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.
Subscribe to our free weekly newsletter!
A week of sports news in your in-box.
We find the sports news you need to know, so you don't have to.
30 SPORTS FIGURES WHO DIED IN 2018 – TRIBUTE SLIDESHOW
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:
The trial of former New England Patriots wide receiver Stefon Diggs and his personal chef…
The Orlando Magic have fired head coach Jamahl Mosley. This comes after the Game 7…
The Detroit Pistons defeated the Orlando Magic in Game 7 of the first round to…
ESPN's Inside the NBA featured New England Patriots coach Mike Vrabel and former The Athletic reporter Dianna Russini in a graphic after…
The Milwaukee Brewers faced another postseason letdown after getting swept by the Dodgers in the…
Atlanta Falcons edge rusher James Pearce Jr. will join an intervention program. Pearce Jr. was…