The Dallas Cowboys went into Washington on Christmas Day and did exactly what everyone expected: they destroyed a Commanders team starting their third-string quarterback.

The final score was 30-23, but the game was never that close. Dallas scored touchdowns on their first three drives while Washington was still figuring out which way the field pointed. The only drama was whether KaVontae Turpin's 86-yard touchdown would hold up as the longest in Christmas Day history.

Spoiler: it did.

The Quick Hit

• What happened: Cowboys beat Commanders 30-23 on Christmas Day in a game that wasn't close
• The damage: Dak Prescott threw for 307 yards and 2 TDs, including an 86-yarder to Turpin
• Why you should care: Turpin's TD is now the longest in Christmas Day NFL history
• The context: Washington started third-string QB Josh Johnson, and it showed

Turpin Took One to the House

Eighty-six yards. One play. Christmas Day history.

KaVontae Turpin caught a pass from Dak Prescott in space and did what he does best: outran everyone. The 86-yard touchdown is the longest scoring play in Christmas Day history, and it came on the Cowboys' second drive of the game.

At that point, it was 14-0 and the Commanders looked completely outmatched. Dallas would score again on their next possession to make it 21-3, and the game was effectively over before halftime.

Turpin has made a career out of big plays. Return touchdowns. Deep shots. Gadget plays. But catching a pass and taking it 86 yards for a Christmas Day record? That's the kind of highlight that gets replayed forever.

Josh Johnson Never Had a Chance

Washington's quarterback situation has been a disaster all season, and Christmas Day was the breaking point.

Marcus Mariota was already out with an injury. The Commanders turned to Josh Johnson, a 39-year-old journeyman who has been with approximately 47 NFL teams over his career. Johnson is a professional backup, not a guy you want starting a nationally televised game against a division rival.

The results were predictable. Washington's offense sputtered early while Dallas built a 21-3 lead. Johnson actually played decently considering the circumstances, throwing for 296 yards and keeping the Commanders in the game late, but the hole was too deep to climb out of.

The Spread Was Ridiculous

Dallas opened as 3-point road favorites. Once the Johnson news broke, the line shot up to -8.5 at most books. Some shops were offering -9 or -9.5 by kickoff.

The Cowboys covered easily. If you got in early at -3, you were laughing. If you took the 8.5 points, you still cashed with a 7-point margin of victory. Dallas controlled this game from the opening kick, and the only reason the final score looks respectable is garbage time production from Washington.

Cowboys bettors took 69 percent of spread bets and 78 percent of spread dollars at DraftKings. Sometimes the public is right.

Neither Team Is Going Anywhere

Here's the thing about this game: it meant nothing for the playoffs. Both teams are eliminated. Dallas (7-8) and Washington (4-12) are playing for pride and draft position at this point.

But for the Cowboys, this was about finishing the season with some momentum. They've had a disappointing year, but beating up on a division rival on Christmas Day is exactly what the fan base needed. Dak looked healthy. Turpin made history. The defense held when it needed to.

The Bottom Line

The Cowboys did what they were supposed to do against an overmatched opponent. The 86-yard touchdown to Turpin will be the highlight everyone remembers, but the real story was Dallas's complete control from start to finish.

For bettors, this was a chalk game that hit exactly as expected. The public was on Dallas, and the public was right. Sometimes the betting world is that simple.