The rivalry between the Washington Commanders and Dallas Cowboys might lack the level of ruthlessness it had in the 1980s and 1990s, when both squads were enjoying historic runs of success. But the two teams expect plenty of competition for their Week 2 matchup in Dallas.
Both squads enter Sunday’s showdown with 0-1 records. The Cowboys and Commanders already fell to divisional foes — the New York Giants and Philadelphia Eagles, respectively — in the opener.
They need a win.
Washington’s offense is looking to rebound after a sluggish start. The Dallas defense needs a momentum swing after being exposed by New York’s offense.
The Commanders’ path to a competent offense starts with third-year quarterback Jayden Daniels. The dual-threat signal-caller looked rusty in the opener after missing large swaths of last season with an array of injuries.
But he’s healthy now — and looked better as the game wore on.
“It’s our detail, it’s our fundamentals. It’s hitting the right spots in the passing game,” first-time offensive coordinator David Blough said Thursday. “It, truthfully, it wasn’t good enough in the passing game there. Did some good things in the run game and it came to life late, but we have to detail it up.”
Dallas’ defense offers an ideal get-right opportunity for Washington’s newly installed offensive scheme. In Week 1, the Commanders fell behind early in the second-half and reverted to the shotgun, pass-first system it used last year.
The Cowboys, on the other side of the line of scrimmage, forced just a single punt. Massive lapses in coverage doomed them, as Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart found receivers wide open in the end zone. Each of Dart’s three touchdown passes came to receivers who had at least five yards of separation from defenders, according to NFL’s Next Gen Stats.
Only one team — the Arizona Cardinals — allowed more than two such touchdowns in a single game in 2025.
“We were watching film, and these are fixable mistakes,” Christian Parker, the Cowboys’ first-year defensive coordinator, said. “This is what they did versus this is what we did: losing leverage, eyes in the wrong place, block destruction, all those types of things. Those are things that we can handle internally. We have a lot of confidence in our ability to do so.”
They aren’t the only ones feeling confident. Washington’s coaches and players are ready to rely on Daniels after a strong training camp.
“I saw a very good decision-making process, remaining a passer in the scrambles, you know, deciding when some throwaways were the appropriate time,” Commanders coach Dan Quinn said. “He has such confidence in that space with the system, with the guys, so I’m very much looking forward to seeing that.”
The other matchup might be even more crucial on Sunday, as Washington’s new-look defense squares off against a high-powered Dallas attack.
The Commanders rolled out a new, blitz-happy system in the opener to mixed success. The pass rush was there, with 10 different defenders recording at least one pressure, according to Next Gen Stats.
The pressure will continue to be a focus in Dallas. Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott completed just three of his 11 under-pressure passes against the Giants. He recorded just 25 yards and an interception on those attempts.
If the pass rush can’t hurry Prescott, he’ll have an opportunity to find Pro Bowl receivers CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens downfield.
The big-bodied pass-catchers have a clear size advantage over Washington’s cornerbacks. Amik Robertson and Mike Sainristil — standing 5-foot-9 and 5-foot-10, respectively — will have to play bigger than their short stature would indicate.
“Those two have been battling that, I would imagine, for quite some time,” Quinn said of his starting defensive backs. “But playing through the hands, using your techniques with players like these, it’s hopefully not too many times where, ‘Hey, you are by yourself and everybody knows it and here you go.’”
Sainristil struggled in the opener, allowing a 64-yard reception and an easy touchdown to Philadelphia’s Dontayvion Wicks. Washington’s coaching staff wasn’t ready to give up on the third-year cornerback yet.
“We know what he’s capable of, just like he is,” Jones said. “And, continue to just, ‘Hey, man, focus on your fundamental, have your eyes in the right place, finish those plays, have a sense of urgency.’ And, he’ll bounce back because that’s the kind of player he is.”
Whichever team exits Sunday with a loss will face an unenviable position early in the season. Approximately 45% of 1-1 squads make the playoffs. But 0-2 teams watch their shot at making the postseason dip to 14.3%, based on RotoWire data from 2016-25.
Sunday’s game kicks off at 4:25 p.m. at the Cowboys’ stadium in Arlington, Texas.
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