ARLINGTON — Dak Prescott entered Sunday needing a memorable performance to help Dallas recover from its Week 1 disappointment. He walked out of AT&T Stadium owning another piece of Cowboys history.
Dallas defeated the Washington Commanders 37–20, improving to 1–1 while delivering a convincing response in its home opener behind an outstanding afternoon from its veteran quarterback.
Prescott controlled the game with remarkable efficiency, completing 26 of 31 passes for 279 yards, four touchdowns and zero interceptions, repeatedly punishing Washington whenever its secondary gave him an opening.
Two of those touchdown passes went to tight end Jake Ferguson, while CeeDee Lamb caught the other two during a dominant performance that repeatedly stretched Washington’s defense across the field.
But Prescott’s final touchdown became far more significant than simply putting another seven points on the scoreboard. It officially moved him into first place in Cowboys franchise history.
With 3:14 remaining in the fourth quarter, Prescott connected with Lamb for a 24-yard touchdown, giving Dallas a 36–20 advantage before Brandon Aubrey added the extra point.
That throw represented the 249th touchdown pass of Prescott’s NFL career, officially moving him beyond former Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo, who finished his Dallas career with 248.
Prescott had entered Sunday three touchdown passes behind Romo. His third scoring throw, a 12-yard connection with Ferguson, tied the longtime franchise record before history arrived during the fourth quarter.
The record-breaking moment fittingly involved Lamb, Prescott’s longtime No. 1 target. Lamb finished the afternoon with eight receptions for 153 yards and two touchdowns, leading Dallas’ receiving attack.
Prescott’s achievement carries additional significance because Romo spent more than a decade defining the position in Dallas, eventually finishing his Cowboys career with 34,183 passing yards and 248 touchdown passes.
Now, the top position on that particular franchise leaderboard belongs exclusively to Prescott, whose journey began as a fourth-round selection before unexpectedly taking over Dallas’ starting quarterback job in 2016.
The afternoon ultimately delivered exactly what Dallas needed: its first victory of the new season, an explosive performance from its quarterback and a historic milestone witnessed by the home crowd.
For Prescott, however, 249 now represents something permanent. Whatever happens throughout the remainder of his Cowboys career, no quarterback in franchise history has thrown more regular-season touchdown passes.