Commanders, Cowboys Meet in Crucial NFC East Battle With Both Searching for First Win

The Washington Commanders and Dallas Cowboys will renew one of the NFL’s oldest rivalries Sunday afternoon with considerably more pressure than normally accompanies a Week 2 game.

Washington travels to AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, for a 4:25 p.m. kickoff Sunday, Sept. 20. FOX will broadcast the NFC East matchup with Kevin Burkhardt, Tom Brady, Erin Andrews and Tom Rinaldi on the call.

More importantly, both teams enter the game 0-1 and already have a division loss on their records.

Washington opened the season with a 24-22 road loss to the Philadelphia Eagles. Dallas followed later that night with a 28-20 loss to the New York Giants. That puts additional importance on Sunday’s matchup because one team will leave the afternoon with an 0-2 overall record and 0-2 mark inside the NFC East.

For Washington, the challenge is turning several encouraging aspects of its opener into a complete performance. For Dallas, it is finding answers after an opening game in which its revamped defense struggled and the offense generated only 244 total yards.

Washington came close in Philadelphia

There were plenty of frustrating moments in Washington’s loss to Philadelphia, but the Commanders remained within striking distance against the defending NFC East champions throughout the afternoon.

Washington finished with 295 total yards and controlled the ball for 33:20 compared with Philadelphia’s 26:40. The Commanders ran 67 offensive plays to the Eagles’ 53 and did not turn the football over. However, Washington averaged only 4.4 yards per play while Philadelphia averaged six.

Jayden Daniels completed 18 of 34 passes for 164 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions. He also remained a threat with his legs, carrying five times for 31 yards.

Those passing numbers were hardly explosive, but Daniels helped Washington make a late push.

The Commanders scored 13 points in the fourth quarter and pulled within two when Daniels found Antonio Williams for a touchdown with 1:05 remaining. Washington could not convert the ensuing two-point attempt, and Philadelphia recovered the onside kick to finish the game.

Washington’s running game provided some balance. Jacory Croskey-Merritt led the team with 63 yards and a touchdown on 16 carries, while Daniels added 31 rushing yards. As a team, Washington accumulated 132 yards on 32 rushing attempts.

That ground attack could become particularly important against Dallas.

Daniels could present major problems for Dallas

The Cowboys struggled containing New York quarterback Jaxson Dart in Week 1. Dart completed 23 of 29 passes for 230 yards and three touchdowns without throwing an interception, and he added 54 yards on 11 carries.

Now Dallas must prepare for another quarterback capable of creating offense outside the structure of the play.

Daniels’ mobility gives Washington opportunities to attack Dallas in several ways. Designed quarterback runs, zone-read concepts and run-pass options can force Dallas’ linebackers and edge defenders to hesitate. Washington can also move the pocket and allow Daniels to attack a defense that struggled to generate enough disruption against New York.

Dallas allowed the Giants to accumulate 394 yards and control possession for 36:40 in the opener. New York ran 68 offensive plays while Dallas ran only 52.

The Giants also rushed 37 times, with Cam Skattebo producing 81 yards and a touchdown and Dart adding another 54.

Washington should have noticed.

A patient rushing attack involving Croskey-Merritt, Daniels and the Commanders’ other backs could help Washington control possession while creating favorable opportunities for play-action.

Washington needs more from the passing game

While Washington nearly rallied against Philadelphia, 164 passing yards will probably not be enough consistently.

The encouraging development was the production Washington received from Antonio Williams and Stefon Diggs.

Williams caught four passes for 64 yards and a touchdown, while Diggs finished with four catches for 55 yards and another score. Together, they accounted for 119 of Daniels’ 164 passing yards.

Washington needs to find more intermediate and explosive opportunities against Dallas.

The Cowboys’ secondary allowed Dart to complete nearly 80 percent of his passes in the opener. New York tight end Isaiah Likely caught eight passes for 78 yards and two touchdowns, while Malik Nabers added six receptions for 69 yards.

Dallas also failed to consistently force Dart into negative plays.

Washington should challenge that group early rather than relying exclusively on a conservative passing attack.

Okonkwo’s absence changes the offense

The Commanders will have to do it without tight end Chig Okonkwo.

Washington officially ruled Okonkwo out with a hamstring injury after he did not practice Wednesday, Thursday or Friday. Linebacker Frankie Luvu will also miss the game because of a groin injury.

Okonkwo caught two passes for 16 yards against Philadelphia and gives Washington an athletic option in the middle of the field.

John Bates becomes an important part of the offensive plan. Bates caught two passes in the opener and is primarily known for his blocking, something that could become valuable if Washington emphasizes the rushing attack.

The Commanders could also compensate by increasing their use of receivers and creating touches for Diggs in space.

