Javonte Williams' late TD run helps Cowboys avoid another 4th-quarter collapse and beat Colts 27-23

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — With the Dallas Cowboys trailing by three points and on the verge of yet another fourth-quarter collapse, Dak Prescott needed 29 seconds to bail them out.

He hooked up with Ryan Flournoy on a 46-yard pass. Three plays and two Indianapolis penalties later, the Colts let Javonte Williams waltz in from 1 yard out with 1:08 remaining, and the Cowboys held on for a 27-23 victory one week after they blew a 14-point lead and lost in overtime to Arizona at home.

Prescott, CeeDee Lamb and Williams refused to let it happen again.

“We got it done,” Prescott said. “It wasn't the prettiest, it wasn't the best second half from the whole team, but we got it done. We said at the beginning of the game, whatever it takes to come out with a win and we did that.”

The Cowboys (4-5) won for just the second time in five games, and it came on a day they dominated the stat sheet. They outgained the Colts 508 yards to 271. CeeDee Lamb caught 10 passes for 195 yards — the second-highest total of his career. And Williams finished with 101 yards rushing, his second 100-yard game.

Dallas also made enough miscues to lose.

The Cowboys were flagged 14 times for 153 yards, their highest total since 2021. The total even included an unsportsmanlike conduct call against inactive linebacker DeMarvion Overshown, who ran onto the field in street clothes to celebrate a takeaway.

Lamb had a 44-yard TD catch with 21 seconds left in the first half but failed to get both feet down on a second potential TD catch and cost Dallas another scoring chance when he realized he hadn't been touched, got up and ran inside the Colts 15-yard line — only to fumble the ball away.

Prescott, who was 21 of 34 for 335 yards and two TDs, lost a fumble at the Dallas 19-yard line that set up Indy's first touchdown.

But Dallas overcame all those mistakes — and Indy's Spencer Shrader kicking field goals from 59 and 50 yards in the final six minutes that left Dallas in a 23-20 deficit with 1:37 to go.

Four plays and two Colts penalties later, the Cowboys were back on top — thanks in part to Colts coach Shane Steichen, who made the strategic decision to give his team the ball with time left for a winning drive.

“Yeah, we let them score,” Steichen said. “I mean they've got four shots from the 1-yard line so we have a chance to get the ball back. If not, they're bleeding the clock.”

If Sunday was the final game with Indy for quarterback Daniel Jones or running back Jonathan Taylor, both of whom could be dealt before Tuesday's deadline, it wasn't the ending they wanted.

Taylor rushed 13 times for 46 yards and lost a fumble that cost Indy (2-6) a scoring chance. Jones was picked off by Caleb Downs with 35 seconds left to seal the game and finished 20 of 34 for 180 yards with one TD as the Colts lost their fifth in a row.

“I just hope they appreciate and know that I appreciate them,” Taylor said of the Colts' fans. “They should know it was a pleasure to put on display my hard work and the team’s hard work.”

The fans booed Indy again as it went to the locker at halftime trailing 17-7.

But after the teams traded third-quarter field goals, Ashton Dulin caught a short pass from Jones, made two defenders miss and sprinted down the sideline for a 55-yard score to cut the deficit 20-17 late in the third to set up the exciting finish.

“It's good to clean things up with a win,” Prescott said. “The way to get consistent is to get back to work and make sure we're doing everything right, discipline and details and make sure we're playing better.”

Cowboys: Three starters, including receiver George Pickens, were inactive. There has also been speculation Pickens could be traded. Sunday's most serious injury was to tight end Jake Ferguson, who did not return after hurting his left knee in the third quarter.

Colts: Linebacker Jaylon Carlies (neck) and right tackle Jalen Travis (knee) left in the first half and did not return.

Fifteen members of the Downs family attended the game to watch as younger brother Caleb got the better of Colts receiver Josh Downs. It was the first time the brothers squared off since their Georgia prep days. Yes, they lined up against one another, and, yes, there was some trash-talking long before Caleb Downs' game-sealing interception.

Indy's Keenan Allen passed Hall of Famer Tim Brown for No. 8 on the league's career receptions list. Allen finished with four catches for 26 yards, giving him 1,095 receptions — one more than Brown had.

Cowboys: Begin a three-game homestand next Sunday against San Francisco.

Colts: Host Miami next Sunday in what could be a matchup of rebuilding teams.

