A pair of 0-1 NFC East clubs trying to avoid owning a pair of divisional losses in the season's first two weeks.
The Commanders, who are breaking in two new coordinators plus wholesale changes on defense, were expected to have a tough go of it early on but gave a solid account of themselves in a two-point loss at Philadelphia.
Meanwhile, the Cowboys – with the benefit of far more continuity, at least offensively – have been something of a preseason Super Bowl darling this summer, and justifiably so this year even though outsized expectations are routinely attached to them. But a defense that surrendered the most points in the league in 2025 – and one, in fairness, with quite a few new starters this year – didn't appear appreciably improvedin Week
1 under wunderkind coordinator Christian Paker.
Worse, the Cowboys got pushed around by an apparently far more physical Giants squad. That's a lot to rectify in seven days, especially against a Washington squad that features one of the league's most dynamic playmakers in QB Jayden Daniels. One new wrinkle to this longstanding rivalry? The entry of Washington LB Sonny Styles and Dallas DB Caleb Downs, former Ohio State teammates and first-round picks earlier this year, who both project to be the faces of their respective defenses for many years to come.
Cowboys QB Dak Prescott needs four more TD passes to overtake Tony Romo (248) as the franchise's all-time leader.
Cowboys vs Commanders odds, moneyline, over/under
Opening lines:
- Spread: Cowboys -4.5
- Moneyline: Cowboys -198; Commanders +164
- Total: 51.5
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Commanders at Cowboys score predictions
Adam Kaufman: Cowboys 31, Commanders 27
The Cowboys were a popular play in the Meadowlands against the Giants last Sunday night and promptly laid an egg. Penalties were a problem. The run defense allowed 165 yards. Dak Prescott threw an ugly interception. And still, I'm drawn to Dallas. There's simply too much talent on offense, while Washington's secondary remains vulnerable to explosive plays. The Commanders offered a better showing than most expected in their narrow season-opening loss to the Eagles, but Jayden Daniels threw for only 164 yards and connected with Terry McLaurin just twice for 14. I expect considerably more offense from both teams this week. This one has shootout written all over it.
Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz: Cowboys 30, Commanders 21
Week 1 was a humbling experience for both the Commanders' offense and the Cowboys' defense. Now, each unit needs to conjure answers quickly to avoid devolving into desperation after just two weeks. Dallas might not be able to iron out the communication issues and lack of pressure that plagued it in the opener, but its explosive offense should provide enough wiggle room for the team to escape from the rivalry matchup with a win, which might be vital to navigating a challenging early-season slate.
Nate Davis: Cowboys 31, Commanders 23
The Cowboys have won five of six in this series, Prescott missing the lone loss over that stretch. Yet they haven't necessarily been dominant at home, going 4-3-1 at AT&T Stadium in 2025. But I'm going to bet they get into more of an offensive rhythm in this game and get RB Javonte Williams, who needs to eliminate the mental errors, involved early on the ground. Do that, get a lead – or at least keep the score closer than it was in New Jersey – and a defense built to attack should be able to do that more extensively than maybe it could against the Giants. Also, I shudder to think of reporting to work at The Star if Jerry Jones is stewing over a 0-2 start.
Richard Morin: Cowboys 26, Commanders 23
It's interesting to me that both the Cowboys and Commanders open the season with consecutive games against NFC East opponents. Do we really think the Cowboys will open the season 0-2? The oddsmakers sure don't; some shops are giving Washington more than a touchdown here, and I'm not even sure the Commanders are the inferior team. Either way, I am backing Dallas in Week 2, but I think the score stays close.
Where to watch Commanders at Cowboys
- Matchup: Cowboys vs. Commanders
- Date: Sept. 20
- Time: 4:25 p.m.
- Venue: AT&T Stadium
- Location: Arlington, Texas
- TV: Fox
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Commanders at Cowboys: Predictions, picks and odds for NFL Week 2 game
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