The Dallas Cowboys Week 16 matchup with Washington Football Team (WFT) was supposed to be a close game between two NFL division rivals. While the division rival part was true…the close game part was anything but. The NFC East division championship was already clinched for Dallas before the game even began, so maybe that put a little bit of doubt into the heads of every person associated with WFT (6-9)– that might be the only excuse the team can have for losing a game 56-14 and virtually ending your NFC Wild Card playoff chances at the same time.

The all-time series between WFT and the Cowboys now sees Dallas with a 75-47-2 overall record against WFT. That record includes two straight wins for the Cowboys and eleven wins in their last fifteen matchups. Sunday Night was the biggest loss in the history of the rivalry — for either team — and what makes it worse for WFT (and better for the Cowboys) is they all have a whole year to think all about it. Here are three takeaways from Sunday's Cowboys-WFT Matchup from Dallas' perspective: one good, one great, and one that can change their season.

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Cowboys Week 16 Takeaways 

3. This team can be dangerous with a lead (good)

Dallas is 24th in the league in yards per pass attempt allowed (YPA) (4.5) and is 19th in the NFL in rushing yards per carry allowed (YPC) ( 6.7). Good teams can see that it is easier to run on the Cowboys at first and then attack through the play-action pass. You do NOT want to put yourself into pure passing situations against this defense. That is what Washington did by getting so far behind, so early in the game — therefore playing right into Dallas' plans. Dallas should look to build off of this game as this defensive unit has allowed just 4.3 YPA  through the air in their last three games.

2. Amari Cooper got his targets (great)

Cooper has complained publicly over the past week about his desire to get more targets in the Cowboys' passing game. The wheels were certainly greased this week when Cooper got eleven targets against WFT and turned them into seven catches for 85 yards and a touchdown (12.5 yards per catch.) To put it into context, Cooper got more targets than the Cowboys' other receivers Ceedee Lamb (5) and Michael Gallup (5)…combined. If Dallas continues to feed Cooper, it will open up more targets for Lamb, Gallup, and even tight end Dalton Schultz, which is scary for opposing defenses.

1. Dak is Back (Season Changer)

Dak Prescott is back and he is back in a big way. Despite being benched in the third quarter of a blowout and not returning to his team's 54-14 victory, Prescott was able to throw for 330 yards and four touchdowns. He completes 28 out of 39 passes, didn't turn the ball over, and took three sacks. That would be the only bad thing to pick out of Prescott's play from Sunday Night Football. Three sacks in a half of football is unacceptable and something he and his protection will need to have figured out before the Cowboys face a hungry Arizona Cardinals team in Week 17.