The Commanders head to Arlington for another divisional test in Week 2, and the matchup with the Cowboys at AT&T Stadium on Sunday at 4:25 p.m. EDT gives Washington a chance to shake off an opening loss and avoid an 0-2 start. Both teams stumbled against NFC East opponents last week, but the Commanders have a few clear paths to trouble Dallas.
One of the biggest is on the ground. The Cowboys were gashed for 165 rushing yards by the Giants, a performance that left them tied for 27th in the league.
Cam Skattebo ran for 81 yards and Jaxson Dart added 54, and Dallas never really settled in against the run. That should matter for Washington, which put up 132 rushing yards against the Eagles.
Jacory Croskey-Merritt led the way with 63 yards on 16 carries, Jayden Daniels chipped in 31 rushing yards, and Kaytron Allen and Rachaad White also contributed.
That kind of balance gives the Commanders a way to keep Daniels from having to air it out 35-40 times. If Washington can establish the run early, it can control the pace and force Dallas to defend the whole field. The ingredients are there, and the Commanders should lean on that ground game heavily.
Daniels himself is another reason for optimism. He looked out of sync for much of last week’s game before settling in during the fourth quarter, when he appeared far more comfortable operating David Blough’s scheme.
If that version of Daniels carries over into Sunday, Washington’s offense can become a much tougher problem for the Cowboys. Dallas gave up 394 total yards to the Giants and ranked last in third-down defense after allowing conversions on 81.82% of those chances.
The Commanders managed 295 total yards against an Eagles defense that is better than Dallas’ unit, so there’s room for Washington to build on that showing. If Daniels keeps finding Antonio Williams and forces Dallas to adjust, the Commanders can create real stress for the Cowboys.
There’s also reason to think Washington can make life harder for Dak Prescott. The Commanders produced three sacks against the Eagles, with Sonny Styles, Frankie Luvu, and Odafe Oweh each getting to Jalen Hurts. Prescott threw two touchdown passes and one interception against the Giants, and if Washington can pressure him without leaning on blitzes, he’ll be pushed into a far less comfortable game.
That could be especially important with injuries affecting the linebacker group after Week 1. Backup Jordan Magee is headed to IR, and Frankie Luvu’s status for Sunday is in question.
Still, the Commanders have a pass-rush group that can create problems, and they’ll also get Dorance Armstrong back this week. Prescott had to spread the ball to nine different receivers just to reach 175 passing yards against the Giants, which showed how much adjustment Dallas needed when things got messy.
If Washington can force similar discomfort, it may also force Brian Schottenheimer to change his offensive plan.
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 🡒]