Forget the presents under the tree. On Christmas Day at Northwest Stadium, two NFC East rivals unwrap their frustrations in a fixture that means everything for pride and absolutely nothing for the playoff picture.
The Dallas Cowboys (6-8-1) travel to face the Washington Commanders (4-11) in a battle between two franchises whose seasons went sideways months ago. Yet this is Cowboys-Commanders – one of the NFL’s most storied rivalries – and when these two meet, records go out the window.
Cowboys vs Commanders Head to Head: Recent Form and Last 5 Meetings
Dallas has dominated this series recently, winning four of the last five meetings and outscoring Washington 180-91 across that span. The Cowboys arrive in Landover seeking the season sweep after their emphatic 44-22 demolition job back in October.
| Date | Venue | Result | What Happened |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 19, 2025 | AT&T Stadium | DAL 44-22 | Cowboys dominated from start to finish; complete offensive explosion |
| Jan 5, 2025 | AT&T Stadium | WAS 23-19 | Commanders stunned Dallas in season finale upset |
| Nov 24, 2024 | Northwest Stadium | DAL 34-26 | Chaotic finish with two kickoff return TDs; Cowboys survived late rally |
| Jan 7, 2024 | Northwest Stadium | DAL 38-10 | Cowboys clinched NFC East with dominant road win |
| Nov 23, 2023 | AT&T Stadium | DAL 45-10 | Thanksgiving blowout; DaRon Bland pick-six sealed rout |
NFC East Rivalry: All-Time Records & Milestones
Few rivalries run as deep as Cowboys-Commanders. Dating back to 1960, these franchises have clashed 140 times, with Dallas holding a commanding 87-51-2 advantage in the all-time series. The Cowboys have won 18 of the last 25 meetings, a period of dominance that has tilted this historic rivalry firmly in their favour.
Washington’s last extended run of success came in the late 1980s, when they strung together four consecutive victories. Since then, Dallas has largely controlled proceedings. The Cowboys’ longest winning streak against Washington stands at an incredible 10 games (1997-2002), while Washington’s best modern run is just four games.
In playoff encounters, however, Washington holds a 3-1 edge – proof that when the stakes are highest, this rivalry can flip on its head.
Cowboys vs Commanders 2025 Season Snapshot
Neither team has much to write home about in 2025. Dallas’s defense has been historically bad, surrendering 257.8 passing yards per game – dead last in the NFL. The Commanders have struggled with turnovers all season, posting a minus-12 turnover differential that ranks third-worst in football.
What Dallas does have is firepower through the air. Dak Prescott has thrown for 4,175 yards and 28 touchdowns, while the Cowboys lead the league in passing offense at 274.3 yards per game. Washington’s ground game has been their lone bright spot, ranking fourth in the NFL at 133.9 rushing yards per contest.
Top Players to Watch in Cowboys vs Commanders
Dak Prescott continues to put up gaudy numbers despite Dallas’s disappointing season. With 28 touchdown passes and a 68.5% completion rate, Prescott has kept the Cowboys competitive in games where the defense has let them down repeatedly. Against Washington’s 26th-ranked pass defense, expect him to find plenty of soft spots.
George Pickens has been Prescott’s favourite target, hauling in 88 receptions for 1,342 yards and nine touchdowns. The dynamic receiver can take the top off any defense and will be the most dangerous player on the field Thursday.
Jacory Croskey-Merritt has emerged as Washington’s bell-cow back, rushing for 671 yards and six touchdowns. Against a Dallas run defense that has shown vulnerabilities, he’ll need a big day if the Commanders want to control the clock.
Cowboys vs Commanders Key Trends and Statistics
Points have not been hard to come by in this series. Four of the last five meetings have sailed over the total, with the Cowboys averaging 36 points against Washington during that stretch. Dallas’s aerial attack creates scoring chances in bunches, though their porous defense (30.3 points allowed per game, 31st in NFL) keeps games closer than they should be.
Washington’s turnover troubles loom large. The Commanders have coughed it up 29 times this season, which is death against a Dallas offense that punishes mistakes. The Cowboys have forced fewer turnovers than they’d like (11, 28th in NFL), but they’ve faced their own giveaway issues with 19 turnovers surrendered.
Key Battles to Watch
George Pickens vs Commanders secondary: Washington’s pass defense ranks 26th in the league, and Pickens has the speed and ball skills to exploit mismatches all afternoon. This could be a 150-yard day.
Commanders ground game vs Dallas front seven: If Washington can establish Croskey-Merritt early and control time of possession, they can keep Prescott and the Cowboys offense on the sideline. That’s their path to an upset.
Turnover battle: With both teams prone to giveaways, whichever quarterback takes better care of the football likely walks away with the win.
Cowboys vs Commanders Prediction: Most Likely Outcome
This series has been lopsided, and there’s no reason to expect that changes Thursday. Dallas’s passing attack is too explosive for Washington’s struggling secondary, and while the Commanders can move the ball on the ground, they simply don’t have the firepower to keep pace in a shootout.
Prescott has owned this matchup, and with both teams playing for pride, the Cowboys have the better quarterback, better weapons, and more reasons to want this one after Washington’s upset win in January.
