The Cowboys get the better of the matchup at home, at least according to the market, as Dallas is listed as a 4.5-point favorite for Sunday afternoon’s NFC East meeting with Washington. The total has sat at 50.5 all week, and both teams enter after dropping road division games in Week 1.
Dallas is the side drawing the most confidence from the numbers and the setting. The Cowboys went 4-3-1 at home in 2025, and Dak Prescott’s group should have a friendlier path in Arlington after a rough opening week.
That said, the bigger storyline is still the defense. It was a mess against the Giants, and the concerns are real after Dallas finished Week 1 at 30th in EPA per play and 31st in success rate on that side of the ball.
Washington also has something to prove after a sluggish start in its loss to Philadelphia. The Commanders did cover the spread, but a costly penalty by Stefon Diggs may have wiped out a chance to force overtime. Jayden Daniels and the offense were slow to get rolling, and oddsmakers still have Washington slotted as the lesser team in this division matchup.
One betting angle making the rounds is the OVER. SI Betting senior editor Iain MacMillan pointed to Dallas’ defense as the reason, writing: "Shame on me for thinking the Cowboys' defense was better than it was a year ago.
They let the New York Giants march up and down the field, and it wasn't just strong play by the Giants. Missed assignments, poor play calling, and a lack of fire were baffling to see in a Week 1 prime-time game against a division rival.
They finished the week second-last in defensive success rate and dead last in opponent EPA per play."
He also sees Dallas’ offense getting back on track after a quiet opener, noting that Javonte Williams scored twice against the Giants and that Washington allowed three passing touchdowns to Jalen Hurts and the Eagles despite ranking sixth in the league in defensive success rate in Week 1.
The home-field case for Dallas is straightforward enough. The Cowboys were 8-0 at Jerry’s World in 2023, then went 4-3-1 at home last season. MacMillan isn’t ready to write them off after one game, and he expects them to rebound to 1-1 while Washington continues to look like a team headed for the bottom of the NFC East.
The line has held steady since opening with Dallas as a 4.5-point favorite and the total at 50.5.
In Other News...
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Cowboys Rookie May Have Given Dallas A New Answer On Defense
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The most memorable moment came when Barham forced a fumble that led to a touchdown, the kind of play that can change how a staff views a young defender fast. There were also a few uneasy moments along the way, including a brief exit because of injury and a stretch of illness on the field, but the broader takeaway was hard to miss: Dallas may have found a rookie who can handle more than expected when the defense needs answers. [Read more 🡒]