The NFL’s Christmas Day lineup is lacking serious holiday magic this year
Christmas Day 2025 is already looking like a bust for the NFL due to injuries and teams already eliminated from playoff contention.
The Dallas Cowboys vs. Washington Commanders Christmas game might be the “socks and underwear” matchup of the holiday.
Sure, it’s welcome and necessary, but it’s not the most shiny and exciting gift under the tree this year. That’s especially true considering the misfortunes that the NFC East foes have when it comes to the 2025 season.
Dallas was looking to flip its playoff picture on its head when it swung a big trade deadline move for defensive lineman Quinnen Williams. The pricy move was all for naught, as the Cowboys were officially eliminated from playoff contention after the Philadelphia Eagles‘ Week 16 win over the Commanders.
The Commanders weren’t able to hang in the playoff picture for much, if at all, this season. Following their Cinderella run to the NFC championship game in 2024, the Commanders were unable to recapture the magic, and some of that is due to the injury bug which bit Jayden Daniels numerous times this season.
Now, with Marcus Mariota also sidelined entering Christmas day, Washington turns to journeyman Josh Johnson to hold up for a Christmas miracle.
It’s an NFC East showdown with both teams playing for pride. USA TODAY Sports will provide live updates, highlights and more for the matchup below.
The Commanders’ kicker sent a 23-yard field goal through the uprights after another Washington drive stalled in the red zone.
Moody’s second field goal of the day brings the Commanders back within seven points. The Cowboys still lead, 27-20, with 16 seconds left in the third quarter.
Ferguson exited the Christmas game against the Commanders with a calf injury and has been ruled out for the remainder of the matchup, according to Jon Machota of The Athletic. The Cowboys tight end’s sole catch before his injury was a six-yard touchdown reception — his eighth of the season.
Dallas extends its lead back to 10 points on a 52-yard field goal from its kicker. Aubrey is 2-for-2 on field goal attempts on Christmas, in addition to a perfect 3-for-3 mark on extra point attempts.
It’s 27-17 Cowboys with 4:42 left in the third quarter.
The Cowboys’ running back is questionable to return to his team’s Christmas game with a shoulder injury, according to NFL Media’s Ian Rapoport. Williams already has 54 yards on 13 carries and a touchdown.
Moments after former Washington running back Clinton Portis joined Netflix’s broadcast, Croskey-Merritt broke through with a 72-yard touchdown run on the Commanders’ first play of their second possession of the second half.
The score brought Washington within seven points of Dallas, but the Cowboys still lead, 24-17, with 9:34 left in the third quarter.
Aubrey’s first field goal attempt of the afternoon is good from just over 40 yards out.
It gives the Cowboys a 24-10 lead with 19 seconds left in the first half.
Washington took advantage of three costly Cowboys penalties to score its first touchdown: a kickoff short of the landing zone, a horse collar tackle and a defensive pass interference.
The Commanders cut Dallas’ lead to 11 points after Croskey-Merritt’s seventh touchdown of his rookie season on his 10-yard run. They’ll kick the ball back to the Cowboys, who lead 21-10 with 4:35 left in the first half.
Commander’s safety Frankie Luvu jumped offside, and Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott took advantage of the free play with a deep shot downfield. Turpin hauled in the throw right across the 50-yard line and took it the rest of the way for another Cowboys touchdown.
Dallas’ 97-yard touchdown drive took the fewest plays and the least time to score of any of their drives today. The Cowboys’ lead is up to 21-3 with seven minutes left in the first half.
The Cowboys have been gashing the Commanders on the ground. They’re up to 92 yards on 17 carries (5.4 yards per carry) through two possessions.
Williams was the latest beneficiary of Washington’s poor run defense, pounding the rock through a few defenders to score Dallas’ second touchdown in as many possessions. The Cowboys now lead 14-3 with 12 minutes left in the first half.
Dallas has scored on two straight drives that each lasted over five minutes and featured more than a dozen plays each possession.
The Commanders made it inside the Cowboys’ 5-yard line before quarterback Josh Johnson took a third-down sack.
