ARLINGTON, TX – The Dallas Cowboys delivered a dominant performance against the Las Vegas Raiders Sunday, fueled by an emotional tribute to recently deceased teammate, defensive lineman Marshawn Kneeland. Dallas secured a decisive victory, holding the Raiders to one touchdown and 236 total yards while racking up four sacks and 18 quarterback hits.
The Cowboys entered the game carrying the weight of Kneeland’s sudden passing, honoring his memory with visible displays of support. Defensive line coach Aaron Whitecotton wore a replica jersey of Kneeland’s No. 94, and the team donned T-shirts bearing Kneeland’s likeness during pregame warmups – a gesture they plan to repeat next week against the Philadelphia Eagles, with some players possibly wearing them for the remainder of the season. The raiders also participated in the remembrance,wearing shirts that read “Call an Audible” with “988” on the back,referencing the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline number.
The loss of Kneeland has deeply impacted the Cowboys locker room, particularly tight end ryan Flournoy, one of Kneeland’s closest friends. Flournoy, whose wife and Kneeland’s girlfriend are also close friends, scored a touchdown and paused briefly in reflection afterward.”All season long, we’re going to play for him,” Flournoy stated. “He was our teammate, our brother. Just keep going, keep playing.Just knowing he’s here with us. He’s gone, but he’s not gone. He’s still with us.”
Quarterback Dak Prescott connected with four different receivers for touchdowns: CeeDee Lamb, George Pickens, Flournoy, and Jake Ferguson.The Cowboys’ defense consistently pressured Raiders quarterback Geno Smith,disrupting his rhythm on 16 of 49 dropbacks.
Cowboys defensive tackle Osa Odighizuwa spoke to the team’s ability to persevere through adversity, stating, “You’ve got to play through pain. It’s part of the game…being able to compartmentalize and take that pain and use it.” The team’s focus before the game was described as “business-like” by Prescott and “familiar” by special teams coordinator John Schottenheimer, with music playing as they prepared to honor their fallen teammate through their performance on the field.
