Commanders receive harsh lessons in latest loss as season draws to merciful conclusion

LANDOVER, Md. (AP) — On the surface, it was just another loss in a season that mercifully will come to an end next weekend.

Yet, there might come a time next year when the Washington Commanders benefit from what they learned in a 30-23 defeat against Dallas on Thursday.

After the Commanders (4-12) lost for the ninth time in 10 games, coach Dan Quinn gathered his players and applauded their grit in cutting an early 18-point deficit to seven points by the third quarter.

“The lessons that go into it, they're incredible,” Quinn said. “I wasn't surprised we fought back. Love our fight, but the execution isn't to the standard that it needs to be to win games.”

Washington's uneven play, along with injuries to quarterback Jaylen Daniels, have been the theme of the season. There also have been times when the Commanders showed little determination in defeat. But give them credit for making a game of it against the Cowboys with a third-string, 39-year-old quarterback.

Josh Johnson completed 15 of 23 passes for 198 yards and no interceptions. If all goes as planned, Daniels will be back next year and the Commanders will look more like the team that advanced to the NFC championship game last season.

The two standouts in Thursday's game can only hope to carry the momentum beyond next week in Philadelphia and into 2026. Rookie running back Jacory “Bill” Croskey-Merritt ran for 105 yards, including a 72-yard score, and Jer’Zhan Newton sacked Dak Prescott three times.

Washington limited Dallas to a 40% conversion rate on third down (8 for 20). But Quinn lamented that the Cowboys were 6 for 6 on fourth down, which contributed heavily to Dallas running 87 offensive plays compared with just 41 for the Commanders.

Washington averaged eight yards per offensive play. But there weren't enough of those snaps to make the comeback complete.

And so, the losing continued.

“It would have been excellent if we would have got the win,” Croskey-Merritt said. “But I thought we fought hard. We just got to finish strong.”

The running game was sharp with Croskey-Merritt leading the way. The rookie scored two touchdowns, protected Johnson when needed and showed just how much he's learned over the course of his first NFL season.

“I’ve seen him grow a lot in the knowledge of the game, the game plan,” Quinn said.

Croskey-Merritt had only 11 carries, but that 72-yarder is sure to be part of the team's short highlight reel of the 2025 season.

Washington's defense has to be better on fourth down. Had the Commanders stopped even a couple of the Cowboys' fourth-down tries, the result might have been different.

Dallas converted three fourth downs on its second touchdown drive and sealed the victory with a successful fourth-down run.

“The fourth-down wins, that was as big a factor in the game as any,” Quinn said. “Those are possessions that end there, no points, no extension, no time. So, it's a big deal.”

Newton had two sacks as a rookie last season and only two this year before collaring Prescott three times on Thursday.

“The disruption, the quickness, those are skills that he has,” Quinn said, “And so, to (see) him put up all the pieces together, the anticipation of plays, how to go execute, I felt that.”

With the offense playing it conservatively with Johnson at quarterback, the defense had to rule the day. And it didn't, with the exception of Newton.

Not only did Dallas score touchdowns on its first three possession, but the Commanders didn't get a takeaway — again. Washington has forced only nine turnovers all season.

Center Tyler Biadasz hurt his knee and ankle in the second quarter and did not return. Guard Nick Allegretti stepped in at center on an offensive line that already was depleted by injuries.

One — That's the number of third-down conversions by Washington (in six tries). It's also the number of touchdowns the Commanders scored in three possessions inside the Dallas 20.

The season finale in Philadelphia provides Washington a chance to snap back at the Eagles, who went for a 2-point conversion late in a 29-18 victory in Week 16. Just as significant, it marks the end of the Commanders' dreadful season.

AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL

Washington Commanders quarterback Josh Johnson (14) is hit as he throws by Dallas Cowboys defensive end Jadeveon Clowney (42) during the second half an NFL football game Thursday, Dec. 25, 2025, in Landover, Md. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)

Washington Commanders running back Jacory Croskey-Merritt (22) is congratulated by teammates running back Jeremy McNichols and wide receiver Treylon Burks (13) after scoring during the first half an NFL football game against the Dallas Cowboys Thursday, Dec. 25, 2025, in Landover, Md. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Washington Commanders head coach Dan Quinn shakes hands with Andrew Wylie (71) during the second half an NFL football game Thursday, Dec. 25, 2025, in Landover, Md. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Washington Commanders running back Jacory Croskey-Merritt (22) scores on a touchdown run during the second half an NFL football game against the Dallas Cowboys Thursday, Dec. 25, 2025, in Landover, Md. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — President Donald Trump said the United States launched a “powerful and deadly" strike against forces of the Islamic State group in Nigeria, after spending weeks accusing the West African country's government of failing to rein in the targeting of Christians.

