The Dallas Cowboys and Washington Commanders played one of the most remarkable games of football you will ever see. As haphazard as the first three quarters were, the rivalry game morphed into an instant classic over the final five minutes of regulation.
If the Commanders could make an extra point, everyone would be talking about Jayden Daniels' miracle 86-yard touchdown to Terry McLaurin with 21 seconds left. For once, though, the football gods went to bat for Dallas and Austin Seibert pushed the point-after wide right.
That allowed KaVontae Turpin's 99-yard kick return touchdown to become the story of the game. Make no mistake: it would have been a talking point regardless of the outcome. It was simply that incredible.
Thanks to the missed XP, it proved to be the game-winning TD. If you're a sicko like us, you have probably watched a replay of Turpin's devastating spin move and subsequent 90-yard dash close to 50 times. FOX announcer Joe Davis absolutely nailed the call.
Everything about it was perfect. However, if you haven't seen the end zone angle of Turpin's return, you need to change that ASAP.
New angle of KaVontae Turpin's TD proves Cowboys should pay him
put him in a blender 🫨
— Dallas Cowboys (@dallascowboys) November 24, 2024
📺: #DALvsWAS on FOX
📲: Stream on NFL+ https://t.co/LvklCbYJ1e https://t.co/9LQVNrbA55 pic.twitter.com/JOSoWkUOSq
It is not an exaggeration to call that one of the best kick returns of all-time.
Turpin's ability to improvise in a pinch after letting the ball bounce through his legs is so impressive. So many return specialists wouldn't know what to do, but Turpin slowly baited the approaching gunners and uncorked a video-game spin move to forge a running lane. He took out six Commanders, but All-Pro special teamer Jeremy Reaves was his primary victim.
RELATED: Jourdan Lewis said what every Cowboys fan was thinking on KaVontae Turpin's TD
If there was any doubt that Turpin is the best return specialist in the NFL, that conversation should be put to rest now. The new kickoff format is perfectly catered to Turpin's ability. It allows him to jog up after fielding the kick and then explode through whichever hole he spots.
If it feels like Turpin returns nearly every kickoff past the 35-yard line, that's because he does. He leads the league with 762 return yards and 36.29 yards per return. A Pro Bowler as a rookie in 2022, Turpin is having his most prolific season as a returner.
The Cowboys have not had a difference-maker in the return game since Dwayne Harris. Remember how bleak the post-Harris days were? His last season in Dallas was in 2014.
What adds to Turpin's value is his ability to make an impact on offense. He's one of the fastest players in the game. Whomever takes over as the Cowboys' play-caller in 2025 needs to make it a focal point to get Turpin more involved. That's if the team re-signs him, however.
Having an elite return specialist is a luxury. If Jerry Jones had any sense, he'd have a contract offer waiting for Turpin at his locker on Monday. A free agent after the season, Turpin will have no shortage of suitors if he reaches the open market.
Jones better not let it reach that point.