The NFL serves up a holiday rivalry as the Dallas Cowboys visit the Washington Commanders on Christmas Day. It is Week 17, it is a divisional game, and it is at Northwest Stadium — also known as FedExField — with a 1:00 pm kickoff. There are no playoff tickets at stake, but there is pride, rivalry heat, and a chance to send fans home with a smile on a day built for family and football.

Cowboys vs. Commanders: A Christmas Day rivalry with fresh stakes

Dallas arrives at 6-8-1 overall and 2-5 away. Washington is 4-11 and 2-5 at home. Both sides are already out of the playoff race. That changes the mood, but not the meaning. Games like this are about who finishes and who fights. It is about the badge on the helmet and the people in the stands on a cold December afternoon.

For Washington, this is the final home game of the season — a last chance to light up the building and thank the crowd. For Dallas, it is one more shot to steady a rocky road record and to show some toughness away from home.

“We may be out, but beating Dallas on Christmas would be the real present.”

Records, splits, and the NFC East picture

The NFC East table tells a simple story. Philadelphia leads at 10-5 (.667). Dallas sits at 6-8-1 (.433) with 424 points scored and 454 allowed. Washington is 4-11 (.267) with 309 scored and 404 allowed. The Giants round it out at 2-13 (.133). That gap explains some of the frustration on both sides, and also the hunger to close strong, even without January football ahead.

Dallas has struggled away from home at 2-5. Washington has not found much comfort at home at 2-5 either. Something has to give. That is fuel for a rivalry game where effort and clean execution can tilt the day quickly.

Odds, totals, and what the numbers say

Oddsmakers have Dallas as an 8.5-point road favorite with a total set at 57.0. A listed 42.6% implied probability for the Cowboys adds a twist to the market read. The spread suggests trust in Dallas to handle business, while the total hints at fireworks.

There is math behind that big number. The Cowboys have put up 424 points but allowed 454. Washington’s defense has given up 404 while the offense has reached 309. That can lead to a game where mistakes, short fields, and red zone trips pile up. If both sides trade scores, the total makes sense. If one side cleans up the turnovers and controls the ball, the under might come into play.

“How are the Cowboys laying 8.5 on the road when both teams are out?”

That fan question will be part of the pregame buzz. Dallas has been shaky away from home, but Washington’s own home mark leaves the door open. The line also reflects how these teams have scored and allowed points over the season. Expect swings. Expect pressure on special teams and situational downs.

History lives in this rivalry

These teams have met in so many moments, from classic comebacks to bruising ground games of the past. One note stands out: in 1996, Washington beat Dallas 37-10 at RFK Stadium in front of the largest crowd in the venue’s history. That day was loud. It is a reminder that this matchup can still shake the city.

And while today’s game is not at RFK, the spirit remains. Northwest Stadium (FedExField) knows this dance — the colors, the chants, and the stakes, even in a year when the postseason is off the table.

What to watch: simple football on a big stage

• Start fast: On a holiday, energy can swing early. A quick score or a stop can set the tone.
• Third downs: Get off the field on defense. Stay on the field on offense. It changes everything.
• Red zone: Field goals keep games close. Touchdowns separate teams in December.
• Ball security: With both teams giving up points this year, turnovers will be the story.

Washington will want to use the crowd and lean into that last-home-game surge. Dallas will want poise and clean drives. If either side finds balance and discipline, that team likely leaves with the win.

“A chance to beat the hated Cowboys… giftgivers of points even Santa thinks are too generous.”

That playful jab, borrowed from a YouTube riff on this rivalry, captures the mood. Fans want a show. They want bragging rights at the dinner table. And they want a reason to smile when they open the next present.

Inside the building: the fan experience matters

It is Washington’s last home date of 2025. Suites and premium seats at Northwest Stadium have been marketed as a way to take in the views and the comfort. Holiday football is also about who you watch it with. Families and friends trade the couch for the cold air and a chance to sing along with the band after a big play.

Dallas travels well, and this rivalry brings people out. Expect a split in the stands and a lot of noise on big downs. That environment can lift a defense or force a false start. It is a real edge in a game where fine margins matter.

Predictions and perspective

Staff predictions are already rolling on team channels, and they lean into the same themes: rivalry, pride, and the coin-flip feel of a late-season matchup. The Cowboys have the number next to their name and the spread on their side. The Commanders have the building and the motivation of a last home bow.

The simplest view wins: Protect the ball, win the red zone, and avoid penalties that stall drives. If Dallas gets early rhythm, the spread makes sense. If Washington’s defense forces long fields and chips in a takeaway, the underdog bite is real.

Final word: a gift of football, pure and simple

There is beauty in a game like this. No playoff math. No wild-card charts. Just helmet-on-helmet, in-division football on Christmas afternoon. The Cowboys need a composed road effort. The Commanders need a complete home response. The rest is sound, fury, and a rivalry that always finds a way to matter.

Raise the volume, keep an eye on the total, and enjoy the old colors under winter light. Someone is going to leave with a moment they will talk about for years. On a day built for memories, that is a pretty good gift.