The Washington Commanders are set to take on the Dallas Cowboys on Christmas Day this Thursday. Here are three keys to them winning their final home game of the season.
1. Lean on the younger players.
The Commanders have a few things to balance in the final two games. They want to remain competitive -- that isn't going to change in the final two weeks -- but they also need to see what pieces they have to build around for 2026.
Luckily, there are a few candidates on both sides of the ball with plenty to prove. On offense, Ben Sinnott has been one of the more interesting prospects now that Zach Ertz is on Injured Reserve. Sinnott has shown potential as a pass-catcher and has 11 catches on 12 targets for his career. He only has four targets in the last three games, but it should be noted that the offense struggled in that span.
Treylon Burks is another player who has earned more playing time thanks to his work ethic and willingness to learn. His athleticism has flashed in the second half of the season and had two catches for 30 yards on Saturday against the Philadelphia Eagles. While he doesn't create much separation from defensive backs, he knows how to use his size and strength to make contested catches.
On defense, Jordan Magee's speed has continued to become more obvious in recent weeks. He hawked DeVonta Smith down for a one-yard loss in the first half of the Eagles game and also kept up with Jalen Hurts to take him down for just a three-yard gain in the first quarter. Johnny Newton, who cleared the concussion protocol on Sunday, could also get more time as the Commanders try to figure out their defensive line depth for next season.
Although winning on the scoreboard is the ultimate goal, there are more ways to win on Christmas Day. It would be a win for the future if the Commanders could get stronger answers on their younger players' development.
2. Put together a strong plan around the quarterback.
The Commanders haven't ruled Marcus Mariota out for Week 17, but there is a chance that someone other than him will be in the backfield calling the shots, whether it's Josh Johnson or someone else. Regardless of who it is, the Commanders need to have a strong plan for how the offense can function.
Part of that should involve the Commanders establishing a strong presence on the ground, which they have done better than most teams this season. As of Monday (Dec. 22), they rank fourth in rushing yards per game and average 4.7 yards per carry. They seem to have found a strong combination with Chris Rodriguez and Jacory Croskey-Merritt getting most of the carries and Jeremy McNichols providing versatility on third downs.
There should be opportunities to get the run game going against the Cowboys' defense, which has struggled in several categories this year. They're in the bottom half of the league in rushing yards allowed per game and in the bottom 10 in yards allowed per carry. They've also given up the second most rushing touchdowns this season.
That plan didn't work for the Commanders in their first matchup against the Cowboys, but the difference now is that Dallas can't overcommit to stopping the run with Terry McLaurin and Deebo Samuel in the lineup. Their presence should at least be enough for a balanced game plan the Commanders can use to put up points.
3. Find ways to pressure Dak Prescott.
The Commanders' defense has another difficult task ahead of them with the Cowboys coming to Northwest Stadium. Dallas has the No. 2 offense in the league, thanks in large part to Prescott putting together another 4,000-yard season. He currently leads the league in completions and attempts with 28 touchdowns to just 10 interceptions. He also has the second-best QBR, trailing Drake Maye but just .4 points.
It hasn't been easy for the Commanders to generate pressure on quarterbacks this season with many of their starting pass-rushers on Injured Reserve. Prescott has also been exceptional against pressure this year with a 62.1 completion percentage on 177 attempts under duress.
Still, the Commanders must find a way to fluster Prescott. They failed to do so in their first matchup, and Prescott went 21-of-30 with three touchdowns. They'll need to continue relying on Frankie Luvu as an edge rusher, but perhaps Jordan Magee could help. Head coach Dan Quinn said that Magee's intensity has stood out to him, and the second-year pro does have enough speed and athleticism to move sideline to sideline.
The Cowboys have allowed just 25 sacks all season, but even if the Commanders can force Prescott to get rid of the ball early, it would go a long way toward helping their defensive backs.
