The War and Treaty stunned Monday Night Football viewers with a powerful national anthem performance that quickly lit up social media with praise
22:38 ET, 17 Nov 2025Updated 22:39 ET, 17 Nov 2025
The War and Treaty performed the National Anthem on MNF
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The War and Treaty performed the National Anthem on MNF(Image: ESPN)
Monday Night Football viewers didn’t need long to declare a winner before kickoff, and it wasn’t the Cowboys or Raiders.
The War and Treaty’s soaring, soulful rendition of the national anthem drew immediate, overwhelming praise across social media, with many calling it one of the best performances MNF has showcased in years, after a Colts cheerleader performed an incredible anthem without making a sound at NFL Germany.
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The husband-and-wife duo, Michael Trotter Jr. and Tanya Trotter, have built a fast-rising profile in Americana music, known for their powerhouse harmonies, emotional delivery, and genre-blending soul sound, and received two nominations for the 66th Annual Grammy Awards including Best New Artist.
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They’ve opened for major artists, earned multiple award nominations, and drawn acclaim for both their live performances and mental-health advocacy. For many NFL fans, though, Monday night was their first introduction, and it made an impression.
Within seconds of finishing, reactions flooded X. “That was one of the best National Anthems I have ever heard,” one viewer wrote. “Top 10 all time,” said another.
Several fans noted the duo’s signature modulations, tight harmonies, and vocal power, calling the performance “insane,” “all-time,” “outstanding,” and “chills-inducing.”
One post summed up the night: “Don’t care about the final score — MNF is a win based on the Star-Spangled Banner alone.” Some admitted they had “no clue” who The War and Treaty were before kickoff, but were fans now. Others suggested the duo deserved a Super Bowl anthem slot next.
Once the game started, Dallas and Las Vegas delivered their own drama. After CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens were benched for the Cowboys’ opening drive due to disciplinary reasons, both receivers immediately made up for lost time.
On the second possession, Dak Prescott hit Pickens for a 12-yard slant, then followed with a bootleg completion to Hunter Luepke. A Maxx Crosby strip-sack briefly shifted momentum to Las Vegas, but Dallas’ defense forced the Raiders to settle for a field goal and a 3-0 lead.
Lamb caught his second touchdown of the season against the Raiders
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Lamb caught his second touchdown of the season against the Raiders(Image: Getty)
Pickens stayed hot, hauling in back-to-back downfield completions as the first quarter ended with Dallas driving. Brandon Aubrey’s 50-yard field goal tied the game 3-3, though Pickens appeared frustrated after a missed third-down target.
The Cowboys took their first lead seconds into the second quarter. Prescott found Lamb wide open up the seam for an 18-yard touchdown, putting Dallas ahead 10-6 and capping a strong response from both receivers after their early-game benching.
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From there, Dallas’ offense took control. Prescott continued feeding Lamb and Pickens, while Javonte Williams powered the ground game. Jake Ferguson added a touchdown on fourth-and-1, and Pickens delivered the highlight of the half, a 37-yard catch-and-run, breaking multiple tackles before scoring to make it 24-6.
Las Vegas struggled to sustain drives, with Geno Smith throwing an interception and facing constant pressure behind an overwhelmed offensive line. Daniel Carlson added a late field goal, but Dallas entered halftime up 24-9.