The Dallas Cowboys played over twice as many snaps from scrimmage as the Washington Commanders, but the final score was not indicative of the blowout manner in which Dallas built its first half lead. A stalled offense allowed the Commanders to trim into the Cowboys lead in the second half, but ultimately Dallas executed down the stretch to escape Northwest Stadium with a 30-23 win on Christmas Day.

Dallas put the pressure on early by scoring on each of its four first-half possessions, with the first three ending in the end zone before a field goal just before halftime. At the break, the Commanders had just one more play than Dallas had first down (18 to 17). The Cowboys led at the half by scoring through the air, on the ground, and off of the leg of Brandon Aubrey, who's 42-yarder made the score 24-10.

But it wasn't always smooth sailing.

Both teams seemed bloated on eggnog in their opening possessions of the second half with back-to-back punts before a 72-yard touchdown run woke everyone up and got Washington back to within one score.

Field goals on both sides made it a 27-20 Cowboys lead entering the fourth quarter. The score stayed put after the wind carried a Brandon Aubrey field goal wide to the right, but the Cowboys used Washington's ninth penalty of the game on fourth-down to force a punt.

Aubrey connected on his third field goal of the game to push the lead back to 10 with four minutes to go. The Commanders answered with a field goal of their own with a full set of timeouts at 2:09 remaining.

Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott () led an offense that surpassed 400 total yards for the ninth time. A slant connection to Pickens on third-and-one moved the chains to all but seal the win for Dallas and a season sweep of Washington.

Though it ended with less magic than it began with, the celebrate the holiday win by looking at a few of the players that contributed most in this week's "Winners & Losers" from Week 17 in Landover.

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WINNER: Jadeveon Clowney

Dallas' late free-agency signing of the veteran pass rusher has proved to be a successful one as Clowney completed his fifth sack of the season, then adding another half-a-sack. Rather surprisingly, that is tied for the most on the team with James Houston's 5.5.

On a short week and a lesser opponent on the other side, this was an opportunity for Clowney and the pass rush to pin their ears back and get after 39-year old backup Josh Johnson. Clowney showed youth on a flurry of pressures in this one to make things difficult for a short-handed Commanders offense.

LOSER: Second-Half Stalls

After the Cowboys' trio of touchdowns to begin the game, they punted, hit two field goals and missed one deep into the fourth quarter.

Pre-snap penalties plagued Dallas' rhythm throughout; the Cowboys were called for 11 flags on the game. The urgency that saw Dallas convert four straight fourth-downs in the first half (their most in game in over three decades) did not carry over to the rest of the game ... and that's become a worrisome trend as of late.

Dallas' fifth straight fourth-down get, however, came in a crucial spot where Dallas was extending its fourth-quarter drive with a touchdown lead.

WINNER: Malik Davis

Starting running back Javonte Williams was off the field and questionable to return before halftime with a shoulder injury that bothered him last week. That paved the way for second-stringer Davis to assume a prominent role in the offense throughout, and he took advantage of it.

Davis showed explosiveness in the first half as he traded snaps with Williams, and once the starter was ruled out, Davis kept things rolling. The slippery third-year back posted a massive season-high of 103 rush yards on 20 carries.

LOSER/WINNER: Brandon Aubrey

Aubrey has played three games at Northwest Stadium in his career. He's missed five field goals in those games. 

The Cowboys' Pro Bowl and All-Pro kicker recently had his first multi-miss game of the season, but shook off the performance without much worry. He was surprised that that game had come at home, but here against the Commanders, another miss is anything but a rare occasion. As weird as that is for a guy like him.

Aubrey's missed 58-yarder in the fourth quarter would have put the Cowboys back in front by two scores.

He did redeem himself moments later by nailing a 51-yarder to put Dallas up 30-20, and that's all the breathing room the Cowboys would need.

WINNER: Dak Prescott ... Sort of

The franchise QB wasn't the sharpest by any means, missing on his first four passes and multiple open looks in the fourth quarter, but he did set the Cowboys new all-time record for passing attempts in a career.

Prescott settled down a bit by finding tight end Jake Ferguson for a juggling touchdown reception on the game's opening drive, George Pickens for a few first-down grabs, and KaVontae Turpin on an 86-yard bomb to blow the roof off of the Commanders defense.

The pass to Turpin was the longest play of the season for the Cowboys and Dak's 30th touchdown in 2025. It's his fourth season with at least 30 passing TDs, which ties Tony Romo for the most such seasons in franchise history. Prescott is also just the third Cowboys QB to get a win on Christmas Day, alongside icons Roger Staubach and Troy Aikman.

But his inability to throw the ball away under pressure or escape the pocket didn't help the second-half offense stay in front of the sticks like it did at will in the first half. Dak was sacked six times in the game.

Prescott was adamant about starting and playing throughout the game, though Dallas is already eliminated from playoff contention and the 32-year-old QB has a history of injuries.

The Cowboys needed him in order to win this one. That fact would normally have been an afterthought in a game where Dallas dominated the time of possession and plays from scrimmage, but a win is a win, nonetheless.

WINNER: Brian Schottenheimer

Was it pretty? No, but the Cowboys boss now begins his head-coaching career with wins on Thanksgiving and Christmas, though he'd tell you a playoff berth (or simply a better second half) would be sweeter.

It's now Dallas' fourth straight win over the NFC East since losing at Philadelphia in Week 1, another something to build on despite questionable performances throughout.

We imagine the Cowboys' hope for a season-ending win next week will put the veteran gunslinger Prescott - along with the rest of the primary starters - on the field in again Week 18 for the rookie coach.

One last present under the tree remains as a ticket to the Meadowlands awaits on Jan. 4, where the Cowboys play the Giants in both teams' final game of the season.