Raiders vs. Cowboys MNF takeaways: Dak Prescott, Dallas earn emphatic win over Las Vegas

The Dallas Cowboys earned a much-needed 33-16 win over the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 11 to end a two-game losing streak and keep the team's slim playoff hopes alive.

Dallas' offense started slowly but caught fire after the first two drives, thanks to a strong showing from Dak Prescott. The Cowboys quarterback was accurate throughout the night, completing 25 of 33 passes for 268 yards and four touchdowns during a prolific performance.

Prescott's touchdowns went to four different receivers, but George Pickens was the team's top producer during the evening. He racked up a team-high 144 yards on nine catches and had a couple of highlight-reel catches, including a 37-yard touchdown that saw him slice through Las Vegas' defense in the first half.

Pickens' big game came after he and CeeDee Lamb were benched for the first offensive series of the game for a "coach's decision." Both bounced back nicely from that, as Lamb ended up catching five passes for 66 yards and the team's first touchdown. He did, however, drop another potential score in the final minutes of regulation.

It wasn't just Dallas' offense that thrived against Las Vegas. The Cowboys defense also played one of its best games as it added some new pieces to the fold. Star trade deadline acquisition Quinnen Williams made a particularly big impact, as he had 1.5 sacks and got frequent pressure on Geno Smith, while the return of linebacker DeMarvion Overshown from a knee injury significantly improved Dallas' linebacker play.

The Cowboys now have a 4-5-1 record and some new energy after their resounding win over the Raiders. Next up will be a critical Week 12 matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles, who beat Dallas 24-20 in the season opener.

USA TODAY Sports provided live updates, highlights and more from the Week 11 "Monday Night Football" matchup below. All times are Eastern.

Cowboys at Raiders MNF takeaways

• Dallas is better after its defensive acquisitions: Quinnen Williams and DeMarvion Overshown stood out the most, but the team's secondary also improved significantly with Shavon Revel and Malik Hooker returning from injury. Add another trade deadline acquisition, linebacker Logan Wilson, and the Cowboys have much more depth at all three levels of the unit. That will give them a better chance of competing amid the tough stretch of their upcoming schedule.
• Dak Prescott is hard to stop when he's hot: Prescott started Monday's game slowly but quickly caught fire, throwing for four touchdowns during the contest. He nearly had a fifth as well, but CeeDee Lamb wasn't able to corral it to put the cherry on top of Dallas' win. Prescott has had the occasional clunker this season, but he has a good grasp of the Cowboys' offense and a knack for getting both Lamb and George Pickens involved consistently. That makes Dallas' passing game hard to stop week in and week out.
• The Raiders' offensive line is the league's worst: Pete Carroll's teams have always preferred to run the ball. Las Vegas hasn't been able to do that at all in 2025 despite spending a first-round pick on Ashton Jeanty. That's because the blocking in front of Jeanty has been dreadful, which is part of the reason he was only able to log seven yards on six carries against the Cowboys. Geno Smith was also under pressure consistently behind the unit, and he was sacked four times during the contest. The Raiders will need to spend significant resources to upgrade their offensive line in the offseason after failing to do so ahead of Carroll's first season.
• Maxx Crosby remains a blue-chip stud: Crosby showed off his elite-tier pass-rushing skill set early in the game when he strip-sacked Dak Prescott. That set up the Raiders to kick a field goal and give them a short-lived lead. Crosby has excellent get-off and a high motor. He's clearly the Raiders' best player, and the franchise needs to focus on adding support around him to turn the defense into a competent overall unit.

Dak Prescott stats vs. Raiders

• 25-of-33 (75.7% completion rate)
• 268 passing yards
• 4 passing touchdowns
• 0 interceptions
• 138.6 passer rating
• 4 rushing attempts
• -4 rushing yards
• 0 rushing touchdowns

George Pickens stats vs. Raiders

• 9 receptions (11 targets)
• 144 receiving yards
• 1 receiving touchdown

CeeDee Lamb stats vs. Raiders

• 5 receptions (7 targets)
• 66 receiving yards
• 1 receiving touchdown

Geno Smith stats vs. Cowboys

• 27-of-42 (64.2% completion rate)
• 238 passing yards
• 1 passing touchdown
• 1 interception
• 77.3 passer rating
• 4 rushing attempts
• 14 rushing yards
• 0 rushing touchdowns

