DaRon Bland set the NFL record for most interceptions returned for touchdowns in a season as the Dallas Cowboys defeated the Washington Commanders 45-10 on Thanksgiving.
Rico Dowdle’s 15-yard touchdown run with 46 seconds left in the first quarter put the Cowboys (8-4) ahead, and scores from Brandin Cooks and Tony Pollard extended the home team’s lead to 20-10 at halftime.
Joey Slye’s field goal and a rushing touchdown by Commanders quarterback Sam Howell, who finished with 300 yards and completed 28 of 44 passes while being sacked four times, kept the visitors within striking distance of their NFC East rivals.
After a scoreless third quarter, Brandon Aubrey’s field goal, CeeDee Lamb’s sixth receiving touchdown of the season, and KaVontae Turpin’s end-zone grab ensured Dallas scored 30-plus points for the sixth consecutive home game, with quarterback Dak Prescott passing for 331 yards and four touchdowns.
But there was still time for Bland to make NFL history, as he snagged a pass from Howell and raced 63 yards downfield for his fifth pick-six of the season, breaking the record of four he shared with Eric Allen (1993), Jim Kearney (1972), and Ken Houston (1971).