By Tom Humphrey
DARON Bland set an NFL record after recording his fifth pick-six of the season in helping the Dallas Cowboys to a resounding 45-10 victory over their divisional rivals, the Washington Commanders.
Cornerback Bland picked off Sam Howell’s intended pass and ran it in for his fifth touchdown this term as Dallas quarterback Dak Prescott threw for 331 yards and four touchdown passes.
Bland was part of a determined Cowboys defence as Washington quarterback Sam Howell was sacked four times in a one-sided affair.
It was a third straight win for the Cowboys, who move to 8-3 on the season and keep the pressure on the Philadelphia Eagles at the top of the NFC East division.
Elsewhere, the Detroit Lions are still looking for their first win on Thanksgiving since 2016 after suffering a 29-22 defeat to their NFC North rivals, the Green Bay Packers.
Green Bay raced into an early lead and were ahead 20-6 by the end of the first quarter – Jordan Love threw for 268 yards and three touchdowns on an impressive outing for the young Packers quarterback.
Lions quarterback Jared Goff’s woes continued, as the Packers forced him into three turnovers for the second straight game – this was the first time in Goff’s career that he gave up three fumbles.
Despite the defeat, Detroit remain top of the NFC North division, but Green Bay’s win helped them move to within three games of the Lions.
The Packers are firmly in the hunt for a playoff place, sitting just one win behind Seattle, who currently occupy the last seed in the NFC.
San Francisco’s running back Christian McCaffrey was the star of the show, as he rushed for 114 yards and two touchdowns in the 49ers’ 31-13 win over the Seattle Seahawks at Lumen Field.
The win extends the 49ers’ lead at the top of the NFC West division, with Seattle now two games behind their divisional rivals.
