What we learned in the Dallas Cowboys’ Thanksgiving Day feast of the Commanders

Country music legend Dolly Parton started the Thanksgiving Day donations to the Salvation Army with a $1 million and halftime show for the ages as the 77-year old performed while dressed as a Dallas Cowboys cheerleader.

And then the Cowboys got into the act themselves in the second half of a 45-10 Thanksgiving Day feasting frenzy against the Washington Commanders.

It started when receiver CeeDee Lamb completed a two-point conversion to put the Cowboy up 31-10 in the fourth quarter by slamming ball in the Salvation Army Red Kettle in the back of the end zone.

Receiver KaVontae Turpin did him one better by jumping in the kettle following a 34-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Dak Prescott, his fourth of the game.

And cornerback DaRon Bland saved the best for last with a history-making 63-yard interception return for a touchdown and then jumping in the kettle.

It was Bland’s fifth pick-six of the season, setting a new NFL single-season record and Cowboys career record.

That the Cowboys (8-3) beat Washington (4-8) in a game that was really never in doubt.

It was their 13 straight win at home and fifth straight blowout at AT&T Stadium with a combined score of 205-60.

The Cowboys have not trailed a single second in home games all season.

It also tied a franchise record as the Cowboys seventh win of 20 points or more in 2023.

The outcome was easy, but the Cowboys continue their roughest physical stretch of the season with their third game in 12 days when they play host the Seattle Seahawks next Thursday after playing at the Carolina Panthers last Sunday and the Commanders on Thanksgiving day.

They have a 10-day layoff after the Seahawks game before they host in the Philadelphia Eagles.

But the Cowboys and their bodies have to get there unscathed first.

What we learned in the Dallas Cowboys 45-10 Thanksgiving Day feasting:

Dak Prescott stays hot

Prescott has played better than any quarterback in the NFL over the last month and he continued his hot streak in the first half against the Commanders.

He completed 13 of 21 passes for 221 yards with two touchdowns passes, while completing passes to nine different receivers and had a quarterback rating of 150.5 as the Cowboys led 20-10 at halftime.

Prescott extended his streak for multiple touchdown passes to five consecutive games — the longest active streak in the NFL. It matches the second-longest streak of his career.

Most indicative of the day and Prescott’s hot streak was a play right before halftime.

After the Commanders narrowed the score to 14-10 with 1 minute, 51 second left, Prescott got the Cowboys on the move.

A pass to Jalen Tolbert was tipped into the air by a Washington defender. Last year, that ball would have picked off.

This time, rookie receiver Jalen Brooks retrieved the fortuitous bounce for a 23-yard completion and a first down. Prescott then tossed a 31-yard pass to Tolbert and Tony Pollard followed with a seven-yard run to complete a five-play, 75-yards scoring drive.

Prescott completed four passes of 20-plus yards in the first half, his most in any half this season.The Cowboys averaged 10.5 yards per play in the half, their most in any half since 2013 Week 5 vs. the Denver Broncos.

And Prescott shut the door on Washington in the fourth quarter touchdown passes of 15 and 34 yards to Lamb and Turpin, respectively.

The first two were to Rico Dowdle and Brandin Cooks of 15 and 31 yards, respectively.

Prescott finished the game completing 22 of 32 passes for 331 yards and four touchdowns.

Cowboys defense comes up on fourth down

On paper, the Washington offense had a nice statistical day against the Cowboys.

Quarterback Sam Howell passed for300 yards and receiver Curtis Samuel had nine receptions for 100 yards.

He became the first receiver in 2023 to top 100 yards against the Cowboys.

And Washington stayed withing striking distance for much of the game, trailing 14-10 in the second quarter and just 20-10 heading into the fourth.

But Washington couldn’t get done when it mattered most, coming up empty three times on fourth down in the second half, including twice in the fourth quarter.

Howell, the most sacked quarterback in the NFL, was sacked four times by the Cowboys.

Of course, the cherry on top came with 4:39 left when Bland undercut a Howell pass and returned it 63-yards to the end zone.

It was his fifth pick-six of the season, setting a NFL record as he predicted he would.

Aubrey still streaking with field goals but struggling on PATs

Rookie kicker Brandon Aubrey continued his NFL-record streak of consecutive field goals without a miss to start a career with a 52-yarder in the fourth quarter.

He is now 22-of-22 on the season.

But Aubrey missed an extra point in second quarter. It was the second straight game he has missed an extra point.

It forced the Cowboys to have to go for two for the Lamb touchdown in the fourth quarter. And the Cowboys succeeded with a pass to Lamb.

Get ready for run of winning teams

Washington is the last team on the Cowboys schedule with a record under .500.

And they play them again in the season final on weekend of Jan. 6-7.

In between, the Cowboys face the Seattle Seahawks (6-4, heading in Thursday’s night’s game), then the Philadelphia Eagles (9-1), Buffalo Bills (6-5), Miami Dolphins (7-3) and Detroit Lions (8-3).

For all the people who question the Cowboys because they have gotten fat off teams with below, this is their time of reckoning.

And the Cowboys, who no wins this seasons against a team with a winning record, know as much.

If they hope to catch the Eagles in the NFC East and truly set themselves up for playoff run, they must assert themselves during this 5-game stretch.