Dallas Cowboys Game Preview: Christmas Day at Washington Commanders

Cover Photo: Dallas Cowboys’ quarterback Dak Prescott celebrates a touchdown against the Washington Commanders on Oct. 19, 2025 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. Photo credit: Shafkat Anowar, Dallas Morning News.

The Dallas Cowboys were officially eliminated from playoff contention in Week 16 with a 34-17 home loss to the Los Angeles Chargers, setting up an anticlimactic otherwise appointment-viewing rivalry game against the 4-11 Washington Commanders on Christmas Day. 

With a 6-8-1 record, the Cowboys slump into Thursday’s holiday game having lost three consecutive match-ups - Detroit Lions, Minnesota Vikings, and Chargers - after three prior wins in the weeks before. 

The Cowboys have given up 44, 34, and 34 points in the last three weeks, and allow 30.3 yards per game, second worst only to the Cincinnati Bengals’ 30.5. The team allows an NFL-worst 257.8 passing yards per game, while allowing 122.3 on the ground per game. Offensively, the unit scores 28.3 points per game, fifth in the NFL. The offense owns the NFL’s best passing attack at 274.3 yards per game, and are 17th on the ground at 118.8 per game. 

A reason for optimism for the Cowboys and their fans is that they visit a Commanders’ team on Thursday that stands at 4-11, with the ninth-worst points per game mark in the league (20.6), and the sixth-worst when it comes to points allowed per game (26.5). The Commanders are 20th in yards per game (321.1) and 24th in passing yards (187.2) per game. The team is however fourth in the league in rushing offense, at 133.9 per game. The group of Chris Rodriguez, Jacory Croskey-Merritt, and Jeremy McNichols could be an issue for the Cowboys front, which could be without both defensive tackle Quinnen Williams (concussion/neck) who missed the Chargers’ game, and linebacker DeMarvion Overshown, who left the Chargers’ game with a concussion. 

Wide receivers Terry McLaurin and Deebo Samuel will pose problems for a Cowboys’ secondary that has no answers for opposing offenses. DaRon Bland is out due to foot surgery, and Caelen Carson, Trikweze Bridges, and Reddy Steward are a patchwork group along with rookie Shavon Revel. Trevon Diggs returned against the Chargers. 

Laremy Tunsil, the Commanders’ star offensive tackle, is questionable for the game, while quarterback Marcus Mariota is questionable with hand and quadriceps injuries. Mariota was replaced in Week 16’s game against the Philadelphia Eagles by Josh Johnson, who completed 5/9 passes for 43 yards and an interception. Johnson starting would be a welcomed holiday gift for the Cowboys’ defense.

The Cowboys have a long injury report, with Overshown and Williams questionable as well as safety Donovan Wilson (hip), receiver Ryan Flournoy (knee), receiver KaVontae Turpin (shoulder), running back Javonte Williams (neck), Carson, left tackle Tyler Guyton, and guard Tyler Booker. The team is not playing for anything, so it is not a necessity that all of their players play, but it would serve the team to win a rivalry game. 

Back on Oct. 19, the Cowboys doubled-up the Commanders in Arlington by a 44-22 count. Prescott completed 21/30 for 264 yards and three touchdowns, while Williams ran 19 times for 116 yards and a touchdown. CeeDee Lamb caught five passes for 110 yards, George Pickens caught four for 82, and tight end Jake Ferguson caught seven passes for 29 yards and two touchdowns. Commanders’ quarterback Jayden Daniels completed 12/22 for 156 yards and a touchdown, with Croskey-Merritt carrying 13 times for 33 yards. With no McLaurin or Samuel, Jaylin Lane caught three balls for 60 yards, Chris Moore two for 59 and tight end Zach Ertz three for 37 and a touchdown. In the Cowboys’ favor is that Ertz, who historically has hurt the Cowboys going back to his time as an Eagle, is on injured reserve with a knee injury. 

The Cowboys have a 80-49-2 record all-time against the Redskins/Commanders’ franchise. The Cowboys are also 4-1 in the last five meetings between the two clubs. On Nov. 24, 2024, the Cowboys defeated the Commanders 34-26, scoring 24 points in the fourth quarter. 

On Christmas Day, the first game of three pits the two teams that are involved in perhaps the league’s most storied. With both teams out of the playoff picture, pride is the thing that is on the line. Despite their major struggles, the Cowboys on paper have more talent and should be able to put things together and get a win. 

Prediction: Cowboys 31 Commanders 21