Week 1 left the Dallas Cowboys with plenty to clean up after a 28-20 loss to the New York Giants, but it also showed they weren’t far off. Even with a rough defensive debut under Christian Parker and uneven offense, Dallas was still one touchdown away from forcing a tie.
That’s the kind of opening-week mess that can flip fast if a few young players start taking real steps forward. Against the Washington Commanders in Week 2, three Cowboys look especially positioned to do that.
Donovan Ezeiruaku was one of the few bright spots for Dallas on defense against the Giants. He posted a team-high 86.5 overall grade from PFF, added 10 tackles, and finished with a half-sack. That kind of production should keep him in the spotlight when the Cowboys face Brandon Coleman, who is a third-year starter but graded just 55.9 in Week 1 and 49.7 in pass protection.
Getting to Jayden Daniels is never simple because of his mobility, but Ezeiruaku looks ready to spend the afternoon making life uncomfortable for the Washington quarterback. Another strong outing would only strengthen the idea that the second-year player is becoming a breakout presence.
Brevyn Spann-Ford is another name worth watching. Right before the Week 1 opener, he landed a three-year, $18 million extension, a clear sign that Dallas believes in what he brings. The former undrafted free agent out of Minnesota has carved out a reputation as a strong blocking tight end, and he also saw more work in the passing game against the Giants.
He caught two passes for 14 yards, modest numbers on paper, but the Cowboys were clearly trying to involve him early. Once Dallas fell behind, Dak Prescott had to press the ball downfield more, which shifted the offense away from that approach. If Week 2 gives the Cowboys more chances to stay balanced, Spann-Ford could be in line for a bigger role and a bigger performance.
Then there’s rookie Caleb Downs, who will be in a tough spot as the primary nickel defender for Dallas. Washington has several slot threats who can make the matchup messy. Stefon Diggs and Terry McLaurin each logged 17 snaps in the slot in Week 1, and Antonio Williams added 11 snaps there while turning in a strong debut with 64 yards and a touchdown on four catches.
Diggs was more productive against the Eagles, finishing with 55 yards and a touchdown on four receptions. McLaurin had just 14 yards on two catches, but that quiet stat line doesn’t change the challenge in front of Downs. Any one of those receivers can take over a game, and Downs will need to be sharp no matter who lines up inside.
The encouraging part for Dallas is that Downs already looked the part in his first pro game. He finished with eight tackles, a sack, and a forced fumble, while allowing just five yards on one reception. That was a strong debut by any measure, but if he can follow it with another shutdown showing against McLaurin, Diggs, and the rest of Washington’s slot options, it starts to look like something even bigger.
In Other News...
Former Cowboys Pass Rusher Returns With Something To Prove In Dallas
Dorance Armstrong is set to make his 2026 debut Sunday against the Cowboys, a familiar opponent for a pass rusher who spent years in Dallas before moving on to Washington. After serving a one-game suspension and working back from the torn ACL that wiped out most of last season, Armstrong enters the matchup with a fresh chance to reestablish himself in a game that still carries some extra edge for everyone involved.
Washington's staff has said it is confident Armstrong is ready to go, and the plan is to rotate him with the rest of the pass-rush group to keep his workload manageable. For Dallas, that means facing a former defensive end who knows the building, the personnel and the stage, even if the bigger question now is how much of Armstrong's old burst has returned after such a long absence. [Read more 🡒]
Jerry Jones Just Raised The Stakes For Dallas' Shaky Defense
Jerry Jones didnt sound interested in pretending the Cowboys defensive performance in Week 1 was anything close to where it needs to be. The team owner acknowledged Dallas underestimated the Giants in the opener, and with Washington up next, he pointed to the defense as the area most likely to show a better version of itself in a game that already feels important for setting the tone of the season.
The challenge for Dallas is that belief and execution are two different things, and the defense has given plenty of reasons for skepticism already. Jones is framing the Commanders matchup as a chance to reset, but until the Cowboys actually string together a cleaner outing, every promise of improvement comes with a layer of doubt that the schedule will quickly test. [Read more 🡒]
Jerry Jones May Soon Face A Cowboys Decision He Hates
Brian Schottenheimers second season in Dallas already carries the sort of early pressure that tends to come with this franchise, even if the Cowboys have historically shown more patience with head coaches than most. After going 7-9-1 in his first year, Schottenheimer watched the team open a new defensive chapter by moving on from Matt Eberflus and turning the unit over to Christian Parker, a change meant to steady a side of the ball that has been a major point of concern.
Instead, the defense stumbled in Week 1 against the New York Giants, and that is where the unease begins to creep in for a team that cannot afford another losing year. There is already speculation about Schottenheimers seat if the record goes the wrong way again, and for Jerry Jones, the uncomfortable part may be less about making a change than having to consider one at all. [Read more 🡒]