Commanders Fall to Cowboys 37-20 as Daniels Suffers Another Elbow Injury

The Washington Commanders left AT&T Stadium on Sunday with far more to worry about than their 37-20 loss to the Dallas Cowboys.

Washington fell to 0-2 after Dak Prescott threw four touchdown passes and Dallas repeatedly capitalized on missed opportunities by the Commanders. More concerning, quarterback Jayden Daniels suffered another dislocation of his left elbow on the final play of the first half, abruptly ending what had been an encouraging individual performance.

Daniels completed 11 of 17 passes for 96 yards and a touchdown without an interception while rushing seven times for 69 yards. Marcus Mariota replaced him for the second half and completed 11 of 16 passes for 111 yards and a touchdown.

Washington actually outgained Dallas 389-332 and controlled possession for 31:29. The Commanders ran 67 offensive plays compared with 54 for Dallas and rushed for 182 yards while holding the Cowboys to 66.

Those numbers make the 17-point loss even more frustrating.

Dallas was simply much better at turning opportunities into points.

Prescott and Lamb Strike Early

Dallas immediately established control.

Prescott connected with CeeDee Lamb for a three-yard touchdown on the Cowboys’ opening possession, finishing a 65-yard drive and giving Dallas a 7-0 advantage.

Brandon Aubrey added a 25-yard field goal later in the first quarter, putting Washington into an early 10-0 hole. The Commanders moved the football at times, but their early possessions repeatedly stalled before producing touchdowns.

Washington finally threatened early in the second quarter.

The Commanders reached the Dallas 9-yard line, but a botched exchange between Daniels and Jacory Croskey-Merritt pushed Washington backward. Instead of having an opportunity to tie the game with a touchdown, the Commanders settled for a 27-yard Drew Stevens field goal.

Dallas responded.

Prescott found tight end Jake Ferguson for a 10-yard touchdown, extending the Cowboys’ advantage to 17-3.

Daniels and Diggs Answer

Washington finally found the end zone later in the second quarter.

Daniels used his legs to create opportunities throughout the drive, including a 20-yard scramble, before finding Stefon Diggs for a four-yard touchdown. Stevens converted the extra point and Washington pulled within 17-10.

Daniels’ mobility was creating significant problems for Dallas.

The quarterback averaged nearly 10 yards per rushing attempt and finished the first half with 69 rushing yards on only seven carries. His ability to escape pressure and extend drives helped Washington overcome an inconsistent passing attack.

The Commanders then appeared ready to enter halftime with even more momentum.

Washington drove all the way to the Dallas 1-yard line with 12 seconds remaining. The Commanders had a chance to tie the game before halftime.

Instead, the sequence became the defining moment of the afternoon.

Daniels Injured on Final Play of First Half

Washington failed to score from the 1-yard line.

After two incomplete passes, three seconds remained. On the final snap, left guard Chris Paul stepped on Daniels’ foot as the quarterback moved away from center.

Daniels lost his balance and attempted to brace himself with his left arm while throwing the football away. His elbow bent awkwardly as he hit the ground.

The quarterback initially got back to his feet but soon returned to the turf. He eventually left the field on a cart. The injury was later diagnosed as another dislocation of his left elbow.

It was the same elbow Daniels dislocated during the 2025 season, an injury that caused him to miss all but one game during the second half of last year.

Washington also came away from the possession without points.

Instead of potentially entering halftime tied 17-17, the Commanders went into the locker room trailing by seven and without their starting quarterback.

Mariota Takes Over

Mariota opened the second half at quarterback.

Washington continued to move the football despite losing Daniels. The Commanders appeared to score on a 29-yard touchdown pass to Dyami Brown early in the third quarter, but officials ruled the pass incomplete.

Washington challenged the ruling.

The call stood.

Instead of tying the game, the Commanders again settled for three points when Stevens connected from 47 yards, reducing the deficit to 17-13.

Those four lost points became increasingly important as Dallas began pulling away.

Aubrey connected from 44 yards to make it 20-13.

The Cowboys then received excellent field position following Washington’s only turnover and needed just two plays to capitalize.

Prescott found Ferguson for a 12-yard touchdown.

Dallas suddenly led 27-13.

Washington Moves the Ball but Cannot Finish

One of the strange parts of Sunday’s game was Washington’s statistical advantage.

The Commanders accumulated 389 total yards compared with Dallas’ 332. Washington rushed for 182 yards and averaged 5.7 yards per rushing attempt. The Commanders also possessed the football nearly three minutes longer.

But Washington continually failed to turn productive drives into touchdowns.

The Commanders had a fumbled exchange inside the Dallas 10.

They reached the 1-yard line immediately before halftime and scored no points.

A potential Brown touchdown was ruled incomplete.

Washington later attempted some offensive trickery when Antonio Williams tried to find Terry McLaurin in the end zone, but the pass was incomplete. That drive ultimately produced no points.

Dallas did not waste nearly as many opportunities.

That was the difference.

Aubrey Extends the Lead

Aubrey continued to provide Dallas with one of the NFL’s most dangerous kicking weapons.

He opened the fourth quarter by drilling a 60-yard field goal, increasing the Cowboys’ lead to 30-13.

The kick gave Aubrey three field goals for the afternoon, including conversions from 25, 44 and 60 yards.

