The Dallas Cowboys evened their record at 1-1 on Sunday with a 37-20 win over the Washington Commanders inside AT&T Stadium. Dallas’ offense looked closer to what’s expected than it did in the Week 1 loss to the Giants, but there are still strides to be made defensively. The Cowboys get the Ravens in Rio de Janeiro this Sunday.
Victory Monday hits like 💥
Up Next 📺: #BALvsDAL on CBS pic.twitter.com/AuhgHn2z8E
— Dallas Cowboys (@dallascowboys) September 21, 2026
Dallas was fortunate on several occasions in this game. On the final play of the first half, the Commanders chose to go for it on 3rd and goal at the Cowboys’ 1 rather than attempt a short FG. On the play, Washington QB Jayden Daniels was stepped on by one of his linemen, and not only did that disrupt the timing of the play, leading to an incompletion, Daniels dislocated his left (non throwing) elbow while trying to brace his fall. That play ended Daniels’ day and the Commanders’ QB looks like he’ll miss significant time. The Cowboys struggled mightily to contain Daniels’ running in the first half.
On Washington’s first drive of the third quarter, Marcus Mariota found Dyami Brown for an apparent 29 yard TD. The play was ruled incomplete on the field, and the ruling stood after video replay. Don’t ask me how it was incomplete, because I still don’t know. The Commanders had to settle for a FG to cut the Dallas lead to 17-13.
.@jaishawnbarham forced fumble and the @dwintersdos recovery 🫡
📺: #WASvsDAL on FOX
📲: Stream on NFL+ https://t.co/XM2vIx7C1d pic.twitter.com/PVbUXHj4SO— Dallas Cowboys (@dallascowboys) September 20, 2026
After the Cowboys answered with a FG to stretch their lead back to 7, the Commanders committed the only turnover of the game. Mariota found Brown in the left flat, and Jaishawn Barham forced a fumble that Dee Winters recovered. Two plays later, Prescott found Jake Ferguson for a 12 yard TD, and Dallas led 27-13. On the ensuing drive, Washington barely missed on a trick play when Antonio Williams’ pass fell just out of the reach of Terry McLaurin. Drew Stevens missed a 51 yard FG, Brandon Aubrey then hit a 60 yard FG for the Cowboys, and after the teams traded touchdowns, the final margin was set.
Butter w/ the 60 yarder 🤯
📺: #WASvsDAL on FOX
📲: Stream on NFL+ https://t.co/XM2vIx7C1d pic.twitter.com/ndYM30HRGw— Dallas Cowboys (@dallascowboys) September 20, 2026
Dak Prescott and the offense were much more explosive in the passing game this week. Prescott was 26-31 for 279 yards and 4 TD’s, passing Tony Romo for the team record with 249 touchdown passes. CeeDee Lamb caught 8 passes for 153 yards and 2 TD’s, while Ferguson hauled in the other two touchdowns. The Cowboys haven’t unlocked their running game yet this season, as Javonte Williams was held to 30 yards on 12 carries. As potent as Dallas’ passing game is, opening up the rushing attack will be important as the season continues.
that 4 ➡️ 88 connection for the TD 💥
📺: #WASvsDAL on FOX
📲: Stream on NFL+ https://t.co/XM2vIx7C1d pic.twitter.com/Un8hBit6i0— Dallas Cowboys (@dallascowboys) September 20, 2026
For the second straight week, the Cowboys struggled to stop the run. Washington ran for 182 yards and almost 6 yards per carry, and that’s a week after the Giants ran for 165 yards and 4 1/2 yards per attempt. I know that 69 of those yards came on 7 attempts by Daniels, but if he hadn’t gotten injured, that total would’ve been much higher. It’s very concerning because I expected Dallas to be better against the run with Quinnen Williams and Kenny Clark working in tandem up front. If the run defense doesn’t improve, the Cowboys are going to have a difficult time putting enough wins together to get into the postseason. We’re only two weeks into the season, but that’s a worrisome trend.
Week 3 presents a trip to Rio de Janeiro to meet the Baltimore Ravens Sunday at 3:25 on CBS. The Ravens are 1-1 after beating the Colts in Week 1 and falling to the Saints in Week 2. With the way the Cowboys have struggled against the run so far, Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry ought to be very excited when they watch the film this week. Zay Flowers has been a big play threat at receiver, averaging 30 yards per catch through two weeks. Baltimore is 6th in total defense and 5th against the run through two games, so it’ll likely have to be Prescott finding Lamb and George Pickens for several big plays if Dallas is going to have a chance in this one.
Ravens 31 Cowboys 24
Matt Meyer
@Bluto51
Join HC Brian Schottenheimer from the @thestarinfrisco for a press conference presented by Miller Lite
📺: #BALvsDAL 9/27 on CBS
#DallasCowboys | @MillerLite https://t.co/6JS5LUmT1p— Dallas Cowboys (@dallascowboys) September 21, 2026
