The Dallas Cowboys dropped their Week 1 game and are looking to bounce back. They don’t have to wait long for another NFC East opponent. After opening the season with a 28-20 loss to the New York Giants, Dallas returns home Sunday to face the Washington Commanders, who are also coming off a one-score loss in Week 1.
Washington fell 24-22 to the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday, but the final score doesn’t tell the entire story. The Commanders showed some promising things in their first game under a new
offensive coordinator and with a revamped defense, including some impressive physicality on special teams.
They also showed some of the issues that helped produce a 5-12 record last season. Now, Washington heads to Arlington for its first road game of 2026. Here’s what Cowboys fans need to know.
A lot changed in Washington this offseason
The Commanders spent the offseason rebuilding a team that finished 5-12 in 2025. The biggest changes came on defense, at the behest of former Cowboys DC Dan Quinn. Washington brought in several new pieces and entered the season with a revamped unit under new defensive coordinator Daronte Jones.
The Commanders also added to their offense including veteran receiver Stefon Diggs, giving quarterback Jayden Daniels another established weapon alongside Terry McLaurin. The Commanders’ offense also has a new play caller. David Blough took over as offensive coordinator, meaning Daniels is operating in his third offensive system in three seasons. That transition looked uneven in Week 1.
Washington also added rookie linebacker Sonny Styles with the seventh overall pick. He immediately made an impact in Week 1, recording a sack against Philadelphia.
Jayden Daniels is back, but he wasn’t quite himself yet
This is still Jayden Daniels’ team. After an injury-plagued 2025 season, Daniels returned to regular-season action Sunday, September 13, against Philadelphia and finished 18-of-34 for 164 yards and two touchdowns, adding 31 yards on five rushing attempts.
The numbers weren’t spectacular, but the fourth quarter offered a glimpse of what Washington hopes its offense can become. Daniels threw touchdown passes to Diggs and rookie Antonio Williams as the Commanders scored 13 fourth-quarter points and turned a 24-9 deficit into a two-point game.
The problem was everything that came before it. Washington had just 50 yards on its seven non-scoring drives, struggling to sustain drives for long stretches. That’s something Dallas’ defense will have to account for Sunday: Which Washington offense shows up for four quarters? And can they make enough plays to keep the Commanders’ offense off-balance?
Washington can run the football
If there was one thing the Commanders did consistently against Philadelphia, it was run the football. Washington finished with 132 rushing yards on 32 attempts, averaging 4.1 yards per carry.
Jacory Croskey-Merritt led the way with 63 yards and a touchdown on 16 carries. Rachaad White added 22 yards on seven carries, while Daniels contributed another 31 yards.
If Week 1 was a sign of things to come, this is obviously a cause for concern for Dallas.
The Cowboys just watched the Giants control the game on the ground and through time of possession in Week 1. New York ran 68 offensive plays to Dallas’ 52, held the ball for more than 36 minutes in the 28-20 victory, and, as many have pointed out, limited the Cowboys to two possessions in the second half.
If the Commanders can establish their running game, they can keep Daniels out of obvious passing situations while pressuring a Dallas defense that allowed 394 total yards to New York in Week 1.
Stefon Diggs is already involved
One of Washington’s biggest offseason additions made an immediate impact. Diggs caught four passes for 55 yards and a touchdown against Philadelphia. He also drew attention for a costly unsportsmanlike conduct penalty after his touchdown celebration, a mistake that affected Washington’s late-game two-point strategy.
Still, his presence gives Daniels something the quarterback didn’t have for much of last season: another veteran receiver capable of winning matchups outside of McLaurin.
McLaurin caught only two passes for 14 yards in Week 1, but one came during Washington’s fourth-quarter comeback. The combination of McLaurin and Diggs will be one of the things to watch on Sunday whenever Washington’s offense takes the field.
The defense looked better in spots
Washington’s defense had a respectable opening week against Philadelphia. The Commanders held the Eagles to 318 total yards, including 203 passing yards and 136 rushing yards. Washington generated three sacks, and the pressure came from multiple places. Frankie Luvu, Odafe Oweh and rookie Sonny Styles each recorded a sack.
The defense also did a good job limiting Philadelphia’s offense for long stretches. But the Commanders gave up several explosive plays and struggled with communication in the secondary.
That’s where the matchup with Dallas will be interesting. The Cowboys struggled to generate sustained offense against New York, producing just 244 total yards and 20 points. Dak Prescott threw for 175 yards, while Dallas averaged only 3.8 yards per rushing attempt.
So, Week 2 presents a straightforward question for the Cowboys. Can Dallas create more explosive plays against a Washington defense that has also shown it can give up opportunities in the secondary?
Antonio Williams is worth knowing
Keep an eye on Antonio Williams. The rookie receiver wasn’t even listed as one of Washington’s three starting receivers on the team’s initial depth chart. Still, he led the Commanders in receiving against Philadelphia, catching four passes for 64 yards and a touchdown. His touchdown was part of Washington’s fourth-quarter comeback.
Williams also fits the profile of the young players Washington is trying to develop around Daniels. The Commanders have praised his route-running ability and his versatility to play both inside and outside. After one game, he has already given Washington another name for opposing defenses to account for, and could be part of a suddenly deep Washington receiving corps with the potential to damage any defense.
This is a different Washington team than Dallas saw last year
The Cowboys swept the Commanders last season, winning the final matchup 30-23 at Washington, but this year’s Commanders look different.
There’s a new offensive coordinator, a revamped defense, a healthy Daniels and a new veteran weapon in Diggs. Washington is also trying to establish a more balanced offense built around its quarterback’s ability to threaten defenses with both his arm and legs.
So far, returns are mixed, but it’s just Week 2. The Commanders moved the ball for 295 yards against Philadelphia but converted only 5 of 15 third downs. They scored 22 points despite producing only 20 first downs.
Both teams are 0-1. Both have new questions after Week 1, and both have already seen enough of their new-look teams to know that some changes need to be made. The Cowboys and Commanders will meet Sunday at AT&T Stadium, with both teams looking to put their first loss of 2026 behind them.
