4 Winners and 3 Losers From Dallas Cowboys’ First Win of 2026: Rookie defender makes the most out of a bad situation
The Dallas Cowboys had a bounce back game against the Washington Commanders, winning 37-20 in their home opener to get to 1-1.
There will be a lot to dissect from the Dallas Cowboys’ first win of the season, a 30-20 victory over the Washington Commanders. But for now, let’s dive into the immediate postgame winners and losers.
This time, they’re headlined by a rookie defender put on an unfair position.
Winner: LB Jaishawn Barham
Barham was a big positive after a rough Week 1 game. He entered the matchup as the Cowboys’ green dot defender and delivered under pressure. As a third-round rookie, being asked to be the middle linebacker of the defense in Game 2 is a tough hand to be dealt.
And yet, he played very well. He made multiple stops versus the run and even forced a fumble.
Even in coverage, Barham allowed catches but made quick tackles. It was a step in the right direction and it should be applauded. Next step is staying on the field for the majority of the game.
Winner: Dak Prescott
Sometimes, breaking a franchise record can feel bland. On Sunday, that wasn’t the case for Dak Prescott, who passed Tony Romo for the most passing touchdowns in Dallas Cowboys history (249).
Prescott was sharp on Sunday, completing 84% of his passes and passing for four touchdowns. As for his targets in those scoring plays…
Winner(s): WR CeeDee Lamb and TE Jake Ferguson
Lamb kickstarted things with a strong first quarter in which he appeared utterly uncoverable. He also iced the game with a fourth quarter TD to push the Cowboys to 37 points. All in all, he finished with 153 in eight catches, and two touchdowns.
As for Ferguson, the red zone continues to be his specialty. Prescott found him twice for a score inside the 20-yard line. The first of Ferguson’s touchdowns was a particularly good play call.
The Cowboys showed a 13 personnel grouping (three tight ends). Neither CeeDee Lamb nor George Pickens were on the field, suggesting run. However, Dak came out in empty and quickly found Ferguson for six.
Loser: EDGE Donovan Ezeiruaku
I’m going to come off as a little unfair here because Ezeiruaku generated pressure in the plays that landed him on the list. But truth be told, he should have had two sacks in a three-play sequence in the second half. Instead, Marcus Mariota had a chance to make a play as a result of him not finishing.
Later in the game, he missed another chance at a sack. This defense urgently needs splash plays. Ezeiruaku is close to providing them but he’s got to finish what he starts.
Loser: RT Terence Steele
Steele remains a concern in pass protection. In one of at least three pressures allowed, Steele cost Prescott an opportunity of having enough time to find an open Jake Ferguson for a touchdown. That’s not to say it was entirely on him, as Prescott’s visible frustration was evidence of his share of the blame. But Steele is still the one of the Cowboys’ biggest weaknesses on offense.
