The Washington Commanders and Dallas Cowboys will kick off the Christmas Day festivities in the NFL when they meet at Northwest Stadium on Thursday in Week 17.
Both teams have already been eliminated from playoff contention, so they have nothing but pride and draft position to play for.
The Commanders are in a bad way when it comes to injuries at the quarterback spot this week, as both Jayden Daniels and Marcus Mariota have been ruled out due to injury, which leaves journeyman Josh Johnson as the starter for Week 17.
Daniels was shut down for the remainder of the 2025 campaign after reaggravating his elbow injury, and Mariota has a hand injury that required stitches, as well as a quad issue.
The Cowboys will be without a few key players on both sides of the ball, and they have even more questionable to play in this game, but Dallas' most important offensive players are all taking the field on Thursday.
With just hours to go before kickoff, here's who experts are predicting will win this game between the NFC East rivals.
Cowboys vs. Commanders picks, predictions
Vinnie Iyer, AllSportsPeople: Cowboys 27, Commanders 23
Iyer: "Dallas is trying to find enough offense to finish hot with Dak Prescott after cooling off a bit, especially at home. Getting a road game against reeling rivals with a bad overall defense should allow the Cowboys to work toward a positive finish. The Commanders, however, will be game with whoever's at QB."
Bill Bender, AllSportsPeople: Cowboys 30, Commanders 20
Bender: "The Cowboys were eliminated from playoff contention in Week 16 – and their defense needs improvement next season. Dallas has allowed 37.3 points in their last three games. Marcus Mariota (quad, hand) is battling injuries, which means either Josh Johnson or Sam Hartman could get the start."
- Stephania Bell: Cowboys
- Matt Bowen: Cowboys
- Mike Clay: Cowboys
- Jeremy Fowler: Cowboys
- Dan Graziano: Cowboys
- Kalyn Kahler: Cowboys
- Pamela Maldonado: Cowboys
- Eric Moody: Cowboys
- Jason Reid: Cowboys
- Lindsey Thiry: Cowboys
- Seth Wickersham: Cowboys
- Clare Brennan: Cowboys
- Mitch Goldich: Cowboys
- Gilberto Manzano: Cowboys
- Conor Orr: Cowboys
- John Pluym: Cowboys
- Matt Verderame: Cowboys
- Pete Prisco: Cowboys
- Jared Dubin: Cowboys
- Ryan Wilson: Cowboys
- John Breech: Cowboys
- Tyler Sullivan: Cowboys
- Dave Richard: Cowboys
- Jamey Eisenberg: Cowboys
Number of experts picking Cowboys: 26
Number of experts picking Commanders: 0
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