ARLINGTON, Texas — Dak Prescott threw two touchdown passes, including a franchise record-breaker to Dez Bryant, and the Dallas Cowboys finally won without suspended star running back Ezekiel Elliott, beating Washington 38-14 on Thursday night.

Prescott, last year’s NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year, shook off a hand injury and found Bryant on a 13-yard leaping grab in the end zone for the 2014 All-Pro’s first score in six games and 72nd of his career, one more than Hall of Famer Bob Hayes.

The Cowboys (6-6) started quickly thanks to three first-half turnovers and four overall by Washington (5-7) and kept it going after halftime with a 21-7 scoring edge after getting outscored 72-6 in the second half of three straight losses without Elliott.

Alfred Morris, Elliott’s replacement during the six-game suspension for alleged domestic violence, had 127 yards rushing and a clinching touchdown.

NOTES

GIANTS: Steve Spagnuolo, Mike Sullivan and Tom Quinn handle the defense, offense and special teams of the New York Giants for Coach Ben McAdoo.

It’s been a tough season, with the team winning two of 11 games. It got even tougher for each of them this week when the Giants benched quarterback Eli Manning so they could evaluate backups Geno Smith and rookie Davis Webb over the final five games.

Even if they disagreed, none of the men was going to question the decision made by McAdoo with the support of co-owner John Mara and General Manager Jerry Reese. They are all team players.

But it was obvious it hurt them seeing Manning benched after starting 210 consecutive games and helping the Giants win Super Bowls after the 2007 and 2011 seasons.

The bond between the coaches and Manning is deep, cemented by championship rings. Spagnuolo was the defensive coordinator when the Giants beat then-undefeated New England in February 2008. Sullivan was the wide receivers coach in 2008 and the quarterbacks coach in the season that ended with the February 2012 win over Tom Brady and company again. Quinn has been the special teams coordinator since 2007.

Spagnuolo tapped his heart in talking about Manning, who has been the starter since November 2004.

“Look, it goes without saying, I love Eli Manning and this is tough,” Spagnuolo said. “But all I have is love for him and let the rest work itself out.”

Spagnuolo has not had a chance to sit down and talk with Manning since McAdoo announced Tuesday that Smith would start in Oakland on Sunday.

“We’ve been together through a lot of good things and I respect him a great deal. I really do,” said Spagnuolo, quickly asking if there were any questions about his defense just to change the subject.

BROWNS: Rookie safety Jabrill Peppers was fined $24,000 by the NFL for his illegal hit on Bengals receiver Josh Malone on Sunday.

Peppers said he was informed of the fine in an email and stopped reading the letter when he saw the dollar amount.

Peppers delivered a hard blow to Malone’s chest in the fourth quarter, but the official ruled he made contact with the receiver’s helmet and assessed him a personal foul. Cincinnati scored a touchdown moments later to wrap up its 30-16 win.

VIKINGS: Quarterback Case Keenum was named the NFC Player of the Month for November. Keenum completed 69 of 97 passes (71.1 percent) for 866 yards and seven touchdowns over three games, with just two interceptions and two sacks. He also rushed for one score, helping the Vikings total 400-plus yards of offense in each game.

CHARGERS: Cornerback Casey Hayward has left the team to be with his family after his brother’s death in a car accident.

Coach Anthony Lynn said he doesn’t know whether Hayward will return for Sunday’s game against Cleveland.

Jecaives Hayward was killed Monday night in Macon, Georgia, when he was ejected from a car in which he was a passenger.

“I told him he needs to go home and be with his family,” Lynn said. “If Casey makes it back and plays, that’s great. If he doesn’t, then we certainly understand.”

BEARS: Safety Quintin Demps has practiced Thursday for the first time since breaking his left arm in late September.

His return opened a 21-day window for the Bears to decide whether to activate him from injured reserve or have him miss the remainder of the season.

A North Carolina man has filed a lawsuit against an NFL player who he says seduced his wife.

The Charlotte Observer reports Joshua Jeffords, of Huntersville, filed a lawsuit against Philadelphia Eagles defensive tackle Fletcher Cox in Mecklenburg County Civil Court on Nov. 22. The 26-year-old Cox is being sued for alienation of affection. He has yet to respond to the suit.

Jeffords said in the filing that he learned in September of text messages between his wife and Cox, including explicit photos and discussions of having children together. He says his wife met Cox during a work trip to Pennsylvania in April and she moved there in October.

Jeffords says he sought mental health treatment for “substantial emotional distress.” He’s seeking at least $50,000 in damages.

A 2016 domestic assault charge against Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Johnny Manziel has been dismissed.

The Dallas County District Attorney’s Office on Thursday confirmed Manziel successfully completed requirements of a court agreement that included taking an anger management course and participating in the NFL’s substance-abuse program. The case was dismissed Nov. 22.