The Cowboys got exactly what they needed on Sunday: a win that stopped the early-season bleeding. Dallas beat the Washington Commanders 37-20 at AT&T Stadium, and while it wasn’t a clean performance, it was the kind of result that keeps an 0-2 hole from turning into something much worse.
That matters because the schedule is about to stiffen, and the Cowboys won’t have long to savor this one. But for now, they can point to a game that put the season back in motion.
The biggest reason for that was the offense. After a strange Week 1 opener, Dallas looked like the unit many expect it to be.
Dak Prescott was sharp from start to finish, going 26-of-31 for 279 yards and four touchdowns. That pushed him past the franchise mark for passing touchdowns, and it came in a performance that never really let Washington breathe.
The Cowboys also set the tone early. They opened with a 66-yard drive on 10 plays and grabbed a 7-0 lead, then stayed on the front foot the rest of the way.
Dallas finished 7-of-11 on third down and turned three of four red zone trips into touchdowns. Even with Washington snapping the ball 67 times to Dallas’ 54, the Cowboys’ offense stayed efficient and in control.
There was still a clear warning sign on the other side of the ball: third downs remain a problem. Washington converted six of nine before Jayden Daniels suffered his gruesome injury, including a 3rd-and-18 in the first quarter.
Dallas struggled with zone awareness, didn’t get enough push on short-yardage snaps and couldn’t consistently contain Daniels. The Commanders were moving the chains too easily while the game was still very much in play.
The injury list keeps growing, too. Dallas was already without DeMarvion Overshown and Malik Hooker for 1-2 weeks, and more names got added on Sunday.
P.J. Locke left in the first quarter with a foot injury and was later ruled out after initially being questionable to return.
Dee Winters had his shoulder checked in the second quarter before returning after missing one drive. Shemar James and Curtis Robinson, who was elevated from the practice squad, filled in.
Cobie Durant also went down with a hamstring injury after breaking up a pass in the end zone and did not return after halftime.
And while Dallas earned the win, it also caught a few breaks. Terry McLaurin had a long touchdown wiped away after replay showed he didn’t have control until he was out of bounds.
Dyami Brown had what looked like a touchdown to start the third quarter, but the officials ruled him out. Daniels also missed a wide-open Treylon Burks for what would have been a walk-in score, and a trick-play throw to Terry McLaurin in the end zone was underthrown with no Cowboys defender nearby.
Then there was the bizarre final-play injury to Daniels on 4th-and-goal, when he was stepped on by an offensive lineman and Dallas escaped with a 17-10 lead at halftime.
The Cowboys needed this one. They got it, even if it came with plenty to clean up.
In Other News...
Cowboys Win Sparked An AT&T Stadium Buzz Fans Couldnt Ignore
The Cowboys Week 2 win over Washington at AT&T Stadium gave Dallas plenty to talk about, but the sideline scene created its own chatter before the final score was even locked in. Josina Andersons cheetah-print outfit drew a flood of attention on social media, adding a little extra flash to a game that already had a packed backdrop of storylines for both teams.
After the game, Anderson posted a thank-you message to the Cowboys PR staff, and the response was immediate, topping 100,000 views and drawing plenty of compliments from fans and fellow reporters. It was another reminder that in a building like AT&T Stadium, the buzz can extend well beyond the field, even on a day when Dallas rolled to a 37-20 victory and Washingtons Jayden Daniels left with a serious arm injury. [Read more 🡒]
Cowboys Showed Class In A Brutal Rivalry Moment
The late-first-half injury to Jayden Daniels turned a rivalry game into something far more sobering, and it came in a matchup the Cowboys had already put away. Washington coach Dan Quinn confirmed Daniels dislocated his elbow without a fracture, a cruel repeat of the same kind of setback he dealt with last season, and Marcus Mariota is now expected to step in while Daniels recovers. Dallas went on to win 37-20, but the result quickly became secondary to the sight that followed.
In a division that usually runs on edge and hard feelings, the Cowboys handled the moment with a composure that stood out. There was no need to revisit the score or the stakes once Daniels went down, because the bigger picture was obvious: a talented quarterback was hurt again, and Washingtons plans will have to shift while he heals. For Dallas, it was a reminder that even in a rivalry game, there are lines that matter more than the final whistle. [Read more 🡒]
Cowboys Rookie Is Flashing As A Pass Rush Problem For Opponents
Through two games, Malachi Lawrence has already given the Cowboys something to keep an eye on along the edge. The rookie has seen limited playing time, but he has been effective when given a chance to rush the passer, and Pro Football Focus has him grading out among the leagues better edge defenders with at least 20 snaps.
Lawrence still has not logged a sack, but the pressure has been there, along with the kind of overall grade that suggests a bigger role could be coming if this keeps up. For a Dallas defense always looking for more disruptive juice off the edge, the early return from a young pass rusher like Lawrence is the sort of development that can quietly change the conversation. [Read more 🡒]