The Las Vegas Raiders aren’t going to the playoffs at 2-7, but they can wreck another team’s postseason hopes, such as the Dallas Cowboys. Both teams will clash on “Monday Night Football,” and it’s a must-win game for Dallas if they want to keep their playoff aspirations alive.
Dallas have lost three out of their last four games heading into the match against Las Vegas. Moreover, they are coming off a loss to the Arizona Cardinals on November 3, so the contest against the Raiders isn’t a shoe-in victory even with the Silver and Black’s struggles this 2025 NFL season.
Ahead of the game, former Cowboys quarterback and ESPN NFL color analyst Troy Aikman spoke about what Dallas must do to get a win on the road amid their recent issues.
“I think it shows just how much they rely on the offense when you look at the last couple of games,” Aikman said on the November 13 edition of “NFL Live.” “If they don’t play at their best, they’re going to have a hard time winning, which explains the last two losses. It’s one thing to go to Denver against that group and not have your best effort.
“It’s another to return home after putting up 40 points a game in the three home games before Arizona, and they just didn’t play well. I don’t think anybody expected that. This offense over the last two weeks has not played very well.
“They’ve turned the ball over, and you could make a case that maybe they should run the ball a little more. What they’ve gotten out of Javonte Williams has been really impressive. Of course, they’ve got two big weapons on the outside, and you want to take advantage of that. But they’ve got to play better.”
Raiders Can Spoil Cowboys’ Playoff Hopes
If Las Vegas need any motivation, they can simply tell themselves that the team can be the final nail in the coffin for the Cowboys’ playoff hopes, who sit at 3-5-1. After the contest against Las Vegas, Dallas will face the Philadelphia Eagles, the Kansas City Chiefs, and the Detroit Lions.
“[The Cowboys have] got a gauntlet of games once they get past this game Monday night against Las Vegas,” Aikman added. “You hate to say it, but that’s when the tough part of their schedule hits them. So they’ve got to get better. And then defensively, the reinforcements that they got this last week with the trade, and then having the bye week get rested up.
“Of course, they’re dealing with a lot right now, emotionally, with the loss of Marshawn Kneeland, and we’ll see how they respond on Monday night. But they’ve got a lot of work ahead of them.”
Can the Raiders Take Advantage of the Cowboys’ Defense?
Ahead of the November 17 game, Las Vegas running back Ashton Jeanty spoke with reporters, discussing how he plans to exploit any gaps in the Cowboys’ run defense.
“Yeah, [the Cowboys] got some great players,” Jeanty said on November 11. “They just added Quinnen Williams in the interior. So, I’m sure that’ll level up their front. And, just a good all-around team. But, there’s definitely places where we can attack them and make great plays.”
It will be interesting to see how the new additions impact the defense for Dallas. However, there’s a possibility that Jeanty has a major game against Dallas. The Cowboys are in the bottom 10 in rushing yards allowed (1,287), per Pro Football Reference. Moreover, they are in the bottom 10 in rushing touchdowns allowed (11) and in rushing yards per attempt (4.8).
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