Washington’s 37-20 loss to Dallas drops the Commanders to 0-2 for the first time since 2019, and the defense looked much closer to the 2025 edition that allowed the most yards per game. Eight times the Cowboys had the football, and they were able to get points on seven of their possessions, including all four after halftime.
So, while the dislocated elbow that ended Jayden Daniels’ day definitely torpedoed the Commanders’ hopes, even a healthy JD5 would have been hard pressed to keep the Burgundy and Gold in this game. And after starting 0-2 in the NFC East, the Commanders now face the defending Super Bowl champion Seahawks. Before you think, “Hmm … West Coast team playing at 1 p.m. Eastern,” Seattle is 23-5 in those games since 2018.
**First Down:** The season may very well have turned on the final play of the first half, as Washington tried to score from the 1-yard line with three seconds left instead of settling for a field goal. While one understands the case for “just take the points and get to halftime down four” theory, it was becoming clear the Commanders were going to need to outscore the Cowboys. The fact that Chris Paul stepped on Daniels’ foot and he went down, only to brace himself with the same left arm that suffered a dislocated elbow last year, adds to the anguish.
**Second Down:** Washington sits last in NFC East while Philadelphia improved to 2-0 with a second straight one-possession win, scoring the game-winning touchdown to triumph 24-20 in Tennessee, where the field was over 100 degrees. It wasn’t technically that hot at M&T Bank Stadium, but there was a meltdown in Baltimore as the Ravens allowed two touchdowns in the fourth quarter of their 24-17 loss to New Orleans. And one week after scoring 59 points, Chicago returned to the Bears we’ve grown to know and love in a 9-3 loss to NFC North-leading Minnesota. To show injury misery isn’t exclusive to Washington, Chicago quarterback Caleb Williams left the game with a hamstring injury.
**Third Down:** Washington moved the chains on 6-9 attempts in the first half and 2-5 after halftime. Daniels completed 4 of 5 passes (the only incompletion coming on the play where he was injured) with two conversions while scrambling for a first down. Mariota went 2 for 3 (two conversions) and Dyami Brown was 1-1 (his wacky flea flicker didn’t move the chains).
Stefon Diggs emerged as the top option with both passes thrown his way caught for conversions. Rachaad White ran the ball three times successfully for first downs and was targeted three times (three catches for one additional conversion).
Yardage breakdown: 5 of 6 on short yardage, 2 of 4 when needing four to six yards, and 1 of 4 on third-and-long.
The Defense, meanwhile, was a disaster. Dallas converted 7 of 11 attempts. Dak Prescott completed 6 of 8 passes for five conversions, added another running for a first down and was sacked once.
**Flag on the Play:** Washington was whistled seven times, with five penalties accepted for 38 yards. Four came on offense and three on defense. The costliest flag? An unnecessary roughness on Jeremy Reaves in the second quarter, which gave Dallas a first-and-goal at the 10-yard-line. The Cowboys scored on the next play.
**Fourth Down:** FOX had this as its Game of the Week, with Kevin Burkhardt and Tom Brady dropping insight, analysis and the occasional cuss word. Looking ahead to Week 3, FOX has the single-broadcast so I’m projecting Burkhardt and Brady get Bills-Chargers. Does this mean we’ll see Adam Amin and Drew Brees (I’m projecting Joe Davis and Greg Olsen to a 4:05 p.m. game)?
_Get breaking news and daily headlines delivered to your email inbox by signing up [here](https://wtop.com/newsletter-signup/)._
© 2026 WTOP. All Rights Reserved. This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area.