Even with the Dallas Cowboys officially out of the playoff picture, there’s no plan to shut things down early-at least not for Dak Prescott. According to Cowboys executive vice president Stephen Jones, the star quarterback will be under center on Christmas Day when Dallas takes on the Washington Commanders.
The Cowboys were mathematically eliminated from postseason contention after Sunday’s loss to the Los Angeles Chargers, dropping them to 6-8-1 on the year. With two games left and nothing to play for in terms of standings, it wouldn’t have been surprising to see Dallas rest key starters like Prescott. But that’s not the approach the front office is taking.
“Our goal is to win the football game. Our goal is to finish strong,” Jones said in a radio interview Monday, firmly stating that Prescott will play Thursday.
The Cowboys will face a Washington team that’s also playing out the string. The Commanders, now 4-11, were officially eliminated after falling to the NFC East-leading Philadelphia Eagles last weekend. So this Christmas Day matchup won’t carry playoff implications-but that doesn’t mean it’s meaningless inside the Cowboys’ locker room.
For Dak Prescott, it’s another opportunity to close out a strong individual campaign. Despite the team’s struggles, Prescott has put together a productive season.
He’s thrown for 4,175 yards, 28 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions while adding 154 rushing yards and two scores on the ground. His consistency has been one of the few bright spots in a season that hasn’t gone according to plan in Dallas.
And while the quarterback is focused on finishing strong, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones is already looking in the mirror. After the loss to the Chargers, Jones acknowledged that the team’s roster construction-and his role in it-has been a major factor in the disappointing season.
“I’ll admit that the Cowboys management has played a big role,” Jones said. “I’m very disappointed that the way we’re structured and my role puts us here tonight. I’m tremendously disappointed.”
That level of accountability from the top isn’t something you always hear, but it aligns with what Prescott says he’s been sensing behind the scenes. According to the veteran QB, Jones has shown a renewed energy when it comes to improving the roster and making moves to elevate the team.
“Maybe as much here recently as I’ve seen,” Prescott said. “Whether it’s him against the clock… or the deals and the things we’ve done have been invigorating. You can tell he’s excited to help this team to make moves.”
Prescott has been the face of the Cowboys since 2016, when he was drafted in the fourth round and took the league by storm en route to winning NFL Rookie of the Year. Nearly a decade later, he’s still leading the charge-even in a season where the playoffs are out of reach.
The Cowboys may not be playing for a postseason berth on Christmas Day, but make no mistake: they’re playing for something. For pride.
For momentum. And for a franchise quarterback who’s still all-in, even when the stakes are low on paper.
Prescott will suit up. The Cowboys will line up. And for a team looking to build toward something better in 2026, every snap still matters.