The Commanders don’t have much margin for error in Week 2.
After a frustrating loss to the Eagles to open the season, Washington now heads to Dallas with the kind of early divisional pressure that can shape a year fast. An 0-2 start would be bad enough on its own.
An 0-2 start inside the NFC East would make it even uglier. The Cowboys are dealing with the same kind of pressure after dropping their opener to the Giants, which gives this matchup an immediate edge beyond just one September game.
For Washington, the path to a win starts with getting more out of the ground game.
Bill Croskey-Merritt was the most productive runner in Week 1 with 63 yards and a touchdown, but the numbers came with a cost. He coughed up the ball and averaged under four yards per carry.
Rachaad White barely registered. That has to change against a Dallas defense that already showed it can be pushed around.
The Giants rolled up 165 rushing yards against the Cowboys in Week 1, and Cam Skattebo helped close the door in the second half. If Washington can lean into the run, it helps Jayden Daniels and makes the offense less predictable.
That also ties directly into one of the biggest names on the roster: Terry McLaurin.
McLaurin was nearly invisible against Philadelphia, finishing with just two catches for 14 yards. Antonio Williams and Stefon Diggs carried more of the load in that game, but Washington needs McLaurin to be part of the plan.
He gives Daniels a trusted target and can keep drives alive when the offense needs a steady hand. With Dallas bringing plenty of offensive punch of its own, Washington is going to need points, and McLaurin showing up would go a long way toward making that happen.
The defense has its own assignment, and it starts with Dak Prescott.
Dallas has a strong offensive line, and the Giants learned that the hard way in Week 1. Even with Brian Burns and Abdul Carter coming off the edge, New York never got to Prescott for a sack.
That’s not a recipe Washington wants to copy. If Prescott has time, he can work over a secondary that already showed cracks.
The Commanders did get to Jalen Hurts three times last week, so the front has the tools to affect the game. It needs to do that again.
And behind that pass rush, the secondary has to clean itself up.
On the surface, Washington didn’t get completely shredded by the Eagles. Jalen Hurts threw for 203 yards.
But the damage came in chunks, and too many of the big plays were self-inflicted. Dallas Goedert and Dontayvion Wicks both found the end zone on coverage busts, and Mike Sainristil had a rough afternoon by any standard.
His 30 PFF grade was the lowest among 89 qualified corners. That’s exactly the kind of weak spot Dallas receivers will try to exploit if Washington doesn’t adjust.
The Commanders have to keep Sainristil out of those bad spots in Week 2.
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 🡒]