And suddenly Dolly Parton mutates into a cheerleader
Dallas Cowboys versus Washington Commanders, it's pure rivalry. But in this NFL showdown, things happen that nobody could have predicted: DaRon Bland pulls off a stunning NFL record - and then there's the appearance of country legend Dolly Parton.
What was at stake?
While many in the USA sit together with their loved ones on Thanksgiving, this game doesn't have much to do with affection: hardly any NFL rivalry is characterized by as much contempt for each other as the one between the Dallas Cowboys and the Washington Commanders. The two division rivals from the NFC East have been fighting each other for 55 years.
However, the rivalry has recently been very one-sided in sporting terms. The team from the capital won the last Thanksgiving duel in 2020, but only six of the past 20 meetings. The omens were no better this year either: the Commanders went into the game on a two-game losing streak and have lost four of their last five games, while the Cowboys, also known as "America's Team", are currently playing their best football.
And so the Texans dominate again this time, winning easily 45:10 in the end. Quarterback Dak Prescott and Co. thus extend the longest active home winning streak in the NFL (13) and the second-longest in the history of the franchise. However, the spotlight in this Thanksgiving duel belongs to country legend Dolly Parton, who suddenly mutates into a cheerleader, and Cowboys cornerback DaRon Bland with an NFL record that is likely to remain in the history books for a long time. More on both later.
What happened?
Experts expected a high-scoring spectacle; after all, this was the best home offense (Dallas) against the best passing offense (Washington). But the game takes almost an entire quarter to pick up speed. With 46 seconds on the clock before the start of the second period, the Cowboys take the lead after a strong drive covering a long 90 yards. In the end, backup running back picks up a screen pass and runs it for 15 yards for the first touchdown of the day.
Here and there there are niggles and pack formations, the rivalry flashes through. Washington can initially only reply with a 43-yard field goal. Sam Howell's offense doesn't get much on the field yet. Prescott does better, faking a handoff to his running back and then firing a 31-yard rocket to Brandin Cooks. Touchdown number two looks so easy, but Cooks' beautiful change of direction in the middle of the field is first-class and makes his catch at the end possible.
Then the Commanders finally get into their stride. Howell first finds wide receiver Curtis Samuel for 13 yards in the redzone and then, on the next play, he runs himself through for a touchdown from very close range with a one-yard keeper. 10:14 feels flattering for the underdogs, who have been clearly outclassed so far.
The Texans' direct response is a demonstration of power: Dallas is very lucky that a Prescott throw is deflected but immediately fished down by its own man. Within just over a minute, the quarterback leads his Cowboys to another touchdown. It's a statement: if we want to, we can always shift up a gear. The score was 20:10 going into the break.
From a sporting point of view, the defense is again convincing in the second half. Virtually nothing happened in offense and neither team was able to score in the third quarter. The Cowboys' 20:10 lead is the narrowest lead they have had going into the final period this year. The Cowboys start this with a field goal. Rookie kicker Brandon Aubrey makes his 22nd consecutive field goal from 52 yards on his 22nd attempt - an NFL record for a career kickoff.
Micah Parsons then brings down quarterback Howell with a mighty leap to the neck. The third sack suffered by the playmaker in this game. It is not without reason that he is the quarterback with the most sacks this season, having previously been brought down 51 times in eleven games. Shortly afterwards, the next sack comes on a fourth-down attempt by the Commanders deep in their own half. The Cowboys took possession of the ball 24 yards from the end zone and Prescott found CeeDee Lamb for the next touchdown. After a 2-point conversion, the score is 31:10 and the game is decided. Prescott throws another touchdown to KaVontae Turpin with six minutes remaining.
And then DaRon Bland's historic moment arrives.
NFL record is the scene of the game
With just under five minutes to play, Howell tries to find a Commanders teammate with a throw at the opposing 40-yard line. But cornerback Bland instinctively darts in and intercepts the ball. And then everything happens in a flash. Too fast for Washington.
With quick steps, the Cowboy sprints towards the end zone. But the path in front of him over 63 yards is by no means clear. Bland fakes his way out of three opponents - magnificent. He then celebrates his fifth pick-six of the season, an intercepted throw that is carried into the end zone for a touchdown. That's never happened before. Because even a pick-six is incredibly difficult. A statistic that shows how outstanding this record is: Only in 1993, 1972 and 1971 has a player achieved this top-class defensive feat four times. "DaRon Bland is built different", writes the NFL with a fire emoji on X.
With the 45:10, Dallas has now won its five home games with a total score of 205:60, i.e. more than 40 points per game. Another small NFL record: The Cowboys are now the first team to win all of their first five home games of a season by 20 points or more. They have not trailed for a single second in the past 13 home games.
Dolly Parton is player of the game
Dak Prescott? No, this time the Dallas quarterback is not as convincing as he has been recently and someone else steals the show anyway. At half-time, Dolly Parton surprises everyone with her appearance in a Dallas Cowboys cheerleader outfit. The 80,000 fans in the AT&T Stadium love it. The 77-year-old icon lets the crowd go wild, kisses hands and sings some of her classics, including "Jolene" and "9 to 5". Because it fits so well, she also warbles "We are the Champions" and "We Will Rock You" into the microphone. Entertainment excess at its finest, for which the NFL is never too good. The football league naturally makes the most of an appearance by a US legend on "America's Team". Crazy sports amusement.
In the days leading up to the Thanksgiving game, the country singer had stated that she had turned down several requests to perform the halftime show at the Super Bowl. Parton, who released her first album in 1967, the same year the first Super Bowl had a halftime singer, told The Hollywood Reporter, "I just didn't think I was big enough for it - for a production that big." Parton has received ten Grammy awards and 54 nominations to date - the second most for a female artist.
In this intense NFL game between the Dallas Cowboys and Washington Commanders, DaRon Bland sets a new NFL record with his fifth interception returned for a touchdown in a season. On the sidenote, country music legend Dolly Parton surprises fans by appearing as a Dallas Cowboys cheerleader at halftime, adding a unique twist to this traditional American Football rivalry.
Source: www.ntv.de
