The Dallas Cowboys beat the Washington Commanders 37-20 on Sunday at AT&T Stadium because they finished drives and Washington didn't. Dallas scored touchdowns on 3 of its 4 red zone trips, while Washington came away with a touchdown on only 1 of 3.

The box score flatters the Commanders. They outgained Dallas, ran for 182 yards and held the ball longer. None of it mattered against a Dallas passing game that completed 26 of 31 throws.

How It Happened

Dallas struck first when Dak Prescott found CeeDee Lamb for a 3-yard touchdown with 10:01 left in the first quarter. Brandon Aubrey added a 25-yard field goal later in the quarter for a 10-0 lead.

Washington got on the board early in the second quarter with a 27-yard Drew Stevens field goal. Prescott answered with a 10-yard touchdown pass to Jake Ferguson. Jayden Daniels then hit Stefon Diggs from 4 yards out, and Dallas still led at halftime.

Stevens opened the third quarter with a 47-yard field goal to pull Washington within 4. That was as close as it got. Aubrey hit from 44 yards, and Prescott found Ferguson again for a 12-yard score less than a minute later, stretching the lead to 27-13.

Aubrey drilled a 60-yard field goal early in the fourth quarter. Marcus Mariota connected with Diggs on a 20-yard touchdown to cut the deficit to 10, but Prescott closed it with a 24-yard strike to Lamb with 3:07 remaining.

Washington's ground game was the story that didn't stick. The Commanders averaged nearly 6 yards a carry, while Dallas managed about 3. Washington also converted 8 of 14 third downs, yet that control did not turn into touchdowns often enough to keep pace.

Key Performers

Dak Prescott, DAL: 4 TD passes – Lamb (3, 24), Ferguson (10, 12)
CeeDee Lamb, DAL: 2 receiving TD – 3 YDS, 24 YDS
Jake Ferguson, DAL: 2 receiving TD – 10 YDS, 12 YDS
Brandon Aubrey, DAL: 3 FG – 25, 44, 60 YDS; 4 PAT
Stefon Diggs, WSH: 2 receiving TD – 4 YDS, 20 YDS

Prescott's afternoon was clean. Dallas averaged more than 8 yards per pass and did not throw an interception. The offense also committed no turnovers, while Washington lost a fumble.

Aubrey accounted for 13 points on his own. His long field goal in the fourth quarter stretched the Cowboys' lead further and forced Washington to chase.

What It Means

Dallas evens its record at 1-1. The split so far follows the venue: the Cowboys are 1-0 at home and 0-1 on the road. One game in each column proves little, but the Cowboys were sharp in their first home game.

Washington falls to 0-2, with both losses coming away from home. The Commanders have yet to play a home game, and they can point to the yardage and time of possession here as signs the offense is moving.

The problem is finishing. Washington had more first downs and more total yards, and still lost comfortably. Until the Commanders turn red zone trips into touchdowns, moving the ball will not be enough.