Dallas Cowboys Ward Off Washington Commanders in Christmas Day Affair

The Dallas Cowboys went on the road on Christmas Day and got a feel good victory against the Washington Commanders, 30-20, on a feel good day. 

Though the ‘boys, 7-8-1, are out of playoff contention, it is always good to get a victory against a division rival, which the Commanders, now 4-12, have historically been one of their most intense. 

The Cowboys chewed up 10:02 of clock time in the opening quarter, with a crucial play a George Pickens 20-yard slant on 4th and 1. With seven minutes remaining in the half, quarterback Dak Prescott found speedster Kavontae Turpin down the seam for an 86-yard touchdown. Prescott finished 19/37 for 307 yards with two touchdowns. Turpin’s 86 yards led the team, while Pickens tallied four catches for 78 yards. CeeDee Lamb caught five passes for just 46 yards. On the ground, Javonte Williams scored a first quarter touchdown and registered 13 carries for 54 yards, though he missed most of the contest with a lingering neck/shoulder issue. In Williams’ absence, Malik Davis ran 20 times for 103 yards. Davis, 27, has been with the team since 2022 when they signed him as an undrafted free agent. Davis has been an off and on member of the Cowboys’ practice squad, but this season has gotten opportunities over rookie Jaydon Blue and has shown flashes with good vision and burst. Davis has tallied 250 yards on 52 carries, 4.8 yards per carry, with two touchdowns. 

Defensively, the Cowboys registered two sacks, with 1.5 courtesy of Jadeveon Clowney and a half sack credited to defensive back Reddy Steward. Clowney was and has been impressive throughout the season, his standout play on Thursday a hustle play in which he nearly ran down Commanders’ receiver Deebo Samuel on a long gain. 

For the Commanders, Josh Johnson completed 15/23 for 198 yards. A problem for the Cowboys came in the form of rookie running back Jacory Croskey-Merritt, who ran 11 times for 105 yards and two touchdowns, one of which was a 72-yard run that trimmed the Cowboys’ lead to seven, 24-17, with 9:34 remaining in the third quarter. 

The Cowboys have not played well offensively as of late, particularly in second halves. The unit on Thursday scored only six second half points, and the team was shut out in the second half against the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 16. In Week 15 against the Minnesota Vikings, the unit scored just nine points (no touchdowns) in the second half. Against the Detroit Lions on Dec. 4, the offense too often settled for field-goals (five to be exact) off the foot of Brandon Aubrey. 

At 7-8-1, the Cowboys’ record reads and lives as a disappointment in what was a season with expectations. It is not known whether the starters or main guys will suit up against the New York Giants in Week 18 at the Meadowlands, so Christmas Day could have been the last look at the team’s big guns in 2025. There really is no upside in playing Prescott, Williams, Pickens, Lamb, Tyler Smith, or Quinnen Williams against the Giants.

This team has talent but is lacking in key areas - the outskirts of the offensive line, linebackers, and secondary being the most glaring. Thursday afternoon was no consolation prize for an otherwise disappointing season, but it was a pleasant holiday gift for Cowboys’ fans who likely got the last look at their best players in 2025 and head off into January disappointed with what will be a second consecutive season without making the playoffs.