ARLINGTON, Texas (Interstat) — Dak Prescott threw three touchdown passes and the Dallas Cowboys’ defense forced a safety and a critical turnover to power a 44-22 victory over the Washington Commanders on Sunday at AT&T Stadium.

A crowd of 93,051 watched the Cowboys even their record at 3-3-1 while the Commanders fell to 3-4. The result was an upset according to pregame projections, which had favored Washington by 1.5 points.

Prescott, the veteran quarterback from Haughton, Louisiana, was efficient and effective, completing 21 of 30 passes for 264 yards. He connected with tight end Jake Ferguson for two touchdowns and hit star wide receiver CeeDee Lamb for a 74-yard score that shifted momentum decisively in the first quarter.

Lamb, a native of Richmond, Texas, finished with five receptions for 110 yards. Ferguson caught seven passes for 29 yards and his two scores. The Dallas ground game was anchored by Javonte Williams, who rushed for 116 yards and a touchdown on 19 carries.

The game began disastrously for the Cowboys. After the opening kickoff, their first drive stalled and they were forced to punt from deep in their own territory. The ensuing play resulted in a safety when Washington’s defense stuffed Williams for a loss in the end zone, giving the Commanders an early 2-0 lead.

Washington capitalized on the free kick, marching down the field. Rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels of San Bernardino, California, capped the drive with a 5-yard touchdown pass to Zach Ertz. The two-point conversion attempt failed, leaving the Commanders with an 8-0 advantage.

Dallas responded with a 10-play, 75-yard drive, finished by a 2-yard touchdown run from Williams to cut the deficit to 8-7.

The game’s pivotal sequence occurred on the next series. After another Washington punt, Prescott found Lamb on a deep crossing route. Lamb caught the pass in stride and outran the secondary for a 74-yard touchdown, giving Dallas its first lead at 17-8.

Washington briefly reclaimed momentum just before halftime. Daniels engineered a 10-play, 75-yard drive, scrambling for a 1-yard touchdown with 45 seconds left in the second quarter. The score and extra point pulled the Commanders to within 27-22.

Any hope of a Washington comeback was extinguished on the first possession of the second half. Dallas methodically drove 60 yards in 11 plays, with Prescott finding Ferguson for a 5-yard touchdown to extend the lead to 34-22.

The knockout blow came on Washington’s next drive. Backup quarterback Marcus Mariota, who replaced Daniels in the third quarter, was intercepted by Cowboys cornerback DaRon Bland. Bland returned the pick for a touchdown, pushing the Dallas lead to 41-22 and effectively sealing the game.

Mariota, from Honolulu, Hawaii, finished 4 of 10 for 63 yards and the critical interception. Daniels, before exiting, was 12 of 22 for 156 yards with one touchdown pass and one rushing touchdown. He also ran for 35 yards on eight carries.

The Dallas defense harassed both Washington quarterbacks all afternoon. Donovan Ezeiruaku, Jadeveon Clowney, Kenneth Murray Jr., and Shemar James each recorded a sack. James and Murray led the team with nine tackles apiece.

Cowboys kicker Brandon Aubrey was perfect on the day, connecting on all three of his field goal attempts from 47, 61, and 29 yards, and making all five of his extra-point tries.

The Commanders’ special teams provided a lone bright spot. Luke McCaffrey returned eight kickoffs for 209 yards, repeatedly giving Washington favorable field position.

The Cowboys will look to build on the win when they travel to face the Denver Broncos next Sunday. The Commanders, meanwhile, face a short week before a Monday afternoon road test against the Kansas City Chiefs on October 27. The two NFC East rivals will meet again on Christmas Day in Washington.