Brett's Cowboys Corner

The Cowboys beat the Washington Commanders on Christmas to begin the Netflix slate of Christmas day games. Though this one ended 30-23, the game felt like a perfect one to play in the background while you spent time with your family.

Although rewatching the game, you can see the summary of why the 2025 season will end the way it does – just short of the playoffs.

The Cowboys offense did not have a lights out performance but they still managed to score 30 points, the eighth time this season scoring over 30, finishing 6-1-1 over those games.

The Cowboys rushed 44 times for a season-high 211 yards. Malik Davis led the way with 103 rushing yards, while Javonte Williams added 54 yards and a touchdown. Both backs were especially effective on inside runs, Davis gained 93 yards on 17 inside carries, while 48 of Williams’ 54 rushing yards came on those plays. Davis also recorded 65 rushing yards after contact, the most of his career.

The Cowboys went 6 for 6 on fourth down in their Week 17 win at Washington, tied for the most fourth-down conversions in a game in the play-by-play data era (since 1991).

The offense did just enough and got their job done to get a win that this team really wanted all week. But I know every fan sat with their stomachs a little tight watching Dak Prescott still be sacked over and over again.

Jer’Zhan Newton recorded 3.0 sacks against Dallas, becoming the first Washington player with 3+ sacks in a game since Preston Smith in Week 16, 2015 at Philadelphia.

But on the other side, same story. 39-year-old Josh Johnson had a nice day for himself. Though it was Jacory Croskey-Merritt that bulldozed everyone on the ground with over 100 rushing yards.

In the end, the Cowboys get the victory and now sit 7-8-1 and will have the chance to avoid a ‘losing’ season in week 18. Dak Prescott and the team are focused on getting wins and finishing the season strong.

“Winning is fun, winning is great, especially when you get to do it on Christmas. You get to do it to end a three-game losing streak,” Dak said. “And you get a division game on top of that. It’s all fun, winning is fun, it’s what you do it for. We had wanted to end that losing streak and wanted to make sure that we can finish this game and next week on a high note. Getting wins and just taking good momentum into the offseason. So, this was important.”

A win next week will allow the Cowboys to be 5-1 in the division and with such a great division record, it will require some time to reflect on what happened this year.