Prescott, Cowboys rout rival Redskins
Dak Prescott and the Dallas Cowboys finally found a way to win without suspended star running back
Ezekiel Elliott.
The question is whether the defending NFC East champions figured it out in time to salvage their fading playoff hopes. Prescott threw two touchdown passes, including a franchise record-breaker to
Dez Bryant, and the Cowboys beat the Washington Redskins 38-14 last night in Arlington, Texas.
Prescott, last year’s NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year, shook off a hand injury and found Bryant on a 13-yard leaping grab in the end zone for the 2014 All-Pro’s first score in six games and 72nd of his career, one more than Hall of Famer Bob Hayes.
The Cowboys started quickly thanks to three first-half turnovers and four overall by the Redskins and kept it going after halftime with a 21-7 scoring edge after getting outscored 72-6 in the second half of three straight losses without Elliott.
Alfred Morris, Elliott’s replacement during the six-game suspension for alleged domestic violence, had 127 yards rushing and a clinching touchdown.
The Cowboys forced NFL-leading Philadelphia to wait until at least Sunday to clinch the division title. But Dallas still faces a steep climb to playoff contention, and two more games without Elliott.
The Redskins had already been eliminated in the division race and are virtually out of the postseason picture after Kirk Cousins threw two interceptions and lost a fumble while throwing two touchdown passes.
Browns S fined
Jabrill Peppers scanned the email from the NFL and saw the amount of his fine.
“I stopped reading the letter,” he said. “Yeah, I shut it down.”
Cleveland’s rookie safety was fined $24,000 by the league for his illegal hit on Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Josh Malone on Sunday.
In the fourth quarter, Peppers delivered a hard blow near the sideline to Malone’s chest area, but the official ruled he made contact with the receiver’s helmet and assessed him a personal foul. Cincinnati scored a touchdown moments later to wrap up its 30-16 win.
Peppers still feels he led with his shoulder and his hit was within the rules. He’s still unclear as why Malone was considered a “defenseless” receiver as he appeared to be running with the ball.
“I’ve got to do a better job of coming lower, not leaving anything to chance,” he said. “I do think they should have some type of review on plays like that to make it fair ’cause right now it’s where can we hit the guy to dislodge him from the ball. You hit him too hard up top and it looks too violent, they flag you.
“If you go too low, you’re a dirty player, you’re maliciously trying to injure someone. But at the end of the day, that’s why they pay us to make those decisions to figure it out.”
Keenum best in NFC
Minnesota Vikings quarterback Case Keenum has been named the NFC Player of the Month for November.
Keenum completed 69of-97 passes (71.1 percent) for 866 yards and seven touchdowns over three games, with just two interceptions and two sacks. He also rushed for one score, helping the Vikings total 400-plus yards of offense in each game.
Keenum is the second monthly award winner for the Vikings this year, after defensive end Everson Griffen was honored on the other side of the ball for October.
The Patriots’ Tom Brady was named the AFC’s Player of the Month . . . .
Chicago Bears safety Quintin Demps practiced for the first time since breaking his left arm in late September.
His return to practice opened a 21-day window for the Bears to decide whether to activate him from injured reserve or have him miss the remainder of the season.