FRISCO, Texas — Dallas will play on Christmas for the sixth time in franchise history Thursday, carrying a 2–3 mark on the holiday into a Week 17 meeting with the Washington Commanders. The Cowboys enter at 6-8-1, hosting 4-11 Washington in a Christmas Day kickoff at 1 p.m. EDT.
Dallas has lived on the extremes this season: one of the league’s most dangerous offenses paired with one of its most forgiving defenses.
Dak Prescott leads the way again. Since 2016, he is 36-9 against NFC East opponents and 12-2 versus Washington, with 30 touchdown passes against the franchise. Two more would give him 30 this season, matching Tony Romo for the most 30-TD campaigns in team history. He has completed at least 60 percent of his passes in every game this year.
Prescott’s weapons have done their part. George Pickens enters with 88 catches for 1,342 yards and nine touchdowns. CeeDee Lamb has 67 career games with at least five receptions, the most ever by a player in his first six seasons, and just became the third receiver in NFL history to post 1,000 scrimmage yards in each of his first six seasons. Running back Javonte Williams — Dallas’ first 2025 free-agent signing after four years in Denver — has topped 1,000 rushing yards for the first time and ranks among the league’s top backs across multiple categories.
Defense remains the concern. Under coordinator Matt Eberflus, the Cowboys have blitzed more and added Quinnen Williams up front, while rookie Donovan Ezeiruaku pushes toward double-digit tackles for loss. Even so, Dallas still sits near the bottom of the league in yards and points allowed and has been hurt by penalties.
A rivalry game, a national audience and Christmas Day set the stage — with Dallas trying to keep slim hopes alive and end the holiday with a win.
