The Washington Commanders fell to the Dallas Cowboys in a rollercoaster game, partly due to a failed kick operation that saw Austin Seibert miss a crucial game-tying extra point in the final minute.

Yet, this was not the main reason for their loss.

They also struggled to contain KaVontae Turpin, the Cowboys’ dynamic return specialist, whose game-changing ability we flagged beforehand.

Still, that wasn’t the primary cause of the defeat.

Mistakes were a factor as well. The Commanders missed two extra points, allowed two kickoff return touchdowns, committed eight penalties compared to Dallas’ four, and turned the ball over three times while forcing only one.

However, none of these errors fully explain why Washington fell short in a must-win home game against a Dallas team on a five-game losing streak.

The key issue was the offensive line’s inability to handle the Cowboys’ defensive front. Despite Dallas’ struggles in most defensive metrics this season, they physically dominated Washington’s offense, particularly early on.

A late flurry of offensive production improved the stats, but the unit failed to capitalize when the game hung in the balance.Several moments illustrate the problem:

On the first play of the game, defensive tackle Mazi Smith overpowered Tyler Biadasz, resulting in an injury to running back Brian Robinson Jr., who was limited the rest of the game.

On the next snap, right tackle Andrew Wylie missed a blitz pickup, leading to an errant throw by Jayden Daniels.

After a solid Daniels run, the line was overwhelmed on the following snap, stalling an Austin Ekeler carry.

A sweep by Ekeler on fourth down also failed as left tackle Brandon Coleman missed his block, allowing cornerback Jourdan Lewis to make the stop.

Early in the second quarter, with Washington in Dallas territory following a fumble recovery, Cowboys edge rusher Micah Parsons blew past right guard Sam Cosmi and forced an incomplete pass.

Later, after Washington blocked a punt and had the ball deep in Dallas territory, left guard Nick Allegretti couldn’t hold his block on Osa Odighizuwa, resulting in a stuffed run by Robinson.

Two plays later, Cosmi was slow on a screen pass, allowing Chauncey Golston to strip the ball from Robinson for an interception.

Altogether, the offensive line was beaten on seven critical first-half plays. The Commanders began three drives in Dallas territory and two others near midfield but managed just three points.

That failure is the core reason they lost.

This game should have been out of reach by halftime. In the first half, Washington’s offense gained just 113 yards, averaging a meager 3.8 yards per play.

Their passing attack fared even worse, averaging only 2.9 yards per attempt while surrendering three sacks and three tackles for loss. Dallas blitzed often, leaving Daniels scrambling for survival.

In the previous two weeks, losses to the Steelers and Eagles, Washington’s offensive line struggled against two elite defensive fronts. But Dallas does not have the same caliber of talent across its defensive front seven.

Apart from Parsons, the Cowboys lack top-tier players in the trenches, yet they still controlled the line of scrimmage.

Other factors contributed to the loss. The play-calling and offensive rhythm seemed uninspired.

The defense mixed solid stretches with costly mistakes, including blown coverages and penalties. They also failed to pressure Cooper Rush effectively, and Jeremy Chinn struggled in coverage.

All of this played a role, but at the heart of it, Washington’s offense was physically overpowered in the trenches.

While some late-game heroics improved the stats, the Commanders’ offensive line was unable to deliver when it mattered most in the first half.