The Dallas Cowboys and Washington Commanders will square off on Thursday afternoon, with neither team in playoff contention entering Week 17. With the Cowboys at 6-8-1 and the Commanders at 4-11, this NFC East matchup is for pride more than anything on Christmas Day. Dallas enters the contest as the favorite based on the injury reports for both teams. Before these teams kick off the NFL Christmas slate, you can find my Cowboys vs Commanders prediction below.
Our Cowboys vs Commanders Pick
| Pick: | |
| Confidence: | 4/5 |
Game Snapshot
- Matchup: Dallas Cowboys vs Washington Commanders
- Date & Time: Thursday, December 25, 2025, 1:00 PM
- Venue: FedExField, Landover, Maryland
- Broadcast: Netflix
Key Storylines
Both of these teams are struggling mightily going into this Christmas matchup. The Cowboys have dropped three games in a row to get eliminated from playoff contention. They have given up over 30 points in all three of those games. This game is a chance for the Cowboys’ defense to get back on track against a struggling Commanders offense. But nothing is guaranteed for the Cowboys on defense right now.
Washington has dropped four of its last five games coming into this contest. Washington has struggled to generate offense without starting quarterback Jayden Daniels. Marcus Mariota has seen a ton of action in the place of Daniels this season and that has dropped Washington from being one of the best teams in the NFC to one of the worst all in one year.
Of course, the big question going into this game is how much both teams will care about the result. Both of these teams would be best served to lose games late in the season, but the players have a vested interest in playing well to help their own careers.
Quarterback Play
Dak Prescott leads the Cowboys at quarterback. He has had a strong statistical season, including nearly 4,200 passing yards and 28 touchdown passes. His ability to attack the Commanders’ secondary will be a key determinant in this game. On the other sideline, Washington’s quarterback situation is unsettled. With Mariota questionable and uncertainty on who will lead the offense, a lack of rhythm under center could hamper the Commanders’ scoring production even more.
Betting Trends & H2H
- Dallas defeated Washington 44-22 in their first meeting during the regular season.
- The Cowboys are 7-8 against the spread so far this season.
- Washington is 5-10 against the spread going into this contest.
- The Cowboys are 10-4-1 to the over entering Week 17.
- The Commanders are 8-6-1 to the over going into Thursday’s game.