Ashton Jeanty stats vs. Cowboys

• 6 rushing attempts
• 7 rushing yards
• 6 receptions (8 targets)
• 27 receiving yards
• 0 touchdowns

Brock Bowers stats vs. Cowboys

• 7 receptions (12 targets)
• 72 receiving yards
• 0 receiving touchdowns

Cowboys vs. Raiders highlights

Cowboys vs. Raiders final score: Cowboys 33, Raiders 16

Osa Odighizuwa sacks Geno Smith on fourth down to set up goal-to-go opportunity for Cowboys

The Raiders went four-and-out after taking over following the Cowboys' turnover of downs. The Cowboys will be able to run more time off the clock, leading 33-16 with 2:31 left in regulation.

CeeDee Lamb can't corral fourth-and-2 pass to Dak Prescott

Lamb would've been able to make the catch and get in for a touchdown with ease, but he couldn't quite corral Prescott's pass, which was slightly short of the mark.

The Raiders take over on downs, but they are backed up and down 17 with 3:56 left in regulation.

Cowboys recover Raiders' onside kick attempt

The Raiders decided to attempt an onside kick on the free kick following the safety. A.J. Cole did a nice job getting air under the punt, but George Pickens was able to recover it, giving Dallas the ball.

Cowboys vs. Raiders score: Dallas stops Ashton Jeanty for a safety, extend lead to three scores

Bryan Anger's punt comes up huge for the Cowboys. Dallas' defense was able to tackle Jeanty in the end-zone on a first-down carry, extending the Cowboys' lead to 33-16 with 11:36 left in regulation.

The Cowboys will now also get the ball back, giving them an opportunity to potentially put the Raiders away with one more long drive or another scoring drive.

Raiders force three-and-out as KaVontae Turpin can't make third-down catch

The Raiders made a big stop on the drive following their touchdown. They forced the Cowboys into a three-and-out after Dak Prescott couldn't connect with Turpin on a third-and-7, as the pass was just behind the speedy wide-out.

The good news for Dallas? Bryan Anger's punt was fielded on a bounce by Tre Tucker inside his own 5-yard line. That will back up the Raiders significantly as they look to cut into the Cowboys' 31-16 lead.

Cowboys vs. Raiders score: Tre Tucker plunges into end-zone to keep Raiders within striking distance

The Raiders are not going away quietly. One play after Geno Smith scrambled for a first down on fourth-and-4, Smith threw a screen pass to Tucker, who was able to push through a tackle to cap off a 14-play, 62-yard touchdown drive.

Daniel Carlson's extra point was good, and the Raiders are now trailing by 15 with 13:22 left in regulation.

Cowboys 31, Raiders 16

Cowboys take 31-9 lead into the fourth quarter

The Cowboys have vastly outplayed the Raiders through three quarters, though Las Vegas will have a key third down in the red-zone to open the final frame.

Dallas is outgaining Las Vegas 333-218 while Dak Prescott has starred, completing 20 of 26 passes for 246 yards and four touchdowns. George Pickens (nine catches, 144 yards, one touchdown) has been his top target while Jake Ferguson, Ryan Flournoy and CeeDee Lamb have also caught touchdowns.

Meanwhile, the Raiders haven't been able to run the ball at all (22 yards on nine carries) so Geno Smith has been asked to carry the team. Smith is doing his best, completing 23 of 37 passes for 217 yards and an interception, but has been under frequent pressure from Dallas' strong, new-look defense.

Ashton Jeanty picks up first down on fourth-and-1 run

The Raiders decided to go for it on fourth-and-1 just short of midfield. They called a toss play to Ashton Jeanty, and while the Cowboys nearly blew it up in the backfield, Jeanty was able to find just enough space to power forward for a yard.

Cowboys vs. Raiders score: Dak Prescott throws fourth TD of game, this time to Ryan Flournoy

Dallas' first drive of the second half lasted 7:07 and brought the team 80 yards down the field on 12 plays. It ended with Prescott scanning the field after a play-action pass and finding Flournoy open in the end-zone for a 2-yard score.

Brandon Aubrey's extra point is good, and Dallas is leading 31-9 with 6:19 left in the third quarter.

George Pickens runs through Raiders' defense on highlight-reel 21-yard catch

Pickens came across the field on a third down, and Dak Prescott managed to hit him just beyond the sticks. After that, Pickens managed to run horizontally and gain leverage on the Raiders' defense before heading toward the sideline.

