Dallas’ hopes alive with win

ARLINGTON, Texas — Dak Prescott was getting X-rays on his swollen right hand when rookie Ryan Switzer scored his first career touchdown on an 83-yard punt return.

The extra time with the Dallas offense on the sideline kept Prescott from missing any plays, and last year’s NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year led the Cowboys to their first win after three straight losses without suspended running back Ezekiel Elliott.

Prescott threw two touchdown passes, including a franchise record-breaker to Dez Bryant, in the Cowboys’ 38-14 victory over Washington on Thursday night.

The injury happened in the second quarter when Prescott’s right hand was hit by linebacker Josh Harvey-Clemons just as Prescott made an option pitch to Rod Smith.

“I don’t know if I’ve ever broken my hand,” Prescott said. “I couldn’t grip initially right after because the (hand) swelled up on me so bad. As I said, they wrapped it up, got the swelling down and I was fine.”

Bryant’s leaping 13yard catch in the end zone was 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 (6-6) never trailed despite a sluggish start on offense, thanks to three first-half turnovers and four overall by Washington (5-7). Dallas 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 his six-game suspension for alleged domestic violence, had 127 yards rushing and a touchdown.

The Cowboys forced NFL-leading Philadelphia to wait until at least Sunday to clinch the division title. Dallas still faces a steep climb to playoff contention, and two more games without Elliott.

Washington had already been eliminated in the division race and is virtually out of the postseason picture after Kirk Cousins threw two interceptions and lost a fumble. He had two touchdown passes.

“It was just miscues,” Cousins said. “A dropped ball here, we had a nice drive down the field the second drive, just a tough turnover, and then it was one thing after another that were just mistakes. They happen, and we have to correct them.”

The Cowboys looked more like the offense they have when Elliott is around, with Morris picking up big yardage on clock-killing drives.