Man, where do you even begin with this one? The Dallas Cowboys’ 2024 season officially crashed and burned in Washington, D.C., and let me tell you, it was the kind of ending that felt like watching a movie where you already knew the plot twist… but it still stung. A 7-10 finish. A last-second loss. A year filled with big names, weird decisions, and, let’s be honest, way too many punts.
This wasn’t just a season finale. It was a microcosm of everything that went wrong for America’s Team this year. Buckle up, friends—this one’s got it all: questionable calls, shining moments (looking at you, Micah Parsons), and a whole lot of head-scratching.
First Quarter: A Glimmer of Hope (Sort of)
The game started with a flash of what could’ve been. Micah Parsons, the Cowboys’ human wrecking ball, decided to make Washington QB Jayden Daniels’ day miserable. The guy hit double-digit sacks for the fourth year in a row. You’d think this kind of historic performance would light a fire under the team.
Trey Lance, making his first start as a Cowboy, showed some promise early. He moved the ball enough to set up a Brandon Aubrey field goal. Sure, it wasn’t a touchdown, but hey, baby steps, right?
By the end of the quarter, Dallas held a slim lead. It felt… okay. Not great. But okay.
Second Quarter: Missed Opportunities, Same Old Story
Here’s where it started to unravel. Early in the quarter, Dallas got a gift—a muffed punt by Washington. The kind of lucky break that good teams capitalize on. But the Cowboys? Another field goal.
Then, just when you thought Washington’s offense was asleep at the wheel, they put up three points of their own.
The real gut punch came at the end of the half. With seconds left and the ball near the goal line, Trey Lance scrambled like a kid trying to finish his homework on the bus. It was heroic, chaotic, and ultimately pointless. A throw to Rico Dowdle fell short, and the Cowboys walked off with nothing.
Third Quarter: Changing the Channel Yet?
Dallas started the second half with a long drive that chewed up clock but ended—surprise!—with a field goal. Brandon Aubrey probably deserves a medal for keeping this team afloat.
Then Washington subbed out Jayden Daniels for Marcus Mariota. Not because of injury. Just because. The Commanders, already playoff-bound, were essentially playing their backups. And Mariota promptly torched the Cowboys’ defense, capping it off with a touchdown to Zach Ertz.
The Cowboys were trailing now. And you could feel it—that sinking sense of inevitability.
Fourth Quarter: So Close, Yet So Cowboys
This is where things got wild. Deuce Vaughn came alive on a drive that almost gave Dallas their first touchdown of the game. Almost. Jake Ferguson couldn’t get two feet inbounds, so—yep, another field goal.
Mariota responded by marching Washington down the field and scoring on a run. Washington was up by four, and you could practically hear Team Tank fans cheering from their couches.
But wait! Trey Lance and the Cowboys showed life, stringing together a drive that ended with Rico Dowdle punching it in for a rushing touchdown. Dallas was back on top by three. Hope, cruel as ever, made a brief cameo.
And then… Mariota struck again. A game-winning touchdown pass to Terry McLaurin sealed it. The Commanders walked off with the W, and the Cowboys were left staring into the abyss of the offseason.
What Now for the Cowboys?
This wasn’t just a loss. It was a summary of the whole year—flashes of brilliance buried under missed chances, questionable decisions, and an inability to finish when it mattered most.
Micah Parsons was a lone bright spot, cementing himself as one of the NFL’s elite. Trey Lance showed moments of promise but raised more questions than answers. And the coaching? Well, let’s just say the offseason chatter will be loud.
The Commanders, meanwhile, move on to the playoffs, leaving Dallas to pick up the pieces of another disappointing year.