The Cowboys and Commanders meet Sunday afternoon with both teams trying to shake off ugly Week 1 losses, and the loser will be stuck in the NFC East basement after one more divisional setback.
Dallas comes into this one with the edge on paper, even if last week served as a reminder that the favorite label doesn’t guarantee anything. The Cowboys were the heavy pick over the Giants and still came away disappointed, while Washington fell to the Eagles.
Still, there’s reason to think Dallas can at least get its offense moving again. Washington’s cornerbacks group can be attacked if the Cowboys keep Dak Prescott upright, and that may be the key battle after the Commanders generated 18 pressures last week. Even so, the belief here is that Washington’s pass-rush showing was more of an outlier than a sign of something bigger, especially without big names off the edge.
The bigger concern is Dallas on defense. Washington’s offensive line is suspect, but Jayden Daniels changes the picture because he can slip out of trouble and make plays with either his legs or his arm. That makes it hard to look at this game and say the Cowboys’ defense has suddenly been repaired.
The expectation, though, is that Dallas gets the kind of offensive response it badly needs and leaves Sunday with a win. The Cowboys also have the recent history on their side, having won each of the two meetings with Washington in 2025 and eight of the last 10 dating back to 2021. Overall, Dallas leads the all-time series 81-49-2, including playoffs.
In Other News...
Jerry Jones May Soon Face A Cowboys Decision He Hates
Brian Schottenheimer is back for his second season running the Cowboys after a 7-9-1 debut, and the early pressure around the job has only grown with the teams change at defensive coordinator. Dallas moved on from Matt Eberflus and handed the unit to Christian Parker, but the defense still looked shaky in Week 1 against the Giants, keeping the spotlight fixed on a team that cannot afford another slow start.
Jerry Jones has long preferred patience with his head coaches, but another losing season would put that approach to the test in a way Dallas fans know all too well. If the Cowboys keep wobbling and the losses pile up again, Schottenheimer could quickly find himself in an uncomfortable place, with ownerships history of sticking with coaches colliding with the reality of a team that needs a much better year. [Read more 🡒]
Cowboys Roster Bubble Already Looks Tougher For Several 2027 Free Agents
Week 1 gave the Cowboys an early read on which 2027 free agents helped themselves and which ones left the staff with more questions. Some players held steady after meaningful opener contributions, while others came out of the game looking like their margin for error already shrank, an early reminder that every snap matters when roster decisions are looming down the road.
Sam Howell and Emari Demercado were among the names who kept their value intact with solid game impact, but not everyone enjoyed that same kind of clean opening. George Pickens and T.J. Bass were among the players whose stock took a hit after underwhelming performances, leaving Dallas with an increasingly tricky evaluation process as the season gets rolling and the bubble starts to feel tighter. [Read more 🡒]
Former Cowboys Pass Rusher Returns With Something To Prove In Dallas
Dorance Armstrong is set to make his 2026 debut Sunday against the Cowboys, the team where he once carved out a role before moving on to Washington. The veteran defensive end is back after serving a one-game suspension and is also working his way through the final stages of a return from the torn ACL that wiped out most of last season.
Washington has made clear it believes Armstrong is ready for the matchup, and the plan is to ease him in by rotating him with the other pass rushers to keep his workload manageable. For Dallas, it is the kind of reunion that carries a little extra edge, with an ex-Cowboy arriving in the opener looking to reestablish himself right away. [Read more 🡒]