The Dallas Cowboys secured a much-needed 34-26 victory over the Washington Commanders on Sunday, breaking a five-game losing streak in dramatic fashion. After the game, head coach Mike McCarthy, quarterback Cooper Rush, and other players shared their thoughts on the wild divisional win.
Mike McCarthy Reflects on the Rollercoaster Game
McCarthy acknowledged the rocky start but praised his team’s ability to execute the game plan and stay focused despite challenges.
“Well, there were a lot of good things that happened too with the way the game started,” McCarthy said. “I think anytime you go into the game and coming off a Monday night game… just the moving parts of who’s playing, who’s not playing really went up until today.”
He highlighted the team’s plan to control time of possession and focus on favorable down-and-distance situations. Despite missed opportunities early in the game, McCarthy commended the defense for keeping the score manageable.
“Our defense just kept banging away,” McCarthy noted. “I thought our defense did a great job keeping the score in that range of where it needed to be to win the game.”
Special teams also played a pivotal role. McCarthy described the game as a “situational extravaganza” with pivotal moments in the second half.
“Their special teams made the big plays in the first half. Ours made them in the second half… Just a lot of situational football things to learn from, things we work on all the time, but we still gotta execute in those spots.”
Ultimately, McCarthy was proud of his team for their perseverance.
“It’s just great to see our guys rewarded for just staying the course, you know, just grinding it out… It feels good to win. It’s been a minute.”
Cooper Rush on Leading the Offense
Quarterback Cooper Rush, who threw two touchdowns in the victory, spoke about stepping into the starting role and the team’s ability to fight through adversity.
“It wasn’t always pretty, but we found ways to make plays when it mattered most,” Rush said. “We knew we had to stay patient and keep grinding, and the guys around me made that possible.”
KaVontae Turpin on His Game-Changing Play
Special teams star KaVontae Turpin, who returned a kickoff 99 yards for a touchdown, called it a team effort.
“I just saw the opening and went for it,” Turpin said. “We practice those situations, and it feels great to deliver when the team needs it most.”
Defensive Leaders Step Up
Micah Parsons and DaRon Bland both highlighted the defense’s ability to step up despite giving up a few big plays late in the game.
“We stayed aggressive, and that’s what counts,” Parsons said. “We’re learning from every game, and today we showed what we’re capable of when we stick together.”
Final Thoughts
The Cowboys showed grit and determination in their first win since Week 5. McCarthy and his players emphasized the importance of staying the course, executing the game plan, and relying on every phase of the team to contribute.
As they look ahead to their Thanksgiving showdown against the New York Giants, the Cowboys can take pride in a hard-fought divisional victory that showcased their resilience.