There, Pickens was able to push forward for a few more yards, showing off his top-tier YAC ability.

Raiders go three-and-out to open second half

DaRon Bland had a great pass breakup on third down while in coverage on tight end Brock Bowers. That forced Las Vegas to punt, and A.J. Cole's kick bounced through the back of the end-zone for a touchback.

The Cowboys will get the ball for the first time in the second half at their own 20-yard line, leading 24-9.

Dak Prescott stats at halftime

The Cowboys got off to a slow start offensively, but Prescott was hot after a rocky first two drives. He has completed 13 of 19 passes for 185 yards and three touchdowns at halftime. His lone blemish was a lost fumble, which occurred after Maxx Crosby got pressure on him from the blind side and knocked the ball out of his hands.

Cowboys vs. Raiders score: Daniel Carlson makes 38-yard field goal as Cowboys take 24-9 lead into half

The Raiders were able to get into scoring range over the final 1:10 of the first half. Geno Smith couldn't connect with Brock Bowers on a final heave to the end-zone with just a few seconds remaining, so Carlson marched on to attempt the 38-yarder.

Carlson's kick was good and cut Las Vegas' deficit to two scores going into halftime. The Raiders will get the ball first to start the second half and have a chance to chip further into the Cowboys' lead.

Cowboys 24, Raiders 9

Cowboys vs. Raiders score: George Pickens weaves through defense with two cuts on 37-yard TD

The Cowboys are now firing on all cylinders offensively. Dak Prescott was able to effectively climb the pocket to set up his pass blockers and distribute a pass to George Pickens.

The big-bodied receiver managed to spin away from cornerback Kyu Blue Kelly before cutting back to the inside to get into the end-zone. Pickens was whistled for an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty after jumping on the goalpost, but Brandon Aubrey managed to make the extra point from 48 yards after the extra point.

Dallas now leads 24-6 with 1:10 left in the first half.

Cowboys 24, Raiders 6

Geno Smith's pass intercepted by Markquese Bell after pass deflected

Smith ranked second in the NFL in interceptions entering play Monday night. He's now back into a tie for first place, as Bell was able to catch a pass deflected by Kenneth Murray Jr. just as the Raiders were starting to build momentum on offense.

The Cowboys will now have a chance to build upon their 17-6 lead with a few minutes remaining until halftime.

Cowboys vs. Raiders score: Dak Prescott finds Jake Ferguson on fourth down for 5-yard TD

Ferguson's first catch of the day goes for a touchdown. The tight end ran down the seam from the slot on fourth-and-1, and Dak Prescott fired in a pass at the goal line for the touchdown.

The Cowboys' offense put on a clinic during the 12-play 79-yard touchdown drive. Prescott completed six of seven attempts, and Brian Schottenheimer had the confidence in his offense to convert on fourth down deep in the Raiders' territory.

Brandon Aubrey's extra point is good, and Dallas extends its lead to double-digits.

Cowboys 17, Raiders 6

Raiders punt after drive stalls following Quinnen Williams' sack

The Raiders managed two first downs after the Cowboys' touchdown drive, but Las Vegas stalled after that. A.J. Cole's punt was returned by KaVontae Turpin to the Cowboys' 21-yard line. Dallas takes over with 11:49 left in the second quarter.

Quinnen Williams records first sack since trade to Cowboys

The defensive tackle sacked Geno Smith on second-and-10 early in the second quarter. Williams was one of multiple trade deadline acquisitions the Cowboys made for their defense, and he made an immediate impact in his first game with Dallas.

Cowboys vs. Raiders score: Dak Prescott finds CeeDee Lamb for 18-yard TD strike

Lamb's first catch of the day goes for a touchdown. The wide receiver ran down the seam from the slot, and safety Isaiah Pola-Mao was simply late to rotate back to run with him in zone coverage. As a result, Lamb was able to get into the end-zone with ease on a perfect pass from Prescott.

Brandon Aubrey's extra point is good, and Dallas has its first lead of the game, 10-6.

Cowboys 10, Raiders 6

Raiders leading 6-3 after first quarter, but Cowboys driving

Both the Raiders and Cowboys have shown an ability to move the ball early, but Dallas is currently outgaining Las Vegas 104-66. Dak Prescott has settled in after an early-game fumble, as he has completed 4 of 7 passes for 61 yards while showing a good connection with George Pickens (three catches, 46 yards).

