Controversial play calls cost the Cowboys a potential victory in the second half against Washington

Dallas- The Cowboys had some head scratching plays late in the second half in the 41-16 loss to the Football Team.

With first place hanging in the air for the NFC East, the Cowboys knew that they had to take care of business against the Washington Football Team on Thanksgiving day.

On the opening drive for the Cowboys, they were in position to score a touchdown, but their offense stalled in the redzone. Dallas had to settle for a 31-yard field goal, which was good to put them up 3-0 over Washington. On the ensuing drive, three big penalties on Dallas put Washington in position to score. Washington scored a touchdown and went up 7-3.

Andy Dalton threw a beautiful 54-yard touchdown pass to Amari Cooper to open up the second quarter and the Cowboys retook the lead, 10-7. The Cowboys' defense came up big, as they stopped a third and goal attempt for Washington midway in the quarter. The Football Team tacked on a field goal and tied the game up 10-10.

On a fourth and one, Mike McCarthy decided to go for it and failed on the conversion. Washington took over on downs at the Cowboys 35 and a couple plays later, they scored a touchdown to go up 17-10. Before the end of the half, Dallas tacked on a field goal to cut Washington's lead to four, 17-13.

Ezekiel Elliot fumbled the ball early in the third quarter and the Football Team recovered the ball. Washington took advantage of the turnover and tacked another field goal to make it 20-13.

Dallas got a huge break as Jaylon Smith intercepted Alex Smith and put the Cowboys' offense in scoring position late into the quarter. Four plays later, Dallas tacked on another field go to cut the lead to four, 20-16.

Early in the fourth, the Cowboys attempted a fake punt and did not convert the down. The Football Team took advantage of the great field position and scored a running touchdown to extend the lead 27-16.

The Cowboys could not stop the Football Team on a fourth and one late into the fourth quarter and walked away with a devastating loss.