Washington now needed touchdowns.

Mariota responded with his best possession of the afternoon.

Diggs Scores Again

Mariota directed Washington on a 10-play, 73-yard touchdown drive that briefly gave the Commanders some hope.

He finished it by connecting with Diggs for a 20-yard touchdown with 9:09 remaining.

Diggs caught five passes for 47 yards and scored both Washington touchdowns. The veteran receiver caught one from Daniels and another from Mariota.

Washington had reduced the deficit to 30-20.

There was still enough time to make things interesting.

Prescott made sure that did not happen.

Prescott and Lamb Finish Washington

Dallas responded with an 11-play drive.

Prescott delivered two major completions to Lamb, including a 35-yard connection down the right sideline. He then returned to his star receiver for a 24-yard touchdown.

The score pushed Dallas ahead 37-20 and effectively ended Washington’s comeback hopes.

It was Lamb’s second touchdown of the game.

He finished with eight receptions for 153 yards and two touchdowns, averaging more than 19 yards per reception. Ferguson added four catches for 43 yards and two touchdowns.

Prescott finished 26-of-31 for 279 yards, four touchdowns and no interceptions.

Washington did not sack him.

His passer rating was 143.8.

Prescott Makes Cowboys History

Prescott’s performance also carried historical significance.

His final touchdown pass to Lamb gave him 249 career touchdown passes, moving him past Tony Romo for the most in Cowboys franchise history.

Prescott entered Sunday needing a big performance after Dallas lost its season opener.

He delivered one.

The veteran quarterback completed nearly 84 percent of his passes and averaged nine yards per attempt while throwing four touchdowns without turning the football over.

Washington’s secondary had few answers for Lamb, and Ferguson repeatedly hurt the Commanders around the end zone.

Washington’s Running Game Produces

The final score overshadowed a productive day on the ground for Washington.

Daniels led the Commanders with 69 yards on seven attempts. Croskey-Merritt carried 12 times for 43 yards, while Rachaad White added 43 yards on seven carries.

Washington finished with 182 rushing yards on 32 attempts.

That normally provides a strong foundation for an offense.

But the Commanders’ inability to finish drives prevented those rushing numbers from translating to enough points.

Diggs Provides Offensive Bright Spot

Diggs was Washington’s most productive player in scoring situations.

His five receptions produced only 47 yards, but two ended in touchdowns. He scored on a four-yard pass from Daniels in the second quarter and a 20-yard pass from Mariota in the fourth.

Terry McLaurin finished with two receptions for 50 yards, while White caught six passes for 40 yards.

Washington’s quarterbacks combined to complete 22 of 33 passes for 207 net passing yards and two touchdowns without an interception.

The passing game was not spectacular, but it was efficient enough to keep Washington moving.

Finishing those drives was another matter.

Numbers Tell an Unusual Story

Washington had 389 total yards.

Dallas had 332.

Washington ran 67 plays.

Dallas ran 54.

Washington rushed for 182 yards.

Dallas rushed for only 66.

Washington possessed the ball for 31:29.

Dallas possessed it for 28:31.

Yet Dallas won by 17 points.

The Cowboys averaged 6.1 yards per play and committed no turnovers. Washington averaged 5.8 but lost one fumble.

Most importantly, Dallas consistently finished drives.

Prescott threw four touchdown passes, Aubrey made three field goals and the Cowboys scored on multiple short-field opportunities.

Washington repeatedly left points on the field.

Commanders Fall to 0-2

The defeat leaves Washington 0-2 to begin the season.

Dallas improved to 1-1.

Washington’s record is concerning, but Daniels’ injury immediately becomes the organization’s most important issue.

The Commanders built their offense around their young quarterback, and his mobility was a major reason Washington accumulated 182 rushing yards Sunday.

Mariota played reasonably well after entering the game. He completed 11 of 16 passes for 111 yards and a touchdown without an interception.

But replacing Daniels for any extended period would fundamentally change Washington’s offense.

What’s Next

Washington returns home next Sunday to face the defending Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks.

Dallas will face the Baltimore Ravens next Sunday in Rio de Janeiro.

For Washington, however, the immediate focus will be Daniels.

The Commanders need to determine the extent of the damage and what the latest injury means for their starting quarterback moving forward.

MSB Take

The final score says Dallas dominated Washington.

The statistics tell a more complicated story.

The Commanders gained 57 more yards, rushed for 116 more yards and possessed the football longer than the Cowboys. Washington moved the ball well enough to make this a competitive game.

The Commanders simply wasted too many opportunities.

A fumbled exchange near the goal line cost Washington a potential touchdown. The Commanders reached the Dallas 1-yard line immediately before halftime and came away with nothing. A potential touchdown to Dyami Brown was ruled incomplete, and another promising possession ended without points.

Dallas did the opposite.

Prescott was outstanding, Lamb dominated Washington’s secondary and Ferguson caught two touchdowns. Every time the Commanders gave Dallas an opening, the Cowboys seemed to turn it into points.

But the biggest concern is Daniels.

Washington can correct red-zone execution, defensive breakdowns and missed opportunities. Losing its starting quarterback for an extended period would be much harder to overcome.

The Commanders are 0-2, but Monday morning the standings will almost feel secondary.

Everything now revolves around the health of Jayden Daniels.