See AP’s full NFL coverage here

Dallas Cowboys safety Caleb Downs (13) and Daron Bland (26) defend a pass to Indianapolis Colts' Ashton Dulin (16) during the second half of an NFL football game in Indianapolis, Sunday, Nov. 8, 2026. (AP Photo/AJ Mast)

Indianapolis Colts' Ashton Dulin (16) runs away from Dallas Cowboys' Marist Liufau (35) for a touchdown during the second half of an NFL football game in Indianapolis, Sunday, Nov. 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)

Dallas Cowboys tight end Jake Ferguson (87) catches a pass for a touchdown in front of Indianapolis Colts' Cam Bynum (0) during the first half of an NFL football game in Indianapolis, Sunday, Nov. 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)

Dallas Cowboys' Javonte Williams (33) celebrates with teammate Brevyn Spann-Ford (89) after scoring a touchdown during the second half of an NFL football game against the Indianapolis Colts in Indianapolis, Sunday, Nov. 8, 2026. (AP Photo/AJ Mast)

Indianapolis Colts' Jaylahn Tuimoloau (91) sacksDallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott (4) during the second half of an NFL football game in Indianapolis, Sunday, Nov. 8, 2026. (AP Photo/AJ Mast)

Indianapolis Colts' Tyler Warren (84) catches a pass in front of Dallas Cowboys' Dee Winters (53) during the second half of an NFL football game in Indianapolis, Sunday, Nov. 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)

Indianapolis Colts place kicker Spencer Shrader (3) makes a field goal during the second half of an NFL football game against the Dallas Cowboys in Indianapolis, Sunday, Nov. 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)

Indianapolis Colts' Ashton Dulin (16) runs past Dallas Cowboys' Malik Hooker (24) for a touchdown during the second half of an NFL football game in Indianapolis, Sunday, Nov. 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)

JERUSALEM (AP) — Israeli President Isaac Herzog formally gave opposition politician Gadi Eisenkot the first chance to form the next government Sunday evening.

Complex coalition negotiations still lie ahead, but it marked a significant step in the former military chief's effort to oust Israel's longest-serving prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, after elections held in a deeply divided country. Israel remains scarred by the Hamas-led attacks of Oct. 7, 2023, and the multifront wars they triggered.

“I hope with all my heart that whatever government is formed will lead to unity, connection and healing among all segments of our people — for our very existence depends on it, and we have only one country,” Herzog said at the ceremony at the presidential residence in Jerusalem.

The announcement doesn't guarantee that Eisenkot will become the next prime minister. He has up to six weeks to form a coalition government by securing alliances, a daunting challenge because the Oct. 27 election gave neither his bloc nor Netanyahu’s a clear majority in parliament.

Herzog said that in consultations with the parties, a majority of members of parliament, known as the Knesset, supported giving Eisenkot this task.

At Sunday's ceremony, Eisenkot promised to give the country leadership that people can trust, that will act in the interests of the public and that represents all parts of society.

“An absolute majority of Knesset members representing the Israeli public support change,” he said. “I intend to navigate the situation with patience, humility, composure and a deep commitment to a Jewish, equal, liberal, and secure Israel.”

Among the possible kingmakers — and most politically fraught potential allies — are the Arab-led parties. They made historic gains in the election thanks to high voter turnout among Israel's Arab citizens.

Only one Arab party, Ra’am, has ever joined a governing coalition, in 2021. Ra’am has said it will support Eisenkot, but the party does not have enough seats on its own to give Eisenkot a parliamentary majority.

Breaking with decades of precedent, the second Arab-led party, the Joint List, has offered to support Eisenkot from outside the coalition to end Netanyahu’s grip on power.

But that cooperation is fraught for both sides. For the Joint List, it would mean backing a government unlikely to end Israel’s wars or curb settlement expansion in the occupied West Bank. For Eisenkot and other opposition parties, it would mean aligning with parties that not only criticize Israel’s policies but reject its identity as a Jewish state.

One of Eisenkot’s partners, the more conservative Yisrael Beytenu party, already has said it will not join a coalition with Arab-led parties.

Eisenkot has laid out four conditions for parties that want to join him. They must recognize Israel as a Jewish and democratic state, accept its declaration of independence, support military, national or civil service for all citizens, and declare the Hamas militant group a terrorist group. It remains unclear whether his would-be Arab partners are ready to accept these conditions.

Furthermore, Netanyahu has repeatedly asserted unsubstantiated claims that the election was “stolen” by Arab parties. In a pressure tactic on Eisenkot, he says any alliance with these parties would be an act of betrayal.

