Cowboys Seek Playoff Hopes Against Struggling Raiders on MNF

Dallas, TX – The Dallas Cowboys (3-5-1) are set to face the Las Vegas Raiders (2-7) on Monday Night Football at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas. This critical matchup comes in Week 11 of the 2025 NFL season, with both teams desperately needing a win.

The Cowboys are coming off a bye week, having lost three of their last four games. They were last seen suffering a painful defeat against the San Francisco 49ers, falling to a 44-24 margin. Dallas enters this game with a chance to improve their playoff chances but must secure victories in most of their remaining games.

The Raiders, on the other hand, are struggling after losing three straight games. This poor performance has brought their season record down to 2-7, raising concerns for head coach Pete Carroll in his return. Las Vegas managed a brief highlight in Week 1 with a win over the Denver Broncos but has since fallen apart.

Currently, the Cowboys rank third in the NFL for passing yards at 257.8 per game and fourth for scoring with an average of 29.2 points. However, they face significant issues on defense, ranking poorly against both the run and the pass. Dallas gives up an average of 143.0 rushing yards per game, positioning them as the 28th worst in the league.

Sports analysts expect the Cowboys to have a slight edge in this matchup, despite the significant challenges each team faces. Dallas is favored by 3.5 points, marking this game as one of the highest-scoring matchups of the week with an over/under of 50.5 points.

Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott is having a solid season, ranking sixth in passing yards and seventh in touchdown passes. His targets, CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens, are expected to play vital roles in the game. Meanwhile, running back Tony Pollard is also among the league’s top players, contributing significantly to the offense.

For the Raiders, rookie running back Jahmyr Gibbs has been a standout despite the team’s troubles. The young player ranks 10th in rushing yards this season, showcasing potential that may help Las Vegas compete in this matchup.

The stakes are high for both teams, as the Cowboys look to stay in contention for a wild card playoff spot while the Raiders strive to find some momentum before the season ends. As kickoff approaches at 8:15 p.m. ET, both teams understand the importance of this game, which may very well determine their campaigns for the remainder of the season.