Cowboys, Commanders Look to Close 2025 Season with Momentum, Not Mayhem
With the playoffs officially out of reach for both the Dallas Cowboys (6-8-1) and the Washington Commanders (4-11), their Week 17 matchup isn’t about postseason positioning - it’s about pride, progress, and setting the tone for 2026. Two NFC East rivals, both in transition, now find themselves using the final weeks of the season to build culture, evaluate talent, and lay the groundwork for what they hope will be a turnaround year ahead.
Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer made it clear this week: while the record may not reflect it, there’s still something meaningful to play for.
“It’s all about the culture that is all about winning,” Schottenheimer said. “We’ve lost three in a row, sure, but these next two games matter.
I want to see our guys play with physicality, passion, and love for one another. That’s how you build something special.”
And for a Cowboys team that’s shown flashes of offensive firepower but struggled to find consistency, these final games could serve as a springboard into a more competitive 2026.
Dak Prescott vs. Dan Quinn: Familiar Faces, Familiar Outcome?
Dak Prescott has made a habit of lighting up Washington, and there’s little reason to believe that changes this week. The Cowboys quarterback is putting together another strong statistical season - third in the league in passing touchdowns (28), second in yards (4,175), and leading the No. 5 scoring offense in the NFL at 28.3 points per game.
That’s a tough matchup for a Commanders defense that’s been leaking points all year, giving up 26.9 per game - sixth-most in the league.
Adding another layer to the matchup: Commanders head coach Dan Quinn, who spent three seasons as Dallas’ defensive coordinator. Prescott faced Quinn’s schemes every day in practice from 2021 to 2023, and that familiarity has translated into production.
In their Week 7 meeting, Prescott threw for 264 yards and three touchdowns on 70% passing in a 44-22 win. His track record against Washington is dominant: 12-2 overall, with 30 touchdowns to just five interceptions and a passer rating north of 108.
Only Aaron Rodgers has more four-touchdown games against a single opponent than Prescott has against Washington - a testament to how consistently he’s carved up this defense.
Josh Johnson Steps In for Commanders
With Marcus Mariota sidelined by hand and quad injuries, veteran journeyman Josh Johnson is in line to make his first start of the season. Johnson, who came off the bench in Week 16 against the Eagles, struggled to find rhythm, finishing with 43 passing yards and a pick on 5-of-9 passing.
If he does get the nod, Johnson will become the fourth-oldest quarterback to start a game this season at age 39 - trailing only Philip Rivers (44), Aaron Rodgers (42), and Joe Flacco (40). Johnson’s career has spanned 13 different teams, the most for any active player in the 21st century, and now he’s being asked to step in and steady the ship in a tough divisional matchup.
Dallas Defense Trying to Avoid Historic Low
While the offense has been humming, the Cowboys defense has been a different story. Under first-year defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus, Dallas is allowing 30.3 points per game - second-worst in the league and second-worst in franchise history. Only the inaugural 1960 Cowboys team allowed more, at 30.8 points per game.
Even more jarring: Dallas currently leads the league in passing offense (274.3 yards per game) but ranks dead last in pass defense (257.8 yards allowed per game). That kind of imbalance has only happened once in the last 40 years - the 2016 Saints, who also missed the playoffs despite a high-powered passing attack.
There is some good news on the injury front. Pro Bowl defensive tackle Quinnen Williams is trending toward a return after missing Week 16 with a neck issue that flared up late in the week. His presence up front could give the Cowboys some much-needed help in the trenches.
“I feel very good,” Williams said Tuesday. “Just doing everything I can to get cleared and go out there and dominate with my teammates.”
What to Expect: Prescott, Playmakers, and a Potential Sweep
If recent history is any indication, expect Prescott and his top weapons - Pro Bowl receiver George Pickens and All-Pro CeeDee Lamb - to put on a show. Lamb torched Washington for a 74-yard touchdown earlier this season, the second-longest of his career, and the trio has the chemistry and firepower to do damage again.
For Dallas, it’s a chance to sweep a division rival and head into the offseason with something to build on. For Washington, it’s about evaluating young talent and seeing how their veterans respond in a tough environment.
The stakes may not be postseason-level, but the implications for 2026 are real. In a league where momentum and culture matter, these final two weeks are more than just formalities - they’re auditions for the future.