On the ensuing fourth down, Washington’s kicker gave his team its first points of the holiday matchup with a 29-yard field goal. It’s 7-3 Cowboys with 4:44 left in the first quarter.
The Cowboys’ fourth-year tight end has his eighth touchdown of the season, extending his career high, and he did it with flair. Quarterback Dak Prescott’s throw was a bit high, but the 6-foot-5 tight end reached up to tip the ball to himself.
Ferguson’s score and kicker Brandon Aubrey’s extra point gave the Cowboys a 7-0 lead. The Commanders will begin their first possession with 9:42 left in the first quarter.
Netflix is broadcasting the Cowboys-Commanders game on Christmas to a national audience. There is no national broadcast of the game available on cable TV.
Fans living in the local markets (Dallas or Washington) can watch the game on their local CBS affiliate.
You can buy tickets to see the Cowboys take on the Commanders from multiple sources.
The Commanders are starting veteran journeyman quarterback Josh Johnson for their Christmas game against the Cowboys, head coach Dan Quinn announced.
It will be the 39-year-old’s first start since 2021 and 10th start of his career. Johnson holds a 1-8 record in his nine career starts.
Johnson notably holds the NFL record for most teams played for in a career, with 14. Here’s who he has played for, in alphabetical order:
There are three NFL games taking place on Christmas, though none of them are available on national TV with a cable subscription or antenna.
Here’s which games kick off on Dec. 25, when they start and how to watch each holiday matchup:
Commanders vs. Cowboys:Kickoff: 1 p.m. ETStreaming: Netflix (national)TV channel: N/A (national) | KTVT – CBS 11 (Dallas) | WUSA – CBS 9 (Washington)Vikings vs. LionsKickoff: 4:30 p.m. ETStreaming: Netflix (national)TV channel: N/A (national) | WWJ-TV – CBS 62 (Detroit) | WCCO – CBS 4 (Twin Cities)Chiefs vs. BroncosKickoff: 8:20 p.m. ETStreaming: Amazon Prime Video (national)TV channel: N/A (national) | KMGH – ABC 7 (Denver) | KSHB – NBC 41 (Kansas City)TV channel (national) N/ATV channel (Dallas market): KTVT (CBS Channel 11)TV channel (Washington market): WUSA (CBS Channel 9)
The Commanders vs. Cowboys Christmas Day game will not air on a national TV network, as it is being streamed on Netflix.
Viewers in the Dallas and Washington markets can watch the game on their local CBS affiliate.
What time is the Cowboys game on?
The Cowboys and Commanders are scheduled to kick off at 1 p.m. ET. Dallas travels to Northwest Stadium in Landover, Maryland for the matchup.
Commanders vs Cowboys stream
The Cowboys vs. Commanders matchup is the first of two Christmas games on Netflix. A subscription is required to watch the games.
Cowboys vs. Commanders picks, predictions
Here’s how the USA TODAY Sports NFL experts feel the Cowboys vs. Commanders matchup is going to tilt:
Jarrett Bell: Cowboys, 30-24Nick Brinkerhoff: Cowboys, 30-24Chris Bumbaca: Cowboys, 33-22Nate Davis: Cowboys. 27-17Tyler Dragon: Cowboys, 30-21Mike Middlehurst-Schwartz: Cowboys, 34-23Cowboys vs. Commanders odds, moneyline, O/U
National Football League odds courtesy of BetMGM. Odds updated Tuesday at 7:28 a.m. ET. For a full list of sports betting odds, access USA TODAY Sports Betting Scores Odds Hub.
Spread favorite: Cowboys (-6.5)Moneyline: Cowboys (-285), Commanders (+230)Total: 50.5 points
The Cowboys enter today’s game in second place in the NFC East. The Commanders are in third. Both teams are eliminated from playoff contention.
Philadelphia Eagles (10-5)Dallas Cowboys (6-8-1)Washington Commanders (4-11)New York Giants (2-13)WR Ryan FlournoyCB Caelen CarsonRB Jaydon BlueDT Jay ToiaLB DeMarvion OvershownDT Perrion Winfrey