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On a night filled with mourning, the Dallas Cowboys honored their late teammate Marshawn Kneeland with a victory.
Head coach Brian Schottenheimer had his eyes closed, like many others on the sideline during the national anthem in Las Vegas, while wearing a T-shirt honoring Kneeland, the 24-year-old player who committed suicide earlier this month. Schottenheimer and the Cowboys had not played since Nov. 3, as they were on their bye in Week 10, and the group had been hurting since the news broke three days after their “Monday Night Football” loss to the Arizona Cardinals.
Both teams honored Kneeland with a moment of silence before kickoff, then the Cowboys came out and dominated the Las Vegas Raiders, 33-16, to get back into the win column this season.
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Dallas Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer stands on the sidelines during the national anthem before the game against the Las Vegas Raiders at Allegiant Stadium on November 17, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Brooke Sutton/Getty Images)
The Cowboys’ defense, a unit that has struggled for much of the season, was flying all over the field and disrupting the Raiders’ offense led by quarterback Geno Smith, who was sacked four times in the team’s eighth loss of the season. Newcomer Quinnen Williams, acquired from the New York Jets before the NFL trade deadline, had 1.5 sacks in his Cowboys debut, while his defensive tackle counterpart Kenny Clark added a half-sack. James Houston and Osa Odighizuwa each recorded a sack in the win.
On offense, Dak Prescott and company were cooking, as the veteran quarterback threw for four touchdowns and 268 yards.
It was an interesting start for Dallas, who went three and out to open the game in a series in which CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens did not see the field. ESPN sideline reporter Lisa Salters said on the “Monday Night Football” broadcast that it was the coach’s decision to sit the star receivers for the first series.
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Things didn’t get any better when Maxx Crosby sacked Prescott on the next series, although the Cowboys defense was able to limit the Raiders to just three points with the turnover in their own red zone.
(L-R) George Pickens and CeeDee Lamb of the Dallas Cowboys celebrate a touchdown during the second quarter against the Las Vegas Raiders at Allegiant Stadium on November 17, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Ian Maule/Getty Images)
When Pickens and Lamb entered the game after that series, they immediately went to work.
Both receivers scored touchdowns, with Lamb getting the first on an 18-yard pass from Prescott on the team’s third drive. Then, after Prescott found tight end Jake Ferguson, Pickens made several defenders miss on a stunning 37-yard catch-and-run to the end zone to open the game, 24-6, near the end of the first half.
Pickens had a big game in Sin City, hauling in nine receptions for 144 yards and a touchdown to lead all players in both categories. Lamb finished with five receptions for 66 yards, while Javonte Williams carried 22 times for 93 yards on the ground.
Meanwhile, Smith was pressured throughout, but still managed to go 27 of 42 for 238 yards, with a touchdown pass to Tre Tucker in the fourth quarter. Tucker finished with four catches for 47 yards.
Tight end Brock Bowers did his best to rally the Raiders, catching seven of his 12 targets for 72 yards. But it was a pass-heavy approach all night, with rookie running back Ashton Jeanty managing just six carries for seven yards.
Dak Prescott of the Dallas Cowboys warms up before the game against the Las Vegas Raiders at Allegiant Stadium on November 17, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
In fact, the play that sealed the game for Dallas came when the defense stopped Jeanty in the Raiders end zone for a safety. It was a 31-16 game with plenty of time left in the fourth quarter, but the Cowboys shut the door from that point on.
The Cowboys, now 4-5-1, will continue to advance despite the tragedy that rocked their locker room. They will return home for an NFC East showdown with the Philadelphia Eagles next week at AT&T Stadium, where they hope to start a winning streak.