In a Christmas evening post on his social media site Thursday, Trump did not provide details or mention the extent of the damage caused by the strikes in the northwestern state of Sokoto.

A Defense Department official, who insisted on anonymity to discuss details not made public, said the U.S. worked with Nigeria to carry out the strikes and that they'd been approved by Abuja.

Nigeria's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the cooperation included exchange of intelligence and strategic coordination in ways “consistent with international law, mutual respect for sovereignty and shared commitments to regional and global security."

The Associated Press could not confirm the extent of the strikes’ impact.

Nigeria is battling multiple armed groups, including at least two affiliated with IS, an offshoot of the Boko Haram extremist group known as the Islamic State West Africa Province in the northeast, and the less-known Lakurawa group prominent in the northwestern states, where the gangs use large swathes of forests as hideouts.

Security analysts said the target of the U.S. strikes could be the Lakurawa group, which in the last year has increasingly become lethal in the region, often targeting remote communities and security forces.

“Lakurawa is a group that is actually controlling territories in Nigeria, in Sokoto state and in other states like Kebbi,” said Malik Samuel, a Nigerian security researcher at Good Governance Africa. “In the northwest, there has been the incursion of violent extremist groups that are ideologically driven," he said, blaming the incursion on the near absence of the state and security forces in hot spots.

Trump said the airstrikes were launched against IS militants “who have been targeting and viciously killing, primarily, innocent Christians.” Residents and security analysts have said Nigeria’s security crisis affects both Christians, predominant in the south, and Muslims, who are the majority in the north.

“Terrorist violence in any form, whether directed at Christians, Muslims or other communities, remains an affront to Nigeria’s values and to international peace and security,” the Nigerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.

Nigeria’s government has previously said in response to Trump’s criticisms that people of many faiths, not just Christians, have suffered attacks at the hands of extremist groups.

Trump ordered the Pentagon last month to begin planning for potential military action in Nigeria to try and curb what he called Christian persecution. The State Department recently announced it would restrict visas for Nigerians and their family members involved in killing Christians there.

And the U.S. recently designated Nigeria a “country of particular concern” under the International Religious Freedom Act.

Trump said U.S. defense officials had “executed numerous perfect strikes, as only the United States is capable of doing" and added that “our Country will not allow Radical Islamic Terrorism to prosper.”

Nigeria’s population of 220 million is split almost equally between Christians and Muslims. The country has long faced insecurity from various fronts, including Boko Haram, which seeks to establish its radical interpretation of Islamic law and has also targeted Muslims it deems not Muslim enough.

But attacks in Nigeria often have varying motives. There are religiously motivated ones targeting both Christians and Muslims, clashes between farmers and herders over dwindling resources, communal rivalries, secessionist groups and ethnic clashes.

The U.S. security footprint has diminished in Africa, where military partnerships have either been scaled down or canceled. U.S. forces likely would have to be drawn from other parts of the world for any larger-scale military intervention in Nigeria.

Trump has nonetheless kept up the pressure as Nigeria faced a series of attacks on schools and churches in violence that experts and residents say targets both Christians and Muslims.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth posted Thursday night on X: “The President was clear last month: the killing of innocent Christians in Nigeria (and elsewhere) must end.”

Hegseth said that U.S. military forces are “always ready, so ISIS found out tonight — on Christmas” and added, “More to come…Grateful for Nigerian government support & cooperation” before signing off, “Merry Christmas!”

Associated Press writer Konstantin Toropin in Washington, and Chinedu Asadu in Abuja, Nigeria, contributed to this report.

His Royal Highness (HRH) Garba Aliyu, Head of the Jabo community, sits in his house in Northwest Jabo, Nigeria, Friday, Dec. 26, 2025. (AP Photo/ Tunde Omolehin)

In this image made from video, local residents hold metal debris in Jabo, Nigeria, Friday, Dec. 26, 2025. (UGC via AP)

President Donald Trump speaks at his Mar-a-Lago club, Monday, Dec. 22, 2025, in Palm Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)