Meanwhile, Geno Smith has been an efficient 8 of 10 passing but hasn't been able to get the job done in the red-zone thus far. He has been sacked twice behind the Raiders' porous offensive line, which forced Las Vegas to settle for field goals on both of their red-zone drives.

Cowboys vs. Raiders score: Daniel Carlson makes second field goal to give Raiders lead again

The teams have now traded field goals on three consecutive possessions. The Raiders' drive stalled before the red zone, and Carlson jogged on the field to attempt his second field goal of the game. This time, from 45 yards, and he kicked it through the uprights to put Las Vegas ahead.

The Raiders lead by three with 2:02 remaining in the first quarter.

Raiders 6, Cowboys 3

Cowboys vs. Raiders score: Brandon Aubrey evens the score with Dallas field goal

The Cowboys answered the Raiders' early field goal with a seven-play 37-yard drive that resulted in a 50-yard field goal from Aubrey. Things are tied now 3-3 with 5:36 left in the first quarter.

Raiders 3, Cowboys 3

Cowboys vs. Raiders score: Daniel Carlson makes 35-yard field goal to give Raiders early lead

Kenny Clark sacked Geno Smith on first down to put the Raiders behind the chains. They couldn't get back on track after that, so Carlson came on for the short-distance field goal and made it.

The Raiders are now leading 3-0 with 7:55 left in the first quarter.

Raiders 3, Cowboys 0

Maxx Crosby strip sacks Dak Prescott, Raiders recover

Las Vegas' defense is off to a good start. After forcing Dallas into a three-and-out on the Cowboys' first possession, Crosby was able to chase Prescott down from behind and force a fumble.

The Raiders jumped on the ball, giving them an instant red-zone opportunity.

Is CeeDee Lamb playing? Cowboys WR takes field with George Pickens for second drive

Neither Lamb nor Pickens played during the Cowboys' first drive against the Raiders, which ended in a three-and-out. Lamb came onto the field for the first play of the second drive while Pickens checked in just a play later.

Raiders punt, pin Dallas deep after getting one first down

The Raiders got off to a good start to Monday's game, as Geno Smith completed an 18-yard pass to Brock Bowers for a first down. Las Vegas stalled after that, but A.J. Cole was able to pin the Cowboys deep with a well-placed 43-yard punt.

Dallas will start its second possession from its own 4-yard line.

Cowboys go three-and-out as CeeDee Lamb, George Pickens don't play first series

The Cowboys made a strange personnel decision to open Monday's game. They ran three plays but did not have either of their top receivers, Lamb or Pickens, on the field.

ESPN's Lisa Salters reported she was told Lamb and Pickens remaining on the sideline was "strictly a coach's decision" and was not related to any injury issues.

What channel is Raiders vs Cowboys on Monday Night Football?

• TV channel: ESPN | ESPN2 (Manningcast)

ESPN is the broadcast home of "MNF." Joe Buck and Troy Aikman will be on the call, with Lisa Salters providing updates and reports from the sideline.

The "Manningcast" alternate broadcast, hosted by Peyton and Eli Manning, will air on ESPN2.

Watch "Monday Night Football" with Fubo (free trial)

What time is Raiders vs Cowboys on Monday Night Football tonight?

• Start time: 8:20 p.m. ET | 7:20 p.m. CT

The Raiders and Cowboys are scheduled to kick off at 8:20 p.m. ET. Dallas travels to Allegiant Stadium in Paradise, Nevada to take on Las Vegas.

Raiders vs Cowboys live stream

• Live stream: Fubo | ESPN Select | ESPN Unlimited

Cord-cutters will have a few options to watch "MNF" in Week 11. ESPN's streaming services, Select and Unlimited, will broadcast the game.

Fubo carries the ESPN family of networks, meaning you'll be able to catch NFL action all season long with the streaming service. Fubo also offers a free trial.

Watch "Monday Night Football" with Fubo (free trial)

Raiders vs Cowboys prediction

The Raiders haven't done much good of anything all season long. Quarterback play has been subpar, the offensive line has been porous, the defense middling. Vegas' hope is that they'll be able to get key stops and then have their way with a bad Dallas defense. But with Dallas defensive reinforcements inbound, the Cowboys could put together a different unit on the field from this point forward. Cowboys win by a touchdown on the road.

