The Dallas Cowboys avoided the dreaded 0-2 hole, both overall and in the division, with a win last Sunday over the Washington Commanders. But even their strong 37-20 victory didn't silence doubts about Dallas' competitive potential in 2026, leaving some questions from Week 1 unanswered and raising new ones.
These Cowboy questions need answers following Week 2
What's wrong with the run game?
Dallas has yet to crack 4.0 yards-per-carry in either game this year. For an offense that averaged 4.6 in 2025 and brought back every starter and coach, this early-season stagnation is surprising and, after two weeks, increasingly concerning.
The easy answer is LG Tyler Smith's absence, which will extend through at least Week 4. Going from Smith to T.J. Bass is certainly a detriment to the rushing attack, but would Brian Schottenheimer and Klayton Adams be smart to lay this entirely at Bass' feet?
After all, when Smith missed Dallas' Week 5 game against the Jets last year, Javonte Williams exploded for 135 yards on just 16 carries. In fact, Terence Steele was the only starter who played that week. So we know that Adams and Schotty can still dial up a strong rushing attack, even without their best lineup.
It was one thing for the Giants, with a new defensive coordinator and a ton of talent on that side of the ball, to give the Cowboys problems. But that it happened again at home against Washington, with their star linebacker Frankie Luvu out, really raises the threat level.
Dallas' next opponent, Baltimore, just shut down the Saints' run game with only 2.4 YPC last Sunday. There's a good chance this trend could continue for the Cowboys, which will make life much harder for them in Brazil.
Can the Cowboys survive defensive injuries?
After a very healthy training camp and preseason, Dallas' defense is suddenly very shorthanded. In Week 1, LB DeMarvion Overshown and S Malik Hooker went out with respective hamstring and forearm injuries. Neither landed on IR, but they missed Sunday's game and will probably be absent for at least the next few.
Against Washington, Hooker's replacement, P.J. Locke, suffered a foot injury that will cost him some time. The secondary took further damage when starting CB Cobie Durant hurt his hamstring, not to mention a friendly-fire kick to the crotch. There was also a period where Dallas was very thin at linebacker when Dee Winters was sidelined, but thankfully he was able to return.
As the Cowboys head to Rio to face the Ravens, they will be without three starters and a key reserve. The defensive backfield is especially thin right now: rookie CB Devin Moore is also unavailable after starting the season on short-term IR.
Christian Parker's defense has struggled mightily in two games, especially up front. Without a consistent pass rush, this weakened secondary is only going to suffer further. While we're much more concerned with how Dallas is going to contain Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry as runners right now, Jackson might be able to do equal damage through the air.
Why is the pass rush not working?
Despite ultimately losing, Dallas was able to get two sacks and a lot of hits and pressures on Jaxson Dart in Week 1. But that was more because of the young QB's inexperience, holding the ball too long and still lacking pocket awareness.
This past Sunday, we saw how Jayden Daniels and even Marcus Mariota deftly evaded Dallas' pass rushers. The Cowboys finished with zero sacks and just three QB hits. Even when they got pressure, Daniels punished them with 69 rushing yards in just one half.
Mariota was able to keep plays alive with his scrambling. Had Dallas' offense not gotten its groove back, we might be talking about a 0-2 Cowboys team.
Unlike cornerbacks and inside linebackers, Dallas has all of its edge players healthy and available. But we're clearly still missing that catalytic pass rusher, yes, like Micah Parsons, who commands constant attention and opens things up for the rest of the team.
Donovan Ezeiruaku feels like he's on the verge of something, and Malachi Lawrence is developing, but waiting on them to break out may cost you too many games in the process.
If the pass rush remains anemic, will it push Jerry Jones to transfuse some talent into it? There's a certain Raider we've been talking about for months, and Dallas has a ton of space to facilitate a deal.
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