LANDOVER, Md. -- It is no surprise that the Cowboys have added a game-changing offensive player to the mix this season. It's only a surprise that his name is not Ezekiel Elliott.
For the second straight Sunday, quarterback Dak Prescott refused to submit to rookie mistakes. Sometimes that uncommon poise under pressure will not be enough. But where the Cowboys came up a few yards and one point short against the New York Giants, Prescott drove Dallas for the game's only fourth-quarter touchdown and a 27-23 victory over Washington at FedEx Field.
If these games look eerily similar to last year's Sundays without Tony Romo -- an offense that stalls and settles for field goals, a defense capable of surrendering a killer big play at any moment -- then the one significant change isn't the fourth pick of the draft but the late fourth-round pick.
Elliott at least got untracked, running for 83 yards on 21 carries but fumbling twice. That's why when Prescott drove the Cowboys for the winning points, his handoff was to former Redskin Alfred Morris and not the Ohio State rookie.
But Dez Bryant had his first 100-yard game with the new quarterback as Prescott completed 22 of 30 passes for 292 yards. After 75 NFL throws (more than 62 percent complete), Prescott still has zero touchdowns and zero interceptions.
"He gives us a chance to execute on ball plays because the demeanor he plays with us is infectious throughout our team," coach Jason Garrett said. "Guys see that and respond to that."
The Cowboys also responded favorably to some suspect play-calling by Washington, a team obsessed with attempting difficult fade passes for touchdowns on repeated possessions. When Kirk Cousins finally tried the middle of the field (where three Cowboys had surrounded Pierre Garçon), Barry Church's interception in the end zone gave Dallas possession at the 20, down 23-20 with 10:35 to play.
Prescott covered the 80 yards methodically, gaining 56 through the air and another 20 via penalties before Morris' 4-yard run spelled the difference between a 1-1 record and an 0-2 start.
Prescott also led the Cowboys on touchdown drives of 94 and 75 yards, finishing the second one with a 6-yard TD run of his own. We don't know how long it's going to take for him to throw a touchdown pass, but it may not matter if he's playing mistake-free football and the Cowboys keep averaging more than 34 minutes possession time per game.
"It's exciting but I mean I just have to enjoy it tonight and move on tomorrow," Prescott said. "I know how this whole deal works, I know how the season works and I want to get a lot more wins for this team."
Did Garrett help Prescott's chances by attempting an onside kick in the third quarter after the rookie's run had put Dallas ahead, 20-17? I thought it was a good call despite the fact Dan Bailey failed to kick the ball the requisite 10 yards. You take chances when the opponent is least expecting them. Who figured Garrett would give Washington, which had scored 17 points in a quarter and a half, a short field?
As it turned out, the Dallas defense held the Redskins to a field goal there and again after Elliott fumbled. Those two missed opportunities to score touchdowns and the Church interception in the end zone kept the Cowboys alive perhaps longer than they should have been.
Washington had reached Dallas' 10-yard line on three straight possessions. Out of a potential 21 points, the Redskins scored six.
Someone had to take advantage of the Redskins' largesse. It was left to the Cowboys' rookie to show the team the way.
"He's well-respected throughout the team," Bryant said. "You've got to come through for a guy like that. He's got big shoes to fill, but he's been phenomenal."
Bryant did most of his work against cornerback Bashaud Breeland as, for the second week in a row, Washington left its more decorated cornerback, Josh Norman, primarily on the left side of the field to cover whoever lined up in that space. If the goal was to silence Terrance Williams, mission accomplished.
As the game got into the final quarter, Norman travelled to cover Bryant at least a few plays, but Prescott again had success throwing to Cole Beasley and Jason Witten as they accounted for 126 of the team's receiving yards.
"Hats off to Dak Prescott and that offensive line for Dallas and the receivers," Redskins Coach Jay Gruden said. "I think they did a great job, and we need to do better."
No one at FedExField would argue with him on either front.
Twitter: @TimCowlishaw
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