Christmas Day football always feels a little different, but this one comes with a twist of chaos before the opening kick. As the Dallas Cowboys prepare to face the Washington Commanders in Landover, the real story isn’t just the Netflix spotlight or the NFC East rivalry—it’s who won’t be on the field.

Both teams released inactive lists that dramatically reshape expectations, and the imbalance is impossible to ignore.

For Dallas, the biggest relief came before inactives were even announced. Defensive tackle Quinnen Williams and guard Tyler Booker—both true game-time decisions—are active. That alone stabilizes the Cowboys on both sides of the ball. But the inactive list still stings, particularly on defense and in the secondary.

The Cowboys will be without linebacker DeMarvion Overshown, who remains sidelined with a concussion. His absence continues to thin a linebacker group that has already been stretched late in the season. Dallas also ruled out cornerback Caelen Carson and wide receiver Ryan Flournoy, both of whom were listed as questionable earlier in the week. That leaves the Cowboys thinner at corner, forcing younger or depth players into more meaningful snaps.

Up front, Dallas also scratched defensive tackles Perrion Winfrey and Jay Toia, limiting rotational depth in the trenches. Add running back Jaydon Blue to the list, and the Cowboys are clearly prioritizing health over experimentation as the season winds down.

Still, Dallas’ inactive list pales in comparison to Washington’s.

The Commanders are effectively fielding a quarterback room held together by duct tape. Jayden Daniels and Marcus Mariota are both inactive, along with emergency third quarterback Sam Hartman, leaving Washington with no real safety net at the position. That alone changes the entire game script before kickoff.

The damage doesn’t stop there. Left tackle Laremy Tunsil is out, removing Washington’s most important offensive lineman. Defensive tackle Da’Ron Payne, a cornerstone of their defensive front, is also inactive, further weakening a unit already struggling to hold up late in games. Linebacker Nick Bellore and running back Chris Rodriguez join the list, stripping depth from both sides of the ball.

In short, Washington enters Christmas severely undermanned at the most critical positions: quarterback, offensive line, and interior defense.

Dallas has injuries. Washington has absences that redefine competitiveness.

On a day meant for celebration, the Cowboys arrive with a clear structural advantage before a single snap is played. Whether Dallas takes full advantage is another conversation—but the inactive lists already tell a lopsided story.