Dak Prescott passed for 268 yards and four touchdowns, and Dallas dominated the spiraling Las Vegas Raiders 33-16 on Monday night in the Cowboys’ first game since the death of defensive end Marshawn Kneeland.
The 24-year-old Kneeland died on 6 November. Dallas coach Brian Schottenheimer and Cowboys players wore shirts honoring Kneeland, and they bowed their heads during a moment of silence before the game.
“It was a blessing to be out on the field, this is where healing happens for me,” said Prescott, whose brother Jace died in 2020. “We love Marshawn and will continue to shine a light for him. We’re blessed to carry his light forward.”
The Cowboys (4-5-1) played one of their best games of the season to maintain their slim playoff hopes. Dallas had lost three of four and have games coming up against Philadelphia, Kansas City and Detroit.
Las Vegas (2-8) continued their downward slide under Pete Carroll in his first year as head coach of the team. The Raiders have lost four straight and eight of nine.
Prescott was precise – minus a miss of a wide-open CeeDee Lamb for an easy touchdown – completing 25 of 44 passes to snap his four-game winless streak in primetime games. His four TD passes tied a season high, matching his total from 5 October against the New York Jets.
He threw primarily to George Pickens and Lamb. Pickens (nine catches, 144 yards, one touchdown) and Lamb (five receptions for 66 yards and a TD) produced big numbers despite Schottenheimer benching them for the Cowboys’ first drive. Javonte Williams provided the Cowboys with balance by rushing for 93 yards on 22 carries.
The Raiders had little balance, going with 32 called pass plays and three runs – Geno Smith also scrambled for seven yards – in the first half alone. They became only the third team since at least 1991 with 30 or more dropbacks and four or fewer runs in a first half. The four rushes were also the Raiders’ second fewest in a first half since at least that year; they had three runs against Atlanta in a 2008 game.
Las Vegas finished with 12 rushes, tied for the 12th fewest in franchise history. The air-it-out approach didn’t work, with Smith finishing 27 of 42 for 238 yards with a touchdown and interception.
The Cowboys’ defense made sure Smith had few chances to execute the offense, sacking him four times, including 1.5 by recent trade acquisition Quinnen Williams. Dallas sent the Jets a 2027 first-round draft pick, a 2026 second-rounder and defensive tackle Mazi Smith for Williams.
Dallas Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer wears a tribute to Marshawn Kneeland during Monday’s game. Photograph: David Becker/AP
Before the game Cowboys players bowed their heads during a moment of silence in honor of their late teammate. A photo of Kneeland was shown on the video boards at Allegiant Stadium.
Dallas players wore blue T-shirts with Kneeland’s name, the years of his life – 2001-2025 – and the team’s star logo beneath an image of his face. A decal of his number, 94, was on the back of their helmets and will remain there for the rest of the season.
The team prepared a locker room stall for Kneeland at the stadium, and his jersey was placed on a coat hanger. Dallas were coming off a bye week, given the team a little more time to come to grips with his death.
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