There’s a lot at stake for the Dallas Cowboys when they take the field against the Washington Commanders in Week 18. Both the team and some players are on the verge of some milestone achievements.
The big picture for the team is simple, win the game and they’ll win the division for the second time in three years. That would be an incredible feat considering where the Cowboys were a few weeks ago when winning the NFC East seemed like a longshot.
Meanwhile, there are also goals for some on a more personal level. Football is the ultimate team sport, but there are some Cowboys who have milestone’s they can hit against the Commanders. Here are some of the key statistical markers that are available for the Cowboys in the season finale.
Prescott has a chance to be the only the second quarterback in franchise history to lead the NFL in passing touchdowns in a single season. Currently, Hall of Famer Roger Staubach is the only Cowboys QB to ever lead the league in touchdown passes when he had 23 in 1971. Like Prescott, Staubach was also in his 30’s when he did it as a 31-year-old.
With 32 scores through the air, Prescott leads San Francisco 49ers QB Brock Purdy by one (31), and Green Bay Packers’ QB Jordan Love by two (30) heading into Week 18. With Purdy not expected to play, Prescott has a two touchdown advantage heading into the week.
The Commanders have given up the most touchdowns through the air so there’s a real chance Prescott winds up with the most passing scores in the NFL for the 2023 season.
He hasn’t had the year many expected, but Pollard can still eclipse the 1,000-yard mark with 65 yards against the Commanders in Week 18. It would be the second year in a row that Pollard hits the milestone if he can find running room.
Rushing for 1,000 yards isn’t what it used to be, but considering there are only six current RBs who have hit the mark this season, it would still be an admirable achievement. Pollard only averages 58 yards a game and has rushed for 65 yards or more in just five games this season, so getting to 1,000 yards won’t be an easy task. However, the veteran RB did run for 79 yards in the first meeting between the two teams earlier this season.
This may take a little more effort from the Cowboys to give Lamb a shot at the receiving title, but it can be done. At 1,651 yards, Lamb currently sits 66 yards behind Miami Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill, who leads the NFL with 1,717 yards receiving.
Hill has slowed down from his historic pace while Lamb has gone into hyperdrive to even make this a close race. Lamb has a chance playing against the Commanders, who allow nearly 260 passing yards a game, good for 31st in the league, while Hill plays the Bills, who give up under 200 yards a game through the air.
Hill is also nursing an ankle injury and had a fire at his house this week, so his status for Week 18 is up in the air. He’s questionable to play.
If Lamb does come away with the receiving yards title, he would become just the third Cowboys WR to accomplish the feat, joining Hall of Famers Drew Pearson in 1977 and Michael Irvin in 1991. It would be a would a great way to cap off an amazing season for Lamb, one that might be considered the best ever for a Dallas receiver.
Parsons has been one of the most dominant pass rushers in the league, but it has only translated into 13 sacks. The attention paid to Parsons, the constant (uncalled) holds, and offenses committed to getting the ball out faster than they normally do has a lot to do with Parsons ranking just eighth in the league in sacks.
However, that doesn’t mean Parsons isn’t disrupting games, because he continues to be a menace.
The 13 sacks are just 0.5 shy of his career high and adding a full sack to his ledger would give Parsons a new personal best. Parsons set the mark at 13.5 last season and should pass that this week in Washington. The Commanders have given up the most sacks in the league at 61, and Parsons had 1.5 in the first matchup.
Expect Parsons to surpass his former number and set the bar higher for future seasons.
If the Cowboys can leave Washington with a win, not only will they win the NFC East for the second time in McCarthy’s tenure, but the coach will also accomplish a first for any coach in franchise history. A win would result in three straight 12 win seasons under McCarthy, which has never happened under any other Cowboys coach.
Not even Hall of Famers Tom Landry or Jimmy Johnson can make that claim. Dallas had four straight 12 winning seasons from 1992-1995, but those years were split up between Johnson and his replacement Barry Switzer.
McCarthy’s had some questionable moments this season, but there’s no denying that winning 12 games in three consecutive years is an outstanding achievement.
