Dak Prescott Delivers Christmas Win for Cowboys Amid Controversial Hit
On a cold Christmas Day in Washington, Dak Prescott gave Cowboys fans a reason to smile again. After three straight losses and officially being knocked out of playoff contention, Dallas needed something to hang its hat on. Prescott delivered just that-a gutsy, resilient performance in a 30-23 win over the Commanders that reminded everyone why he's still the heartbeat of this team.
Prescott finished the day with 307 passing yards on 19-of-37 attempts, tossing two touchdowns without a single interception. He also chipped in 24 rushing yards on four carries, showing once again that when the pocket collapses, he’s still capable of making plays with his legs.
And collapse it did-Prescott was sacked six times by a Washington front that came after him all game long. But in classic fashion, he stood tall and made the plays that mattered.
One of the game’s most pivotal-and most talked-about-moments came midway through the third quarter. On a third-and-9, Prescott was brought down by Commanders linebacker Von Miller in what looked like a drive-ending sack. But the play didn’t stop there.
As Prescott slammed the ball into the turf in frustration, Washington linebacker Frankie Luvu came in late with an additional hit. The officials didn’t hesitate-they flagged Luvu for unnecessary roughness, handing Dallas a fresh set of downs and a second chance on a drive that looked dead in the water.
From there, the Cowboys capitalized. Brandon Aubrey drilled a 52-yard field goal to extend the lead to 27-17, a cushion that ultimately proved critical.
The hit from Luvu is now under league review, and there’s a good chance it won’t go unnoticed by the NFL’s disciplinary office. Luvu has already been fined three times this season for hip-drop tackles, totaling $166,568 in penalties. If the league deems this latest hit on Prescott unnecessary, he could be looking at another fine-adding to a career total that’s already north of $245,000.
This kind of play is exactly what the league has been cracking down on-late hits, especially on quarterbacks, are under a microscope. And with Luvu’s history, there’s little doubt this will be reviewed closely.
Looking ahead, the Commanders will close out their season with a divisional matchup against the Eagles in Week 18, while the Cowboys wrap things up against the Giants. The playoffs may be out of reach, but for Prescott and Dallas, this win was about pride, leadership, and finishing strong.
And on a day when the Cowboys needed a lift, Prescott delivered-battle-tested, bruised, but unshaken.