Losing Luvu could be the bigger problem

Okonkwo’s absence matters, but Luvu’s absence could have a greater impact on Sunday’s matchup.

Luvu is one of Washington’s most aggressive and versatile defensive players. His ability to pressure quarterbacks, defend the run and move around the formation gives the Commanders flexibility.

Rookie Sonny Styles is one player who could receive additional responsibility.

According to Washington, Styles wore the defensive communication green dot after Luvu left the Philadelphia game and produced a sack and two tackles for loss. Head coach Dan Quinn praised Styles’ preparation and physicality during the week.

Dallas will undoubtedly test the altered Washington linebacker group.

Washington’s defensive front has an opportunity

The Commanders’ defensive front could become the deciding unit in this game.

Dak Prescott completed 22 of 34 passes against the Giants but managed only 175 yards. He threw two touchdowns and one interception while averaging just over five yards per attempt.

Dallas struggled even more running the football.

Javonte Williams carried 12 times for 41 yards and a touchdown. The Cowboys ran the ball only 18 times as a team.

Dallas’ offensive limitations contributed to a significant possession imbalance. New York held the ball for more than 36 minutes, while Dallas possessed it for only 23:20.

Washington should make stopping the run the first priority and force Prescott into obvious passing situations.

That would allow Quinn and Washington’s defensive staff to become more creative with pressure.

Dallas still has dangerous weapons

Washington cannot interpret Dallas’ poor opening performance as evidence that the Cowboys lack offensive firepower.

Prescott remains capable of taking over a game, particularly when he has time in the pocket.

CeeDee Lamb caught five passes for 44 yards and a touchdown against New York. George Pickens added three catches for 28 yards, while Williams contributed five receptions for 31 yards and a touchdown.

Those numbers were modest, but the combination of Prescott, Lamb and Pickens remains capable of producing explosive plays.

Washington allowed Philadelphia quarterback Jalen Hurts to average more than eight yards per passing attempt in Week 1.

Dallas Goedert caught four passes for 77 yards and two touchdowns against Washington, while Dontayvion Wicks produced 73 yards and a touchdown on only two catches.

Those explosive plays are concerning entering a matchup with Dallas.

Washington cannot allow Lamb or Pickens to turn a short completion into a major gain.

Dallas’ offensive line bears watching

The battle at the line of scrimmage could determine whether Dallas’ offense rebounds.

The Cowboys want to establish enough of a rushing threat to create play-action opportunities for Prescott. If Washington consistently wins on early downs, Dallas could find itself facing the same problems that limited the offense against New York.

Washington has several edge defenders listed on the injury report, although not all received final game designations.

Dorance Armstrong, K’Lavon Chaisson, Charles Omenihu and Odafe Oweh were limited participants during the week. Daron Payne progressed to full participation Friday. Defensive tackle Javon Kinlaw is questionable with a back injury.

Washington’s depth will be tested.

Dallas has significant defensive injuries of its own

The Cowboys will also enter Sunday’s game shorthanded.

Safety Malik Hooker has been ruled out with a forearm injury, while linebacker DeMarvion Overshown will miss the game with a hamstring injury. Both players missed practice throughout the week.

Those absences could become particularly important against Daniels.

Washington should make Dallas defend the entire width of the field. Motion, option concepts and Daniels’ scrambling ability can stress linebackers, while Diggs and Williams can challenge the secondary.

Dallas rookie safety Caleb Downs will also be worth watching after making his NFL debut in Week 1. The Cowboys have emphasized improvement from their defense after its performance against New York.

Matchup to watch: Daniels against Dallas’ front seven

This might be the defining matchup.

Dallas knows Daniels can hurt defenses in two completely different ways.

If defenders become overly aggressive rushing the passer, Daniels can escape and create yards on the ground. If linebackers hesitate because they are worried about him running, Washington can exploit openings in the passing game.

New York demonstrated how damaging quarterback mobility can be against Dallas.

Dart’s 54 rushing yards supplemented Skattebo’s 81 and helped the Giants sustain drives.

Washington should force Dallas to prove it has corrected those issues.

Matchup to watch: Washington’s secondary against Lamb

Washington cannot lose track of Lamb.

The Cowboys will likely make a deliberate effort to get their best receiver involved after he managed only 44 yards in Week 1.

That could mean moving Lamb into the slot, using pre-snap motion and designing quick throws that allow him to work after the catch.

Washington’s secondary needs to tackle immediately.

The Commanders surrendered several explosive plays against Philadelphia, including a 43-yard touchdown from Hurts to Goedert. Those are precisely the kinds of breakdowns Prescott and Lamb can exploit.

Matchup to watch: Washington’s running game against Dallas

This is where Washington may have its clearest opportunity.

