EditorsNote: fixed time of field goal in 5th graf and score in 7th graf
Antonio Gibson rushed for three touchdowns Thursday, the second coming after an ill-fated fake punt by the Dallas Cowboys deep in their territory, as the Washington Football Team climbed into first place in the NFC East with a 41-16 win at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
Gibson collected 115 yards on 20 carries as Washington improved to 4-7, passing Philadelphia (3-6-1) for the division lead. Quarterback Alex Smith completed 19 of 26 passes for 149 yards with a touchdown and an interception.
Andy Dalton connected on 25 of 35 attempts for 215 yards with a score and a pick that was returned 15 yards for a touchdown by Montez Sweat with 3:24 left in the game. That capped a stretch of three Washington scores in nine minutes.
The first came one play after Cedrick Wilson lost a yard on a 4th-and-10 fake punt from the Dallas 24. Gibson raced 23 yards off right tackle on the next play for a 27-16 lead with 12:07 left. Gibson then added a 37-yard touchdown run at the 3:31 mark.
Dallas initiated scoring with the first of three Greg Zuerlein field goals, a 33-yarder at the 8:30 mark in the first quarter. But Washington took a 7-3 lead with 1:37 left on Gibson's 5-yard touchdown run, capping a 12-play drive that featured a 28-yard pass from tight end -- and former college quarterback -- Logan Thomas to Terry McLaurin.
Dalton put the Cowboys ahead 10-7 when he hit Amari Cooper in stride behind cornerback Ronald Darby for a 54-yard scoring strike 52 seconds into the second quarter. Washington tied it seven minutes later on Dustin Hopkins' 23-yard field goal.
Thomas caught a 5-yard touchdown pass from Smith with 2:26 remaining in the half, and Zuerlein drew Dallas within 17-13 on a 32-yard field goal 19 seconds before intermission.
Hopkins converted a 36-yard field goal, six plays after Ezekiel Elliott lost a fumble via replay review, just over four minutes into the third quarter. Zuerlein hit from 28 later in the period, but the Cowboys started the drive on the Washington 4 after a 43-yard interception return by Jaylon Smith.
Dallas fell into the division cellar at 3-8.
--Field Level Media