Prediction: Dallas 27, Raiders 20

Raiders vs Cowboys live betting odds, moneyline, O/U

Raiders inactives vs. Cowboys

Cowboys inactives vs. Raiders

• Damone Clark (LB)
• Jaydon Blue (RB)
• Trikweze Bridges (CB)
• Hakeem Adeniji (OT)
• Jonathan Mingo (WR)
• Solomon Thomas (DT)

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Cowboys schedule 2025

Raiders schedule 2025

Raiders vs. Cowboys injury report

Cowboys to wear Marshawn Kneeland t-shirts during 'Monday Night Football' warmups

Tonight will be the Cowboys' first game since the death of defensive end Marshawn Kneeland nearly two weeks ago. The team will wear t-shirts honoring Kneeland during pregame warmups. The team revealed the t-shirt on social media a few hours before the game.

NFC East standings

The Cowboys enter "Monday Night Football" in second place in the NFC East. Here's how the division stacks up:

1. Philadelphia Eagles (8-2)
2. Dallas Cowboys (3-5-1)
3. Washington Commanders (3-8)
4. New York Giants (2-9)

AFC West standings

The Raiders entered Week 11 in last place in the AFC West standings.

1. Denver Broncos (9-2)
2. Los Angeles Chargers (7-4)
3. Kansas City Chiefs (5-5)
4. Las Vegas Raiders (2-7)

AFC playoff picture

1. Denver Broncos (9-2; AFC West leaders)
2. New England Patriots (9-2; AFC East leaders)
3. Indianapolis Colts (8-2; AFC South leaders)
4. Pittsburgh Steelers (6-4; AFC North leaders)
5. Buffalo Bills (7-3; wild card No. 1)
6. Los Angeles Chargers (7-4; wild card No. 2)
7. Jacksonville Jaguars (6-4; wild card No. 3)

In the hunt: Houston Texans (5-5), Kansas City Chiefs (5-5), Baltimore Ravens (5-5), Miami Dolphins (4-7), Cincinnati Bengals (3-7)

NFC playoff picture

1. Philadelphia Eagles (8-2; NFC East leaders)
2. Los Angeles Rams (8-2; NFC West leaders)
3. Chicago Bears (7-3; NFC North leaders)
4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (6-4; NFC South leaders)
5. Seattle Seahawks (7-3; wild card No. 1)
6. Green Bay Packers (6-3-1; wild card No. 2)
7. San Francisco 49ers (7-4; wild card No. 3)

In the hunt: Detroit Lions (6-4), Carolina Panthers (6-5), Minnesota Vikings (4-6), Dallas Cowboys (3-5-1), Arizona Cardinals (3-7), Atlanta Falcons (3-7)

What did the Cowboys get for Micah Parsons? Full trade details

Below are the full terms of the Micah Parsons trade:

Packers get:

• EDGE Micah Parsons

Cowboys get

• 2027 first-round pick
• DL Kenny Clark
• 2026 first-round pick

Is there a ManningCast for Raiders vs. Cowboys game?

Yes, there will be a ManningCast in Week 11. The Manning brothers will be on the alt-cast for the "Monday Night Football" game between the Cowboys and Raiders, marking the fourth of six consecutive weeks with a ManningCast.

What time is Monday Night Football tonight?

• Start time: 8:15 p.m. ET | 7:15 p.m. CT | 6:15 p.m. MT

The Cowboys-Raiders "Monday Night Football" matchup will air at 8:15 p.m. ET, the customary start time for "MNF."

Cowboys helmet decal to honor Marshawn Kneeland

The Cowboys are planning to wear a helmet decal for the rest of the season to honor Marshawn Kneeland. The team revealed that sticker ahead of their Week 11 "Monday Night Football" game against the Raiders.

Cowboys, Dak Prescott take the field ahead of 'Monday Night Football'

Quinnen Williams trade details

Cowboys get:

• DL Quinnen Williams

Jets get:

• DT Mazi Smith
• 2026 second-round pick
• 2027 first-round pick (better of Cowboys or Packers pick)

The Cowboys acquired Williams, hoping the 2022 All-Pro first-teamer can help turn around a defense that has struggled greatly in 2025 following the Micah Parsons trade. Williams has graded as Pro Football Focus' seventh-best interior defender and will be an immediate starter next to veteran Kenny Clark.

Maxx Crosby gives Raiders teammates pregame speech

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Raiders vs. Cowboys MNF takeaways: Dak Prescott, Dallas earn emphatic win over Las Vegas

Reporting by Joe Rivera, Tom Viera and Jacob Camenker, USA TODAY / USA TODAY

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