The Cowboys’ first win of the season came with the offense doing the heavy lifting, as Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb powered the day against Washington. But on a defense that still has tackling issues and too many missed chances in the backfield, a few rookies made their presence felt - and Jaishawn Barham delivered the loudest moment of all.
Barham was the rookie who changed the feel of the game. Starting at middle linebacker and wearing the green dot, he was tasked with handling the communication and getting everyone lined up, and he looked comfortable doing it in just his second NFL appearance.
His signature play came with Dallas protecting a seven-point lead in the third quarter, when he forced a fumble that Dee Winters recovered. That turnover gave the offense a short field and helped set up another Jake Ferguson touchdown.
The day wasn’t spotless. Barham also had a costly missed tackle, and there’s still plenty for him to clean up.
Even so, the combination of responsibility and production stood out, especially with veteran teammates praising the way he handled the communication side of the job. That’s the kind of impact Dallas needed from a rookie in a tight game.
Caleb Downs also chipped in on both defense and special teams. He finished with nine tackles, broke up a pass intended for Terry McLaurin, and added two special-teams tackles along with a forced fumble. Dallas didn’t recover it, but Downs still created another play that showed why he keeps showing up in different phases.
Malachi Lawrence had one of those afternoons that looks better in the pressure column than it does in the box score. He got to Marcus Mariota for a quarterback hit, but the play still ended with Washington completing a pass for 18 yards.
The rush was there; the finish wasn’t. That was part of a broader issue for the Cowboys, who never managed a sack as a unit and spent too much of the game living in the “almost” category.
LT Overton’s most notable snap came when he helped limit a second-quarter run to one yard. It was a solid piece of run defense, even if the overall stat line didn’t show much in the way of disruption.
The rookie group gave Dallas some useful moments, and Barham’s turnover was the biggest of them. The Cowboys still have work to do defensively, but this was a week where a rookie helped swing the game.
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Cowboys Could Benefit From The Chargers Tight End Desperation
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For the Cowboys, that kind of urgency can create an opening. Luke Schoonmaker has surfaced as a possible trade fit for a Chargers team that needs reinforcements, and his place on Dallas depth chart and contract status make him at least worth monitoring. Nothing has been agreed to, but the connection is the kind of situation that can turn a player from roster depth into a name to watch before long. [Read more 🡒]
Cowboys Win Sparked An AT&T Stadium Buzz Fans Couldnt Ignore
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Anderson later posted a thank-you message to the Cowboys PR staff after the game, and the response was immediate, with the post drawing more than 100,000 views along with praise from fans and fellow reporters. Dallas left the field with a 37-20 victory, while Washington also had to absorb the blow of Jayden Daniels suffering a serious arm injury, making it a night that carried plenty of conversation well beyond the final score. [Read more 🡒]
Cowboys Showed Class In A Brutal Rivalry Moment
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Dan Quinn confirmed afterward that the injury was a dislocation without fracture, and Marcus Mariota is expected to start until Daniels recovers. For the Cowboys, the moment carried a familiar mix of rivalry and respect, because even in a game with real stakes, there are still lines everyone recognizes. What happens next for Daniels will matter far beyond one November result, and Washington now has to wait on the next update while trying to steady itself at quarterback. [Read more 🡒]