Dallas allowed New York to run the ball 37 times and control the game physically. Washington rushed 32 times against Philadelphia despite playing from behind during portions of the game.

There is little reason to abandon that approach.

Croskey-Merritt does not need to produce a 150-yard afternoon. Consistent four- and five-yard gains would keep Washington ahead of the chains and make Daniels much more difficult to defend.

The quarterback’s legs add another dimension.

If Dallas must dedicate a defender to Daniels on option plays, Washington can create favorable numbers elsewhere.

Third down could determine everything

Washington converted five of 15 third downs against Philadelphia.

That needs improvement.

The Commanders possessed the football for more than 33 minutes but generated only 295 yards. Sustaining more drives could dramatically change the complexion of Sunday’s game.

Dallas faces the opposite challenge.

The Cowboys need to keep Washington’s offense off the field and prevent Daniels from getting into rhythm.

Whichever team consistently creates manageable third downs will have a significant advantage.

Washington must finish drives

Washington’s opener showed why moving the football and scoring are two different things.

The Commanders reached scoring position enough to stay competitive, but missed opportunities prevented them from completing the comeback.

That becomes especially important in a divisional road game.

Dallas has one of the NFL’s best long-distance kicking weapons in Brandon Aubrey, meaning the Cowboys do not necessarily need to reach the red zone to produce points.

Washington cannot repeatedly settle for difficult field-goal attempts while Dallas gets touchdowns.

Turnovers could swing the game

Washington played turnover-free football against Philadelphia.

Maintaining that discipline would be enormous.

Dallas committed one turnover against New York when Prescott threw an interception. The Giants also turned the football over once, so neither team enjoyed a major turnover advantage.

Daniels avoiding interceptions against Philadelphia was one of Washington’s most encouraging offensive developments.

Against an aggressive Dallas defense trying to rebound from a difficult opener, Washington should expect attempts to disguise coverages and create confusion.

Daniels does not need to force the issue.

If Washington can run the football and avoid giveaways, the Commanders should have opportunities to control the game.

Special teams cannot be overlooked

Washington kicker David Stevens connected on a 55-yard field goal against Philadelphia but missed another attempt.

In a matchup that could remain close into the fourth quarter, every special-teams opportunity becomes important.

Field position could also matter significantly.

Washington averaged 53 yards on six punts against Philadelphia and accumulated 154 kickoff-return yards.

The Commanders should look for any opportunity to shorten the field for Daniels and the offense.

Five keys for Washington

Washington needs to establish its running game and force Dallas to defend Daniels as a runner. The Commanders also need to prevent Lamb and Pickens from generating explosive plays, particularly after Washington surrendered several big completions against Philadelphia.

Protecting Daniels will be equally important. Washington cannot allow Dallas’ defense to rebuild its confidence through early sacks or turnovers.

The Commanders must also compensate for Luvu’s absence defensively. Styles and the rest of Washington’s linebackers will be responsible for communicating and maintaining discipline against Dallas’ motion and play-action concepts.

Finally, Washington needs touchdowns rather than field goals when opportunities develop inside Dallas territory.

An early NFC East pressure game

Calling any Week 2 game a must-win is usually excessive, but the standings create undeniable urgency.

Washington and Dallas both lost divisional games in Week 1. One will potentially leave Sunday 0-2 overall and 0-2 against the NFC East.

That is a difficult early hole in a division that also includes Philadelphia and New York.

Washington at least enters the matchup with several encouraging signs from its opener. The Commanders went on the road against Philadelphia, protected the football and were within a two-point conversion of tying the game in the final minutes.

Dallas’ opener raised different questions.

The Cowboys were outgained 394-244, possessed the ball for only 23:20 and allowed the Giants to establish both their rushing attack and quarterback movement.

Washington has the personnel to challenge those exact weaknesses.

The question is whether the Commanders can execute consistently enough to capitalize.

MSB Take

This is an important early test for Washington.

The Commanders showed fight against Philadelphia, but moral victories will not matter if Washington starts the season with consecutive NFC East losses. Daniels gives the Commanders a major weapon against a Dallas defense that struggled with Dart’s mobility, and Washington should build its offensive approach around making the Cowboys defend Daniels, the running backs and the entire field simultaneously.

Luvu’s absence is significant, especially against Prescott and a Dallas offense capable of looking much better than it did in Week 1. Washington’s defensive front therefore needs to control the line of scrimmage and keep the Cowboys from establishing their running game.

Washington has a legitimate opportunity to leave Texas with its first victory of 2026. The formula is relatively straightforward: run the football, protect Daniels, prevent explosive passes to Lamb and Pickens, avoid turnovers and finish drives with touchdowns.

Do those things, and the Commanders can put their opening loss behind them while handing one of their biggest rivals an extremely difficult 0-2 start.