Cowboys secure win over Raiders in first game since Marshawn Kneeland death
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On a night of mourning, the Dallas Cowboys honored their late teammate Marshawn Kneeland with a victory.
Head coach Brian Schottenheimer, like many others on the sidelines during the national anthem in Las Vegas, had his eyes closed and was wearing a T-shirt honoring Kneeland, the 24-year-old who died by suicide earlier this month. Schottenheimer and the Cowboys hadn’t played since Nov. 3 after getting a bye in Week 10, and the group had been hurting since the news broke three days after a “Monday Night Football” loss to the Arizona Cardinals.
Both teams honored Kneeland with a moment of silence before kickoff, then the Cowboys took the field and beat the Las Vegas Raiders 33-16 to get back on their winning streak 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 struggling unit 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 linebacker Kenny Clark added half a 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 opened the game with three points in a series where CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens did not see the court. ESPN sideline reporter Lisa Salters said on the “Monday Night Football” broadcast that it was the coach’s decision to seat star receivers on the first drive.
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Things didn’t get any better when Maxx Crosby sacked Prescott on the next drive, but the Cowboys’ defense was able to hold the Raiders to just three points on a turnover in their own red zone.
(L-R) George Pickens and CeeDee Lamb of the Dallas Cowboys celebrate scoring a touchdown in the second quarter against the Las Vegas Raiders at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nevada on November 17, 2025. (Ian Maule/Getty Images)
When Pickens and Lamb entered the game after these series, they immediately got to work.
Both receivers scored, and Lamb scored first on an 18-yard strike from Prescott on the team’s third drive. Then, after Prescott found tight end Jake Ferguson, Pickens made multiple defenders miss heading into the end zone with an impressive 37-yard catch-and-run to open the game at 24-6 near the end of the first half.
Pickens had a pretty good game in Sin City, collecting 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 under pressure throughout but still managed to go 27-of-42 for 238 yards and 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 get the Raiders going, catching seven of his 12 targets for 72 yards. But it was a pass-heavy approach all night long; Rookie running back Ashton Jeanty had just six carries for seven yards.
Dak Prescott of the Dallas Cowboys warms up before his game against the Las Vegas Raiders at Allegiant Stadium on November 17, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
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In fact, the game-ending play for Dallas came when the defense intercepted Jeanty in the Raiders’ end zone for a safety. The game was 31-16 with plenty of time left in the fourth quarter, but the Cowboys slammed the door from then on.
The Cowboys, now 4-5-1, will continue to move forward despite the tragedy that shook their locker room. They return home next week for an NFC East matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles at AT&T Stadium, where they hope to start a winning streak.
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