The Washington Commanders and Dallas Cowboys both enter Week 2 at 0-1, and that shared desperation could define Sunday’s matchup in Dallas.

Washington faces a Cowboys roster that got embarrassed on Sunday Night Football in Week 1 against the New York Giants, and a humiliated team with this much talent is a dangerous opponent. Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels, the Dallas defense, and the Cowboys’ offensive line are all set to play major roles in how this NFC East rivalry shakes out.

Here’s the problem for Washington: Dallas played what amounted to three quarters of a regular-season game and one quarter of a preseason game in Week 1. The weird issues, the rust, the timing problems? Those are getting cleaned up. That’s bad news for the Commanders.

Dak Prescott & the Dallas offense will look different

Dak Prescott was still 8-for-11 on third down with zero sacks taken against the Giants. He threw one awful, misguided interception on the sideline, and that’s the kind of mistake that won’t happen again for the rest of the year. Dallas quarterback play will be sharper, and that alone changes the equation.

Running back Javonte Williams only had 12 carries in Week 1 while New York commanded 36 minutes of possession to Dallas’s 23. Neither number will repeat in Week 2. Williams will get more than 12 carries against Washington. If Dallas is smart on offense, they will lean into heavy run sets, chip away with short passes, then start taking the top off with heavy play action. Their first drive could be a 7-plus minute possession designed to control the game & keep Daniels off the field, the same way the Giants kept Dallas’s best players on the sideline.

George Pickens & CeeDee Lamb both had off games. Don’t expect that to continue. They are two very talented receivers who are going to get theirs. The talent eventually breaks through, and they just make plays because they are that good.

The offensive line is a real problem for the Washington Commanders’ pass rush

Dallas’s offensive line gave up zero sacks against New York’s famed pass rush. Zero. That’s a double narrative: the Cowboys’ line is legitimately good, and New York’s pass rushers aren’t as dominant as everyone says.

Left tackle Tyler Guyton played the best game of his NFL career. The run push was tremendous, his pass protection was great, and he was more aggressive than he’s ever been. He is a rocket ship player this season. 

Center Cooper Beebe is a bull shark at the position. He understands what the center role demands & controls that offensive line. Tyler Booker is solid. The vulnerable spots? Left guard, where TJ Bass is the expected starter with Tyler Smith down, and right tackle, where Terence Steele is the lowest-floor guy on the line. If Sonny Styles blitzes, those are the two positions to target. Steele isn’t very bendy, and Bass is filling in. That’s where Washington’s pressure has to come from.

Dallas’s defense got bullied, but Washington’s offense is a different animal

The Cowboys’ defense got bullied by the Giants. That’s either a wake-up call or a preview of things to come, and the truth is probably closer to the latter. The Giants offense and the Washington Commanders offense are very different, though. Washington runs through quick release from Daniels, while New York’s ground game, with fullback Patrick Ricard, Cam Skattebo, and Jackson Dart getting creative with his legs, presented a harder physical challenge.

Dallas is actually better suited to defend Washington’s style because of the athleticism at linebacker. Rashan Gary, Donovan Ezeiruaku, and first-round pick Malachi Lawrence are all physically gifted defenders. They’re kind of good in this defense. Not great against a hard-nosed run team, but Overshown is very good against the pass & incredibly fast. If Washington comes in running its intended quick-action offense without adjustments, there could be trouble.

Heavy play action is the key for Dallas. Get Styles biting on the run fake, and the middle of the field opens up. Styles isn’t untalented, but he is young & has seen very little live NFL game planning. That’s exploitable.

Caleb Downs is the player Washington can’t ignore

Dallas’s defensive back room is vulnerable, but rookie safety Caleb Downs is already elevating it. He is a stud. Downs will get a tackle for loss, an impressive pass breakup, and a hit on your quarterback. He is the caliber of player you scheme around and know will eventually get you. The rest of the group, Cobie Durant, Jalen Thompson, and DaRon Bland, are all vulnerable. Washington needs to attack them while staying wary of Downs.

The full game prediction with optimal, suboptimal, and most likely outcomes drops Friday. This one has all the makings of two desperate 0-1 teams slugging it out, and Dallas has every reason to come out swinging.