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The NFL is reviewing an incident that occurred during the Dallas Cowboys and Washington Commanders game involving Dak Prescott.
Dak Prescott and the Dallas Cowboys won’t be in the playoffs for the 2025-26 season, but they’re still ending the season on a high note, and they still have one game left before the season wraps up. That game is on Sunday, January 4, against the New York Giants.
Neither the Cowboys nor Giants are playoff bound, but both teams have talented players and are playing for pride, so the game will still make for a good watch. The Cowboys are toting a 7-8-1 record going into the game, and the Giants are at 2-13.
What makes the game extra exciting for Dallas is that they’re coming off a win. On Christmas Day, the Dallas Cowboys took on the Washington Commanders on the road, and the Cowboys took that one with a 30-23 final score. There’s nothing quite like a Christmas day win in the NFL.
But, during that game, a controversial incident happened that the NFL is evaluating. That moment involved Prescott and a Commanders player who took at late hit on the quarterback.
Late Hit on Dak Prescott in Dallas Cowboys Christmas Game Getting Evaluated by the NFL
During the third quarter of the Cowboys and Commanders game, Prescott was sacked by Commanders linebacker Von Miller at the 5:58 mark. At the time, the Cowboys were third-and-nine, and Miller’s sack looked to stop Dallas’ drive.
But, instead, the refs game the Commanders a 15-yard penalty for unnecessary roughness, which gave Dallas an automatic first down. The penalty was for Commanders linebacker Frankie Luvu, who tried to tackle Prescott after he had already been sacked, which is a no-no.
It appeared Luvu didn’t know the play was over, but he was still given a personal foul, and it certainly helped the Cowboys in crunch time. At the end of that drive, the Cowboys got three more points on the board with a 52-yard field goal from Brandon Aubrey, which gave them a 27-17 lead.
Now, the NFL has a decision to make. They could choose to fine Luvu for his actions against Prescott, going beyond the punishment of that in-game penalty.
Every week during the season, the NFL gives punishments to players for actions taken during the previous week’s games. The NFL states on their official website that these actions are “to protect players from unnecessary risk and preserve competitive balance and game integrity.” Before the season begins, the NFL and NFL Players Association agree on the set of game-related rules violations that result in these accountability measures.
NFL Reviewing Dallas Cowboys and Washington Commanders Game
So, the NFL is in the process of reviewing the unnecessary roughness violation and announce whether he gets further punishment on Saturday, January 3.
If he is fined, the funds raised from those fines will go to the Professional Athletes Foundation to “support legends in need and the NFL Foundation to further support the health, safety and wellness of athletes across all levels, including youth football and the communities that support the game.”
Luvu, according to NFL research, has already received three fines for the 2025-26 season, adding up to $166,568. All three of his fines were for hip-drop tackles. Looking at his entire NFL career, he’s had to pay $245,242 in total fines for such violations.
Anne Erickson is an award-winning reporter for Heavy Sports covering the NFL, NBA and college football. Anne Erickson has years of experience covering the NFL and additional sports, and her work has been published via ESPN, Fox Sports and more. She has interviewed some of the biggest names in sports, including Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff. Erickson also hosts several podcasts and is a Detroit-based radio host. More about Anne Erickson
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