Amari Cooper (Image: Getty)
Amari Cooper delivered a stellar performance on Thursday to help the Dallas Cowboys secure a 31-23 home victory over the Washington Redskins, thus helping his team jump to the top of the NFC East standings.
Following the Thanksgiving Day matchup, the Cowboys (6-5) now sit at first in the division, while Washington (6-5) has dropped to second. Defending Super Bowl champions Philadelphia (4-6) are third and the New York Giants (3-7) are fourth in the NFC East.
Dallas benefited from a monster showing from two-time Pro Bowl wide receiver Cooper — who scored three touchdowns in less than eight minutes — and capitalized on three interceptions en route to the victory. The Cowboys’ offense appeared significantly stronger than it was a month ago, when the team first played the Redskins this season and lost 20-17 in Maryland on Oct. 21.
Just one day after that loss to Washington, the Cowboys acquired Cooper — the No. 4 overall pick out of Alabama in the 2015 NFL Draft — in a trade with the Oakland Raiders that saw them give up a 2019 first-round pick. Since then, Dallas has gone 3-1 and seems poised to be in strong contention to clinch the NFC East title, just as they did in 2016 when they finished 13-3 behind incredible performances from then-rookies Dak Prescott and Ezekiel Elliott.
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On Thursday, Cooper seemed to be the Cowboys’ saving grace. In the third quarter, the receiver took advantage of a Washington defender who tripped to gain 35 yards following a reception on a 40-yard TD. One drive later, Cooper dashed 69 yards following a catch for a 90-yard score, which marked Prescott’s longest career touchdown pass.
According to NFL stats, Cooper’s 180 yards on eight receptions marked the most for a Cowboys wideout since Dez Bryant‘s 224-yard explosion against the New Orleans Saints on Dec. 23, 2012.
See some of Cooper’s Thanksgiving Day highlights here:
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