NEWYou can now listen to PK Press Club articles!
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 sidelines during the national anthem in Las Vegas, while wearing a T-shirt honoring Kneeland, the 24-year-old who committed suicide earlier this month. Schottenheimer and the Cowboys hadn’t played since Nov. 3, when they were off 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.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON PK Press Club
Head coach Brian Schottenheimer of the Dallas Cowboys stands on the sideline 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 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 defensive counterpart Kenny Clark added half a sack. James Houston and Osa Odighizuwa each recorded a sack in the victory.
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 scored three points to open the game in a series where CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens didn’t see the field. ESPN reporter Lisa Salters said on “Monday Night Football” that it was a coach’s decision to sit star receivers for the first practice.
COWBOYS COACH SAYS GIRLFRIEND OF LATE NFL PLAYER MARSHAWN KNEELAND IS PREGNANT; TEAM LAUNCHES MEMORIAL FUND
Things didn’t improve when Maxx Crosby sacked Prescott on the next drive, although the Cowboys defense managed to hold the Raiders to just three points off turnovers in their own red zone.
(L to 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 those series, they immediately got to work.
Both receivers scored touchdowns, with Lamb getting the first on an 18-yard strike from Prescott on the team’s third drive. Then, after Prescott found tight end Jake Ferguson, Pickens made several defenders miss on an impressive 37-yard catch-and-run into the end zone to open the game, 24-6, late in the first half.
Pickens had a hell of a 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 rushing.
Meanwhile, Smith was pressured throughout, but still managed to go 27 of 42 for 238 yards, including 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 spark the Raiders, catching seven of his 12 targets for 72 yards. But the approach was pass-heavy all night, with rookie running back Ashton Jeanty having 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 deciding play 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 slammed the door from that point on.
The Cowboys, now 4-5-1, will continue to advance despite the tragedy that shook 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.