Israel’s Shin Bet security agency has launched an investigation into possible foreign interference in the vote, but the country’s Central Elections Committee — and Herzog — say the vote was valid and even if wrongdoing is found, it did not have a significant impact on the electoral results.

Eisenkot has vowed to form a government as quickly as possible. But each likely scenario appears to entail compromises or broken promises.

Aside from seeking the support of the Arab-led parties, Eisenkot has two options: a power-sharing agreement with Netanyahu or an agreement with the ultra-Orthodox parties, which demand military exemptions for their community.

Eisenkot and his partners made equal military service a central part of their campaign. Specifically, they are seeking an end to the long-standing draft exemptions.

The religious parties, which were part of Netanyahu’s outgoing coalition, want to preserve them, calling them essential to their devout lifestyle. But the exemptions have grown especially controversial among the broader public during the past three years of war.

Anticipating its position as a swing vote, the ultra-Orthodox party United Torah Judaism has left the door open to cooperating with Eisenkot.

Eisenkot has 28 days to form a coalition, with a possible two-week extension from the president. If he is unable to form a government, Netanyahu could then be given a chance to put together a coalition. If Netanyahu is also unable to do so, the country would return to elections early next spring.

Israel’s new members of Knesset will be sworn in on Tuesday evening. Netanyahu and his cabinet will remain in office in a caretaker capacity, with limited powers, until a coalition is formed.

Despite tenuous ceasefires, Israel's military remains engaged in fighting Hamas militants in Gaza and Iran-backed Hezbollah militants in Lebanon — and the war the country launched jointly with the United States against Iran remains unresolved as well.

Both Eisenkot and Herzog mentioned these challenges on Sunday, as well as what Herzog called “the new political situation in the United States," where the midterm elections suggested weakening support for Israel on both sides of the aisle.

Asked about Eisenkot being given the first chance at forming a new government in Israel, U.S. President Donald Trump said that Netanyahu and Eisenkot are similar in terms of policy and their views.

“And I guess he said very nice things about me. He says he loves Trump, but I don’t know. I haven’t seen what’s happening. But it’s certainly a contest between him and Bibi Netanyahu. And we’ll see what happens. … They have very similar views. They’re both strong on what I do.”

Trump was answering questions from reporters Sunday night in West Palm Beach, Florida.

Herzog called on Eisenkot to use his military leadership skills — as well as his experience of loss, since Eisenkot lost a son in combat in Gaza — to unite the country.

“You have commanded soldiers from every part of the Israeli people and Israeli society. Your face bears the scars of bullets from decades of command and combat,” Herzog said. “In the coming days, Gadi, as you and your counterparts enter the negotiating rooms, I ask that you remember that the eyes of the entire nation, with all its pain, hopes, prayers, and fears, are upon you.”

Lidman reported from Tel Aviv, Israel. Associated Press journalists Josef Federman in Jerusalem and Michelle L. Price in West Palm Beach, Florida, contributed to this report.

Israeli President Isaac Herzog, right, tasks Gadi Eisenkot, leader of the Yashar ("Straight") Party, with forming a government at the President's Residence in Jerusalem, Sunday, Nov. 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Ohad Zwigenberg)

Israeli President Isaac Herzog, right, tasks Gadi Eisenkot, leader of the Yashar ("Straight") Party, with forming a government at the President's Residence in Jerusalem, Sunday, Nov. 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Ohad Zwigenberg)

Israeli President Isaac Herzog, right, tasks Gadi Eisenkot, leader of the Yashar ("Straight") Party, with forming a government at the President's Residence in Jerusalem, Sunday, Nov. 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Ohad Zwigenberg)

Israeli President Isaac Herzog, right, tasks Gadi Eisenkot, leader of the Yashar ("Straight") Party, with forming a government at the President's Residence in Jerusalem, Sunday, Nov. 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Ohad Zwigenberg)

Israeli President Isaac Herzog, right, tasks Gadi Eisenkot, leader of the Yashar ("Straight") Party, with forming a government at the President's Residence in Jerusalem, Sunday, Nov. 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Ohad Zwigenberg)

FILE - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, casts his ballot in his Likud party primary elections ahead of Israel's general election in October, in Jerusalem, Monday, Aug. 17, 2026. (AP Photo/Ohad Zwigenberg, file)

Gadi Eisenkot, leader of the Yashar ("Straight") party, waves to supporters following the release of the first exit poll results in Israel's general election in Tel Aviv, Israel, Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2026. (AP Photo/Baz Ratner)