A Week 1 stumble has already put the Dallas Cowboys in a hole, but Sunday’s meeting with the Washington Commanders gives them a fast way to change the mood around the start of the 2026 season.
The Commanders are trying to do the same after dropping a 24-22 decision to the Philadelphia Eagles. These NFC East rivals know each other well, and while Dallas is the popular pick in the matchup, that doesn’t make this one simple. The Cowboys are 7-0 at home against Washington with Dak Prescott starting, but they’ll need the right answers in a handful of key spots to keep that run going.
One of the biggest edges for Dallas comes on the defensive line. Donovan Ezeiruaku was the Cowboys’ highest-graded PFF player in Week 1 with an 86.5 overall mark, and he backed that up with 10 tackles and a half-sack.
He also looked like one of the few players who really benefited from the scheme change under Christian Parker. This week, he’ll be matched up with left tackle Brandon Coleman, who had a rough opener and gave up six pressures.
Jayden Daniels’ movement kept that from becoming an even bigger problem, but Ezeiruaku has a real chance to stress that side of Washington’s protection.
Dallas also has a chance to attack where Washington was already leaking badly. Cornerback Mike Sainristil gave up a league-worst 24.33 yards per target, and that’s the kind of weakness the Cowboys have to punish. Whether it’s George Pickens or CeeDee Lamb, Dallas needs to make those opportunities count if it wants its passing game to stay on schedule.
Then there’s the rookie factor with Caleb Downs. He was solid in his debut, allowing just one catch in 29 coverage snaps, and he spent most of his time in the slot.
That’s where he’s expected to be again in Week 2, but this assignment is a tougher one. Washington can throw Stefon Diggs, Terry McLaurin, and Antonio Williams into that area, and Downs’ performance there could swing the game.
It’s a big ask for a rookie, but he already showed he can handle the moment.
The final piece is Jaishawn Barham, who will step into the green-dot middle linebacker role with DeMarvion Overshown sidelined by a hamstring injury. Barham’s debut wasn’t clean, and he was also part of a viral sideline moment that showed his emotions getting away from him.
Now he gets a chance to quiet that noise and prove the offseason buzz had teeth. He’ll be handling the defensive communication, but that’s only part of the job.
He also has to track Jayden Daniels, because Washington’s offense runs through him. If Daniels is comfortable, Washington is in business.
If Barham can keep him in check, Dallas has a much better shot at taking control.
In Other News...
Commanders Suddenly Have A Mike Sainristil Question They Cant Ignore
Mike Sainristil is already facing an early test of how the Commanders handle accountability under Dan Quinn. After Washingtons season-opening loss, Quinn publicly called out the young cornerbacks performance, and Sainristil responded by owning the mistakes and saying his focus is on getting better. For a defense that wants to establish a sharper edge, the issue is not just one rough outing, but how quickly the rookie can steady himself as the spotlight gets brighter.
Isaac Yiadoms arrival from the practice squad adds another layer to the conversation, because Washington now has more veteran depth in the secondary heading into its game against the Dallas Cowboys. The move does not settle the cornerback picture, but it does put a little more pressure on Sainristil to respond the right way. How Quinn and his staff sort out those snaps will be worth watching, especially this early in the season when every adjustment carries a little extra weight. [Read more 🡒]
Dorance Armstrong Gives Commanders A Personal Edge Against Dallas
Dorance Armstrong Jr. is back in the Commanders lineup after serving a one-week suspension, and his return comes with a built-in layer of familiarity. After six seasons with the Cowboys, Armstrong now finds himself on the other side of one of the NFC Easts most familiar rivalries, joining Washington as it prepares for an upcoming meeting with Dallas. He is working his way back from an ACL injury and sliding into a reserve hybrid linebacker role in the Commanders' 3-4 defense.
Even with a limited workload possible as he adjusts to the scheme and the roster around him, Armstrong still carries obvious value in a game like this. Washington did not bring him in just for depth, and his presence against his former team adds a little more edge to a matchup that already has plenty of it. The Commanders will be watching how much he can handle, but they also know the timing of his return is hard to ignore. [Read more 🡒]
Commanders May Need These Lineup Tweaks To Handle Dallas Better
The Commanders came out of their regular-season opener with enough encouraging moments to believe the roster can settle in quickly, but the 24-22 loss also exposed a few lineup spots that could use a closer look before the next meeting with Dallas. Washington has already spent time sorting through what worked, what didnt, and where injuries may force the coaching staff to look for more snaps from players who were on the fringe in Week 1.
Rasul Douglas, Antonio Williams, Ben Sinnott and Quan Martin all surfaced as possible beneficiaries if Washington decides to tweak roles heading into the Cowboys game. Those are the kinds of adjustments that can make a difference in a divisional matchup, especially when the margin for error is thin, but for now they remain ideas rather than confirmed changes as the Commanders weigh performance and availability against a Dallas opponent that will demand cleaner execution. [Read more 🡒]