Lead
On Monday, Nov. 17, 2025 in Las Vegas, the Dallas Cowboys defeated the Las Vegas Raiders 33-16 on Monday Night Football. Dallas, honoring the memory of late edge rusher Marshawn Kneeland, built a multi-score lead behind Dak Prescott’s four touchdown passes and a breakout night from George Pickens. The Cowboys’ defense, boosted by new acquisition Quinnen Williams, produced key stops including a safety in the fourth quarter. Las Vegas managed a late touchdown but never closed the gap; the result keeps Dallas squarely in the NFC playoff conversation.
Key Takeaways
- Dallas beat Las Vegas 33-16 on Nov. 17, 2025 in Allegiant Stadium, improving their position in the NFC playoff chase.
- Dak Prescott threw four touchdown passes to four different players and set a Cowboys franchise mark with his 41st career game of three-or-more passing TDs; this was his 13th game with four-plus TDs.
- George Pickens led Dallas with 120-plus receiving yards and a 37-yard TD before being flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct after a goal-post celebration.
- Quinnen Williams recorded a nine-yard sack in his Cowboys debut and helped pressure Geno Smith, who threw at least one interception in the first half.
- Dallas forced a safety in the fourth quarter when Donovan Ezeiruaku and Sam Williams combined to stop Ashton Jeanty on a one-yard play, widening the margin to 33-16.
- Raiders rookie RB Ashton Jeanty remained a scoring threat; Las Vegas scored its first TD in the fourth but could not sustain a comeback.
- CeeDee Lamb had a TD on a play-action red-zone catch and finished the night with multiple catches despite missing the opening series for disciplinary reasons.
Background
The game came nine days after the Cowboys lost teammate Marshawn Kneeland on Nov. 6; Dallas marked Kneeland with tributes during the week and a moment of silence before kickoff. Team leaders said preserving his memory was a unifying priority for players and staff. The Cowboys also added defensive tackle Quinnen Williams at the trade deadline, a move intended to bolster a defensive line that has been inconsistent at times this season.
Las Vegas entered Week 11 in a slump, sitting 2-7 and searching for answers in Pete Carroll’s first season as head coach. The Raiders had struggled in primetime — failing to reach double digits in recent night games — and their offense ranked near the bottom of the league in scoring, averaging 15.4 points per game entering the matchup. Geno Smith came in facing turnover concerns, with double-digit interceptions on the season before kickoff.
Main Event
The Cowboys took control early and led 24-9 at halftime after Prescott completed 13 of 19 passes for 185 yards and three first-half touchdown throws. Pickens and Lamb both made pivotal plays after missing the opening series; Pickens hauled in multiple intermediate passes to keep drives alive and finished the first 30 minutes with over 100 receiving yards.
On a critical fourth-and-1 from the Raiders’ 5-yard line late in the first half, Las Vegas defended the sideline to deter Lamb and Pickens, leaving tight end Jake Ferguson wide open in the middle of the end zone. Prescott delivered a precise throw between the numbers for the touchdown that extended Dallas’ lead. A few plays later, Pickens beat the secondary on a 37-yard post route, giving Dallas a running start into the half.
Quinnen Williams impacted the line of scrimmage early for his new team, bull-rushing through the middle to sack Geno Smith for a nine-yard loss and force a punt. The Cowboys’ defensive front also produced a tipped pass that resulted in an interception by Markquese Bell late in the second quarter, flipping field position and preserving Dallas’ momentum.
Prescott added a fourth TD in the third quarter — his fourth of the night to four different targets — and Dallas stretched the lead into the 20-point range. Las Vegas had a brief spark in the fourth when Geno Smith connected on a short screen to Tre Tucker for a six-yard touchdown, but the Cowboys answered with a safety after a stalled Raider drive pinned Las Vegas inside its own 2-yard line.
Analysis & Implications
Dallas’ win showcased both offensive balance and a renewed defensive identity. Prescott’s ability to distribute the ball to multiple receivers — Lamb, Pickens, Ferguson and Ryan Flournoy — prevented Las Vegas from focusing on a single matchup. That multi-target approach created mismatches and opened the middle of the field on key red-zone plays.
The arrival of Quinnen Williams has immediate schematic value. His interior push required added attention from the Raiders’ offensive line, producing pressure and at least one sack that changed a drive’s trajectory. If Dallas maintains that interior disruption, opponents will have fewer comfortable passing windows on early downs — improving the Cowboys’ chance to control game flow.
For the Raiders, offensive struggles remain structural. Geno Smith’s turnovers and Las Vegas’ inability to sustain drives highlighted protection issues and a playbook that has not consistently moved the chains. Even with rookie Ashton Jeanty’s touchdown production, the team needs better pass protection and fewer turnovers to climb out of its current hole in the AFC West.
Longer-term, the game matters more for Dallas’ confidence than their standings alone. Winning a primetime game on the road with emotional context — honoring a late teammate — may deepen locker-room cohesion. For Las Vegas, another primetime loss increases pressure on coaching staff and front-office decision-making as the season approaches the mid-point.
Comparison & Data
| Split | Team PPG | Comp % | Pass YPG | TD-INT | Passer Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dak Prescott Weeks 4-7 | 37.0 | 71% | 270.3 | 13-0 | 128.1 |
| Dak Prescott Weeks 8-9 | 20.5 | 61% | 219.0 | 1-3 | 66.3 |
The table highlights Prescott’s swing in efficiency across recent stretches: a dominant weeks-4-to-7 period followed by a rougher two-game span. Monday’s performance is evidence of corrective adjustments, particularly in early-down execution and play-action usage that put Las Vegas on its heels.
Reactions & Quotes
Players and coaches framed the victory as both a competitive result and an emotional tribute.
“We wanted to honor Marshawn and play for him tonight,”
Dak Prescott / Cowboys QB
Head coach Brian Schottenheimer emphasized fundamentals and starting drives correctly as the key to regaining consistent offensive control.
“Win first down, and I think that allows us to control what we want to do,”
Brian Schottenheimer / Cowboys head coach
Quinnen Williams, speaking about his first game in Dallas, expressed eagerness to contribute immediately.
“I’m super excited to be here and help this defense,”
Quinnen Williams / DT
Unconfirmed
- The specific disciplinary reasons for CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens missing the opening series were described by the team as a coach’s decision; internal details have not been publicly clarified.
- Long-term rotation plans for Quinnen Williams, Kenny Clark and Osa Odighizuwa have been discussed by coaches, but exact snap-count allocations have not been officially finalized.
Bottom Line
The Cowboys delivered a comprehensive performance — emotionally charged and technically sound — to beat the Raiders 33-16. Dak Prescott’s distribution and Dallas’ improved interior push were decisive; Quinnen Williams’ debut and a fourth-quarter safety sealed the margin. The win bolsters Dallas’ playoff positioning and provides a morale boost following the team’s tributes to Marshawn Kneeland.
For Las Vegas, the loss underscores persistent offensive problems: turnover frequency, pass protection lapses and a lack of sustained drives. The Raiders must correct structural issues if they aim to reverse their early-season slide; otherwise, pressure on personnel and scheme decisions will intensify as the season progresses.