Why the Cowboys and Raiders Is More Than a Regular Season Game
The Dallas Cowboys are set to face off against the Las Vegas Raiders in what should be a battle of two of the biggest fan bases in the NFL. Not only are these fan bases huge in the United States, but the Mexican fan base has huge connections with the two franchises. These two teams are synonymous with the Mexican community, and more times than not, your fellow Mexican friend is or knows someone who likes the Raiders or Cowboys. These two teams only face off once every four years, but it is more than a simple regular-season game for these fanbases.
The last time these two faced off was on Thanksgiving Day in 2021, when the Cowboys entered the game without their two best weapons on offense, Amari Cooper and Ceedee Lamb. The Raiders would go on to shock Dallas in Arlington, winning a thrilling game 36-33 in overtime thanks to a Daniel Carlson kick. The last time the Cowboys played at the Raiders was in the old Coliseum, as the Cowboys would win a gritty game over the then Oakland Raiders 20-17 via a Jeff Heath forced fumble on Derek Carr with under a minute left in the game. The teams have split the series in the Dak Prescott era 1-1, with the Cowboys hoping to one-up the score in a must-win game to keep their playoff hopes alive.
Dallas enters this game as the favorite, bolstered by a revamped defense that has received support at all levels. The trades for Quinnen Williams from the Jets and Logan Wilson from the Bengals are anticipated to have an immediate impact on the team's performance. Additionally, Shavon Revel and DeMarvion Overshown are returning to the field after recovering from injuries. The Cowboys must limit the plays that Brock Bowers and Ashton Jeanty are capable of making, and with these new and returning pieces, they feel that they are able to. The crowd in Las Vegas will likely be split between the two fan bases, with fans wearing jerseys from both teams visible throughout the stadium. Even if neither team advances far in the playoffs, one will gain the advantage in bragging rights for the next four years.
