Week 17:
Unwrapping Victory: Cowboys’ Christmas Win Against the Commanders! 🎁✭
Leesl: There’s something about a Christmas Day game that makes you want to believe in miracles. Even though we entered the week knowing the playoffs were officially out of reach, beating Washington on the road is a gift I’ll never return. 🎁🏈 But as I sat there watching the 30-23 victory unfold, I couldn’t help but feel like I was opening a beautifully wrapped box only to find… a pair of socks. 🧦Useful? Sure. Exactly what I wanted? Not quite. 😅
Dallas came out looking like they had a flight to catch. ✈️ We raced to a 21-3 lead, and for a moment, it felt like the dominant Cowboys team we expected to see all year had finally arrived.
- Dak’s Milestone: Dak Prescott threw for 307 yards and 2 TDs, officially tying Tony Romo for the most seasons with 30+ touchdown passes in franchise history (4).
- Turpin Time: That 86-yard bomb to KaVontae Turpin was pure electricity. It’s the kind of play that reminds you why this roster is so frustrating—the talent is clearly there.
- Ground Game: Javonte Williams and the run game finally found some traction, helping us dominate time of possession by nearly 17 minutes.
Here is where we need to be real: we were playing against Josh Johnson. No disrespect for a 39-year-old vet who stayed ready, but Washington was down to their third-string QB. Despite that, our defense let them hang around.
- Consistency Woes: How do you go from a 21-3 lead to letting a rookie (Jacory Croskey-Merritt) rip off a 72-yard touchdown run? The “bend-but-don’t-break” defense felt a lot more like “break-and-then-scramble” in the second half.
- Protection Issues: Dak was sacked six times. SIX. Against a 4-11 team, that’s unacceptable. We were a perfect 6-for-6 on fourth-down conversions, which is gutsy and fun, but you must wonder why we were in so many fourth-down situations to begin with.
A win is a win and doing it on Christmas against your biggest rival was a great morale booster for a team that has had a rough 2025. But as we head into the season finale against the Giants, I’m realizing that even a festive win can’t hide the fact that we’re still wearing sensible socks instead of a Super Bowl ring. 🧦💍🚫
Da Bears are Back! Kings of the NFC North Are Crowned! 🐻👑
Andy: I’m starting this week with the only news that matters: The Green Bay Packers lost on Saturday night, which means my Chicago Bears are the 2025 NFC North Division Champions! 🏆 Let that sink in for a second. We went from the basement in 2024 with a 5-12 record to the top of the mountain in 2025. 🏔️🔝 A “worst-to-first” turnaround like this is pretty amazing, even for a franchise with our history.
The game on Sunday night started like a coronation, too. On the very first play from scrimmage, T.J. Edwards snagged a deflected pass for a pick-six, giving us a 7-0 lead before most people had even finished their first beer.
But while we kept the game a shootout until the final whistle, the reality is we couldn’t keep pace with San Francisco. The 49ers moved the ball at will, going a perfect 5-for-5 in the red zone and carving us up for 496 total yards. Between the 200 rushing yards and the 32 first downs we surrendered, we simply couldn’t get a stop when the game was on the line.
The Tale of Two Halves: Our offense struggled to stay on the field early. In the first half, we only ran 19 plays compared to the 49ers’ 47. You can’t win in this league when your defense is gassed by halftime. 🥵 While the second half was much more competitive, the truth is we weren’t the better team on Sunday night.
The Playoff Outlook: We have one game left to get it right before we host a first-round playoff game at Soldier Field, and the “To-Do” list is long:
- Defense: We are currently a bottom-five defense. You can have a top three offense all you want, but that won’t carry you through January if you’re giving up 40+ points.
- Discipline: We racked up 7 more penalties on Sunday, bringing our season total to 116. That kind of sloppiness is a one-way ticket to an early playoff exit.
We’ve “Taken the North,” but if we want to keep it, we have to find some defensive identity—and fast! 🛡️🐻❄️
📅 The Week Ahead: Our Final Pour!
Leesl: My Dakstreet Boys are heading to the Meadowlands for a game that doesn’t change our playoff status, but it definitely changes our mood heading into the offseason.
- The Streak: Dak has won 14 straight games against the Giants. I don’t care if we’re playing for a trophy or a bag of chips—I do not want to see that streak end.
- The Aubrey Watch: Our kicker is chasing history. If the offense stalls out (which, let’s be real, is likely), I’m just here to see Brandon Aubrey bomb a 60-yarder in the Jersey wind.
- The Vibe: Let’s call it the “Sensible Socks Bowl.” It’s not the flashy gift we wanted this year, but it’s what we’ve got. Let’s just get out of there healthy, keep the streak alive, and put this season to bed.
Cheers! 🍻
Andy: The NFC North crown is ours, but the work isn’t finished. We’re playing for the No. 2 seed and a guaranteed two home games if we keep winning.
- Home Sweet Soldier: If we beat the Lions (or if Philly slips up), we lock in that #2 spot. Hosting the Packers in the Wild Card round at Soldier Field? That’s the stuff Chicago dreams are made of.
- Defensive Tune-up: I want to see the “Monsters of the Midway” actually show up. We can’t let a Detroit team that’s already eliminated put up 400 yards on us.
- The Mission: Win the game, stay healthy, and keep the momentum rolling into January. We aren’t just happy to be here anymore—we want the whole thing!
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