Commanders Legend Exposes the Truth: "Without the Refs, Cowboys Would Have Beaten Us Even Worse" — Shows How the Referees Tried to Turn the Game Against Dallas

Arlington, Texas – After the resounding 44-22 victory of the Dallas Cowboys over the Washington Commanders at AT&T Stadium on October 19, 2025, a wave of controversy erupted fiercely when Commanders legend Joe Theismann unexpectedly spoke out criticizing the officiating crew. In a program aired on NBC Sports right after the game, the former 1982 NFL MVP and Super Bowl XVII champion bluntly declared:
“If it weren’t for the referees, the Cowboys would have beaten us much worse. Dak Prescott played at the level of a top-tier star, and a few erroneous decisions made the game distorted.”

Theismann’s statement quickly spread across social media, especially as he pointed out three controversial situations that, according to him, “saved the Commanders from a more humiliating defeat.”

First was the imaginary roughing the passer call in the second quarter, when DE Dorance Armstrong of the Cowboys executed a legitimate sack causing the ball to fumble, but was penalized for “excessive contact.” Slow-motion replay showed he committed no foul, and that drive allowed Washington to score a touchdown, narrowing the score to 17-10.

The second situation occurred in the third quarter, when the Cowboys were penalized for offensive holding on Tyler Smith, nullifying a beautiful 18-yard run by Javonte Williams. The referees called the penalty while replay showed Smith only lightly touched the opponent’s jersey. That drive ended with a field goal instead of a touchdown – losing 4 potential points for Dallas.

Finally, in the early fourth quarter, the referees failed to call a clear defensive pass interference on CeeDee Lamb, when CB Benjamin St-Juste pulled his jersey, causing Lamb to lose balance in a deep ball play. Instead of a 30-yard penalty, the Cowboys had to punt the ball, sparking the hashtag #RefsRobbedCowbo on X.

“I love this team, but fair is fair,” Theismann added. “If called correctly, the score could have been 55-20. The Cowboys completely dominated, and they deserved to be recognized.”

Despite the referees causing much controversy, Dak Prescott still shone with 264 yards and 3 touchdowns, Javonte Williams rushed for 116 yards, CeeDee Lamb caught 8 passes for 110 yards and 1 TD. The Cowboys improved their record to 4-3, while the Commanders fell to 3-4.

Theismann’s words not only divided Washington fans but also sent shockwaves across the entire NFL. For it was a rare moment when a legend of the losing team sided with the opponent, daring to speak the “harsh truth” that the whole league is buzzing about.