ARLINGTON, Texas _ The Dallas Cowboys and their fans can finally exhale.
Now don't go out and start buying playoff tickets.
The season still remains, largely, in ruins.
But arguably the worst three-game stretch in franchise history is over.
Powered by 127 yards and a touchdown from running back Alfred Morris, four turnovers and an 83-yard punt return for a touchdown from rookie receiver Ryan Switzer, the Cowboys unleashed 18 days of pent-up energy and frustration on the rival Washington Redskins in a 38-14 victory at AT&T Stadium.
The win keeps their faint playoff hopes alive with a 6-6 record with four games to go.
Even if the Cowboys win out, they will likely need some help to get into the postseason in what is a strong NFC field.
But all that mattered for the Cowboys was getting a win and getting out of the historic funk of the past three weeks, which featured three blowout losses of 20 or more points for the first time in franchise history as well as scoring 10 points or less in three consecutive games for the first time ever.
It started with a 27-7 loss to Atlanta Falcons on Nov. 5, followed by 37-9 and 28-6 losses to the Philadelphia Eagles and San Diego Chargers, respectively, as the Cowboys fell from a prime playoff contender at 5-3.
It all occurred with star running back Ezekiel Elliott being suspended for the first three of a six-game suspension and quarterback Dak Prescott seemingly being exposed with eight turnovers, including five interceptions during that span.
Prescott played respectably and gamely, considering he left the field briefly in the second quarter with a hand injury.
He finished with a modest stat line of 10 of 22 passing for 102 yards, but had touchdown passes to tight end Jason Witten and receiver Dez Bryant. It was his fourth consecutive game of less than 200 yards passing for Prescott.
But it was Morris who led the way and set things up on offense by not only getting his first 100-yard game since joining the Cowboys in 2016, but his first since the final game of the 2015 season against the Cowboys when he was a member of the Redskins.
It was sweet redemption for him.
But this win was set up by the maligned defense, which recorded four sacks to go along with the four turnovers, including two from defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence.
The Cowboys finally finished strong after having as good a start as they could have hope for.
The first two turnovers _ an interception by safety Jeff Heath and a fumble recovery by deep snapper L.P. Ladouceur on a punt return _ netted nothing but field position. The Cowboys went three and out both times.
The Cowboys went three and out on their first four drives.
But the fifth time they made it count.
Prescott opened the drive with a 13-yard scramble for the initial first down of the game and then closed with an 8-yard touchdown pass to Witten.
It was the team's first touchdown pass in 13 quarters, dating back to the 28-17 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs on Nov. 5 and the first touchdown of any kind since the 27-7 loss to the Atlanta Falcons Nov. 12.
A fumble on the ensuing possession following a sack by Lawrence set up a 24-yard field goal from Dan Bailey.
And then the Cowboys struck again on special teams with an 83-yard punt return from Switzer. It was the first of his career and the first for the Cowboys since Dwayne Harris went 86 yards in 2013, making the score 17-0.
The Cowboys had scored no more than nine points in the three previous blowout losses when they were outscored 92-22.
When the Redskins promptly followed with a nine-play, 75-yard touchdown drive right before the half, capped by a wide-open Ryan Grant catching a 20-yard pass from Kirk Cousins against a blown coverage, it raised questions of whether this was a glimpse of things to come.
The Cowboys have been outscored 72-6 in the second half of the past three games combined.
Teams had scored nine of 14 second-half possessions during the losing streak.
Not this time.
The Cowboys outscored the Redskins 21-7 in the second half.
Prescott capped an 11-play, 84-yard drive with a 13-yard touchdown pass to Bryant to make the score 24-7 early in the fourth quarter.
The Cowboys then answered a Redskins score another long scoring drive, capped by a 1-yard run from Morris.
A final interception by Anthony Brown paved the way for Rod Smith's 1-yard run to end the scoring.
Now a Cowboys team that many questioned whether it would win another game or had quit on coach Jason Garrett has a chance build some momentum and get healthy. They have 10 days before facing the hapless New York Giants (2-9) on Dec. 10.
Then only the Oakland Raiders game on Dec. 17 stands between the Cowboys and the return of Elliott for the final two games.
Then they call really breathe.
