LAS VEGAS — The Dallas Cowboys delivered an emotional and dominant performance Monday night, defeating the Las Vegas Raiders 33–16 as they honored the memory of late teammate Marshawn Kneeland.
The team paid tribute by wearing a blue helmet decal with his No. 94, warming up in shirts featuring his likeness, and hanging his jersey behind the bench throughout the game. While no victory can erase the loss, this performance gave Dallas a much-needed moment of unity and pride.
Game Summary
Quarterback Dak Prescott led the way, throwing four touchdown passes to four different receivers:
George Pickens CeeDee Lamb Jake Ferguson Ryan Flournoy
Meanwhile, Dallas’ defense—with new additions Quinnen Williams, Logan Wilson, and the return of DeMarvion Overshown—kept the Raiders out of the end zone until the fourth quarter. By then, the Cowboys had already scored on five straight drives and built a commanding 31–9 lead.
Dallas Cowboys (4–5–1): Key Takeaways
Dak Prescott’s Record-Climbing Night
Prescott continues to etch his name deeper into Cowboys history.
With Monday’s performance, he now holds the most three-TD-pass games in franchise history (41), surpassing Tony Romo (40). Since entering the league in 2016, only Patrick Mahomes (46) has more such games. Prescott now sits at 234 career touchdown passes, closing in on Romo’s 247.
His 37-yard touchdown to Pickens in the second quarter marked another milestone in his growing legacy.
Quinnen Williams Makes an Immediate Impact
Williams ended a seven-game sack drought in his Cowboys debut. In the first four series alone, he totaled:
1.5 sacks 4 quarterback hits 1 tackle for loss
He added a fifth QB hit before halftime. After missing time due to back-to-back byes (Jets and Cowboys), Williams showed exactly why Dallas pursued him at the trade deadline.
Stat Spotlight: Pickens & Lamb Take Over
Despite not starting due to a coach’s decision, George Pickens and CeeDee Lamb were the offensive spark in the first half:
9 combined receptions 156 combined yards 2 touchdowns
Pickens finished with 101 yards and a 37-yard score—his third 100-yard, 1-TD game this season. Lamb added 55 yards and an 18-yard touchdown, while also drawing a key pass-interference flag.
Las Vegas Raiders (2–8): Key Takeaways
Playing without two starting offensive linemen — left tackle Kolton Miller and right guard Jackson Powers-Johnson, both sidelined with ankle injuries — the Raiders entered Monday’s game at a major disadvantage in the trenches. That weakness was evident from start to finish.
Offensive Line Breakdown
The replacement unit of Stone Forsythe (LT), Dylan Parham (LG), Will Putnam (C), Jordan Meredith (RG), and DJ Glaze (RT) struggled to contain Dallas’ pass rush. Quarterback Geno Smith, at 35 years old, rarely had time to set his feet and was sacked four times.
Smith was pressured on 41% of his first-half dropbacks. He completed just 3 of 9 passes for 23 yards under that pressure. The struggles up front also suffocated the run game — Las Vegas managed only 27 rushing yards on 12 carries.
With a Week 12 matchup looming against Cleveland and elite pass rusher Myles Garrett (15 sacks, including four last week), the Raiders’ protection issues are a serious concern.
Most Surprising Performance: Ashton Jeanty’s Limited Usage
Rookie running back Ashton Jeanty played a surprisingly small role.
He had only two carries for 10 yards in the first half. His longest run — 11 yards early in the second quarter — was his final handoff of the period.
This lack of usage is notable considering Dallas entered the game ranked 27th in yards allowed per carry (4.8).
Stat to Know: Heavy Play-Action Usage
The Raiders leaned on play-action far more than usual:
40.6% of Smith’s first-half dropbacks used play-action. He went 7-of-12 for 124 yards and one interception on those plays.
For comparison, Las Vegas had used play-action on only 26.6% of Smith’s dropbacks entering Week 11.
Trend to Watch: Cornerback Concerns
Las Vegas started Kyu Blu Kelly after his two-interception performance against Denver. But against Dallas, he struggled significantly:
Allowed 6 completions on 6 targets Gave up 87 yards and 1 touchdown All in just 27 coverage snaps
At 2–8, the Raiders may soon pivot to rookie third-rounder Darien Porter to evaluate him over the remainder of the season.
