacceptable. It’s solely on me. It’s going to sting for a while. It’s going to hurt.”
After Seibert made a 51-yard field goal, Daniels connected with Terry McLaurin on an 86-yard TD that made it 27-26 with 21 seconds left.
Coach Dan Quinn said no thought was given to going for 2 in that situation. Seibert, who missed the past two games with a right hip injury, was wide left on the point-after attempt.
“I just wasn’t striking it well,” said Seibert, who added he felt fine and did not blame a low snap for his miss. "It didn’t make a difference at all. It was on me.”
Juanyeh Thomas returned the onside kick immediately after 43 yards for a touchdown to put Dallas up eight with 14 seconds left.
The 31 combined points are the second most in a game since at least 2000, behind only Minnesota and Baltimore's 36 in their game Dec. 8, 2013. Cowboys-Commanders was the first game in the Super Bowl era to have two missed extra points, two kickoff return touchdowns and a blocked punt.
“We got down to the end there and it was a game-situational extravaganza,” Dallas coach Mike McCarthy said. “It was like Yahtzee. Everything was in there."
While Washington's skid continued, the Cowboys ended their losing streak at five thanks to strong play from QB Cooper Rush, a defense that forced two turnovers and, of course, special teams success. Rush was 24 of 32 for 247 yards and TD passes to Jalen Tolbert and Luke Schoonmaker.
“Lot of games left,” Rush said. “We’re sitting at 4-7. This is why you play them.”
The Commanders have some soul-searching to do after losing as a 10 1/2-point favorite in the meeting of NFC East rivals and doing so in a way that left players so emotional.
“The crazy games, I know they feel a little bit better whenever you win them,” punter and holder Tress Way said. “But that’s a tough pill to swallow.”
Cowboys: LG Tyler Smith was inactive with ankle and knee injuries. ... RG Zack Martin (ankle), CB Trevon Diggs (groin/knee) and TE Jake Ferguson (concussion) were ruled out prior to game day and did not travel for the game.
Commanders: RB Austin Ekeler was concussed on a kickoff return in the final seconds and taken to a hospital for further evaluation. ... RB Brian Robinson Jr. left with an ankle injury in the first half, returned and then left again. ... RT Andrew Wylie was concussed in the third quarter and did not return. ... C Tyler Biadasz was evaluated for a concussion in the fourth. ... CB Marshon Lattimore (hamstring) missed a third consecutive game since being acquired at the trade deadline from New Orleans.
Cowboys: Host the New York Giants on Thursday in the traditional Thanksgiving Day game in Dallas.
Commanders: Host the Tennessee Titans next Sunday in Washington’s final game before its late bye week.
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Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels (5) walks across the field after the 34-26 loss to the Dallas Cowboys of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 24, 2024, in Landover, Md. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
Dallas Cowboys safety Juanyeh Thomas (30) celebrates after scoring a 43-yard touchdown off a kickoff return during the second half of an NFL football game against the Washington Commanders, Sunday, Nov. 24, 2024, in Landover, Md. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)
Dallas Cowboys safety Juanyeh Thomas (30) celebrates after scoring a 43-yard touchdown off a kickoff return during the second half of an NFL football game against the Washington Commanders, Sunday, Nov. 24, 2024, in Landover, Md. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)
Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels (5) and wide receiver Terry McLaurin (17) walk across the field after the 34-26 loss to the Dallas Cowboys of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 24, 2024, in Landover, Md. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels (5) Dallas Cowboys quarterback Cooper Rush (10) shake hands after an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 24, 2024, in Landover, Md. The Cowboys on 34-26. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
Dallas Cowboys safety Israel Mukuamu (24) celebrates after a missed field goal attempt by Washington Commanders place kicker Austin Seibert (3) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 24, 2024, in Landover, Md. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)
Washington Commanders place kicker Austin Seibert (3) kicks a 41-yard field goal during the first half of an NFL football game against the Dallas Cowboys, Sunday, Nov. 24, 2024, in Landover, Md. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)
Washington Commanders place kicker Austin Seibert (3) kicks an unsuccessful point after attempt during the second half of an NFL football game against the Dallas Cowboys, Sunday, Nov. 24, 2024, in Landover, Md. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)
Dallas Cowboys wide receiver CeeDee Lamb (88) runs with the football as Washington Commanders cornerback Benjamin St-Juste (25) tries to tackle during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 24, 2024, in Landover, Md. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)
Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels (5) passes during the second half of an NFL football game against the Dallas Cowboys, Sunday, Nov. 24, 2024, in Landover, Md. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)
Washington Commanders running back Jeremy McNichols (26) is tackled by Dallas Cowboys safety Malik Hooker (28) during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 24, 2024, in Landover, Md. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Jalen Tolbert (1) celebrates after scoring a 6-yard touchdown during the second half of an NFL football game against the Washington Commanders, Sunday, Nov. 24, 2024, in Landover, Md. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)
Dallas Cowboys tight end Luke Schoonmaker (86) catches a 22-yard touchdown pass during the second half of an NFL football game against the Washington Commanders, Sunday, Nov. 24, 2024, in Landover, Md. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
Dallas Cowboys tight end Luke Schoonmaker (86), center, celebrates after scoring a 22-yard touchdown during the second half of an NFL football game against the Washington Commanders, Sunday, Nov. 24, 2024, in Landover, Md. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)
Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels (5) scores on a 2-point conversion attempt during the second half of an NFL football game against the Dallas Cowboys, Sunday, Nov. 24, 2024, in Landover, Md. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
Dallas Cowboys wide receiver KaVontae Turpin (9) celebrates with teammates after scoring a 99-yard touchdown off a kickoff return during the second half of an NFL football game against the Washington Commanders, Sunday, Nov. 24, 2024, in Landover, Md. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
Washington Commanders tight end John Bates (87) fumbles during the second half of an NFL football game against the Dallas Cowboys, Sunday, Nov. 24, 2024, in Landover, Md. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
Washington Commanders place kicker Austin Seibert (3) reacts after an unsuccessful point after attempt during the second half of an NFL football game against the Dallas Cowboys, Sunday, Nov. 24, 2024, in Landover, Md. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)
