Coming off a wildly disappointing loss to the New York Giants, the Dallas Cowboys face a pseudo must-win game in Week 2 against the Washington Commanders.
Dak Prescott and the offense started slow out of the blocks, and by the time they caught fire, Dallas' defense could not manage a stop. Prescott only got the ball twice in the second half. That cannot happen again.
The Commanders, meanwhile, lost 24-22 at home to the Philadelphia Eagles. They nearly tied the game in the final minute of the fourth quarter, but their two-point conversion attempt failed.
It's impossible to call Week 2 a must-win, but Dallas vs. Washington is a matchup between two desperate NFC East teams. It's a massive game, so let's get into everything you need to know before kickoff.
- How to watch Cowboys vs. Commanders in Week 2
- Cowboys injury report for Week 2
- Commanders injury report for Week 2
- Biggest Cowboys storylines for Week 2
- Predictions for Cowboys vs. Commanders in Week 2
Last updated: Friday, September 18, 6:00 p.m. CT
How to watch Cowboys vs. Commanders in Week 2
Date: Sunday, September 20
Time: 3:25 pm CT
TV network: FOX
Announcers: Kevin Burkhardt (play-by-play), Tom Brady (color analyst), Erin Andrews (sideline), Tom Rinaldi (sideline)
The game will be broadcast nationally on FOX as America's Game of the Week, a stage that has become familiar territory for the Cowboys.
Cowboys injury report for Week 2
Player/Position | Injury | Game Status |
|---|---|---|
DeMarvion Overshown, LB | Hamstring | Out |
Malik Hooker, S | Arm | Out |
James Houston, OLB | Shoulder | - |
Ajani Cornelius, OL | Knee | - |
Note: A player with no game status means they've been removed from the injury report and will play.
Commanders injury report for Week 2
Note: A player with no game status means they've been removed from the injury report and will play.
Player/Position | Injury | Status |
|---|---|---|
Frankie Luvu, LB | Groin | Out |
Javon Kinlaw, DL | Back | Questionable |
Chig Okonkwo, TE | Hamstring | Out |
Dorance Armstrong, DE | Knee | - |
K'Lavon Chaisson, DE | Knee | - |
Jaylin Lane, WR | Knee | - |
Odafe Oweh, DE | Calf | - |
Charles Omenihu, DE | Ankle | - |
Biggest Cowboys storylines for Week 2
Can the defense bounce back?
Christian Parker's debut as defensive coordinator did not go according to plan. You have to credit the Giants for having a terrific game plan.
Parker was outcoached, and his group experienced multiple communication breakdowns at the second and third levels and failed to execute basic assignments at crucial moments. It looked a lot like last season, which may go down as the worst defense in franchise history.
The Cowboys allowed New York to convert 9 of 10 third downs before their kneel-down in victory formation. They also surrendered 4.5 yards per carry on 37 attempts and did not have an answer for Giants tight end Isaiah Likely, who caught eight passes for 78 yards and two scores.
The silver lining? Parker is a sicko when it comes to studying film and getting better. This defense is also considerably more talented than last year's group. If Parker is the coach Dallas believes it hired, the Week 1 mistakes should be correctable rather than a sign of things to come.
Nobody's saying that Dallas needs to pitch a shutout on Sunday, but they can't look as helpless as they did in Week 1.
Will the offense finally start hot?
Slow starts from this offense have become the norm. After six months of preparation, Brian Schottenheimer's opening script against the Giants was highly disappointing. And he followed it up by punting on 4th-and-inches to gift New York 99.9 percent of the momentum.
The Cowboys' head coach has to be better and more aggressive. But it's also on his players to execute. George Pickens had a couple of deflating drops. The offensive line struggled to create running lanes for Javonte Williams. Dak Prescott's interception before halftime.
Is a 12-play, 78-yard touchdown drive on Dallas' first possession really too much to ask? This is one of the most talented offenses in football. It should not take 25 minutes of game time for them to find a rhythm.
Perhaps not playing at all in the preseason has something to do with that. They weren't the only anticipated offense to start slowly in Week 1, but there were also plenty of units that came out clicking on all cylinders.
What's the plan to replace DeMarvion Overshown and Malik Hooker?
One would assume that Jaishawn Barham will start at MIKE linebacker, with Dee Winters flanking him. Cowboys sideline reporter Kristi Scales reported that Barham was picked over Winters to be the green dot once Overshown left Week 1 with his hamstring injury.
That's a lot to ask of a third-round rookie, but Barham arguably played the best of Dallas' linebackers against the Giants. He finished with four solo sacks, two run stops, and a 73.2 run-defense grade that ranked ninth out of 69 linebackers in Week 1, per PFF.
It wasn't a perfect debut. Barham forgot to defend the flat more than once in the fourth quarter, leading to easy receptions for Giants running back Devin Singletary. Expect him to start and play a lot of snaps, with Shemar James and potentially Justin Barron rotating in, assuming the latter gets called up from the practice squad.
As far as replacing Malik Hooker, P.J. Locke will get the start next to Jalen Thompson. Locke, who signed a one-year deal with the Cowboys in March, played 28 defensive snaps in Week 1. He has 26 career starts under his belt and probably would have started on last year's defense. In terms of third safeties, Dallas could do a lot worse.
It doesn't sound like Dallas considered shifting Caleb Downs to safety. They want him closer to the line of scrimmage, and given how poorly the run defense performed in Week 1, that's a smart idea. Don't be surprised if the first-round pick sees a lot more snaps in the box.
Can the rushing attack get going?
Dak Prescott is more than capable of carrying an offense, but all quarterbacks benefit from an efficient run game, and Dallas' was anything but that against the Giants.
Javonte Williams averaged 3.4 yards per carry, and it should have been worse given how often he had to make a defender miss at the line of scrimmage.
The Cowboys need to line up under center more in Week 2. They leaned far too heavily on shotgun against New York. Establishing the run from under center would open up the play-action game, where Prescott has long been at his most dangerous.
When Williams gets going, this offense is unstoppable. The good news is that he found success versus Washington last season, carrying 33 times for 170 yards (5.1 YPC) and two TDs. Similar efficiency on Sunday would put Dallas in good shape.
Predictions for Cowboys vs. Commanders in Week 2
NFL Media experts
- Brandon Perna- Commanders
- Colleen Wolfe - Cowboys
- Grant Gordon - Cowboys
- Brooke Cersosimo - Cowboys
- Dan Parr - Cowboys
- Kevin Patra - Cowboys
- Lance Zierlein - Cowboys
- Tom Grossi - Cowboys
- Nick Shook - Cowboys
- Bucky Brooks - Cowboys
ESPN experts
- Pamela Maldonado - Commanders
- Kalyn Kahler - Commanders
- Jeremy Fowler - Cowboys
- Matt Bowen - Cowboys
- Ben Solak - Cowboys
- Seth Wickersham - Cowboys
- Dan Graziano - Cowboys
- Eric Moody - Cowboys
- Lindsey Thiry - Cowboys
- Jason Reid - Cowboys
Bleacher Report experts
- Wes O’Donnell - Commanders
- Brad Ganon - Commanders
- Brent Sobleski - Cowboys
- Gary Davenport - Cowboys
- Kristopher Knox - Cowboys
- Moe Moton - Cowboys
- Ian Hanford - Cowboys
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