Cowboys linebackers, securities will be evaluated versus Commanders

There are 3 video games around the National Football League this Sunday that include 2 0-1 groups battling it out to prevent 0-2, and the Dallas Cowboys discover themselves in one on America’s Game of the WeekThe Cowboys discovered the tough method that the New York Giants have actually apparently closed the space on competitors in the department by beating them in week one, and now will find out where the Washington Commanders are at when they host them in the late afternoon window.

Both the Cowboys offense and defense had significant disappointment minutes in week one that make it difficult to determine which system is under more pressure to carry out in week 2, or which has the much better possibility to do so in a match versus Dan Quinn, Jayden Daniels, and the Commanders.

Recently’s projection for a Cowboys loss required Jaxson Dart and Cam Skattebo having their method on the edge versus the Cowboys defense, something they did while likewise primarily making use of the swing pass in the flat to Devin Singletary in huge minutes. Christian Parker’s defense will be checked in a little bit of a comparable method versus the dual-threat capability of Daniels.

Let’s enter into today’s prospective win or lose circumstances for the Cowboys in their home opener.

Playing in front of home fans for the very first time in 2026, the Cowboys draw a Commanders defense that permitted just 10 very first downs in their opening roadway loss to the Eagles, however 6 lawns per play. Dontayvion Wicks captured a 64 lawn pass, Devonta Smith had a 31 yarder, and tight end Dallas Goedert scored on the Commanders from 43 backyards out for one of 2 goals.

In in 2015’s home video game versus the Commanders, CeeDee Lamb captured a 74 lawn goal, George Pickens had a 44 lawn reception, and Jake Ferguson, KaVontae Turpin, plus Jalen Tolbert all had a catch of a minimum of 15 lawns.

Washington put a great deal of rely on their cornerbacks to hold up in single protection in week one, where Amik Robertson and Mike Sainristill had their battles. The Cowboys receivers must be licking their lips to get after this secondary, however the other component that needs to hold up for this to be a coming out video game for the pass offense is obviously pass defense.

The Giants were aggressive defensively in bringing pressure versus the Cowboys, and Dallas really managed additional rushes relatively well in some areas. It was more an absence of push in the run video game coupled with absence of separation and imagination out broad that boxed in the Cowboys offense. If the Cowboys can be even much better in this location versus a Commanders defense that might be much more aggressive, with Sonny Styles, Frankie Luvu, and Odafe Oweh all having a sack versus Jalen Hurts, the possibilities to take shots downfield and play from ahead need to exist in this video game.

Luvu will not play in this video game, and Styles is still a novice the Cowboys must test in protection as much as possible.

Cowboys fans are all too acquainted with this group’s defense being indifferent to getting terrific, or simply sufficient, dip into security. Concern think about it, it’s been a bit given that they’ve been strong at linebacker too, with in 2015 being the outright crater of a low point at this position specifically. Protective deal with is the area they’ve put the most current operate in, and sadly this group likewise left a heap to be preferred versus the Giants.

Put these 3 positions together and you get something along the lines of the old baseball expression that a group can’t genuinely contend unless they’re strong all the method up the middle (catcher, pitcher, shortstop, centerfield). The Cowboys discover themselves in position to need to solve up the middle in a rush, requiring to prevent a devastating 0-2 hole.

Beginning with the backend and operating in, the Cowboys security group remained in position to make a lot more plays than they carried out in week one. P.J. Locke came close to protecting a couple of passes, so did Caleb Downs, Jalen Thompson or Malik Hooker, however the Giants captured every vital objected to pass while going 9-11 on 3rd to win the video game.

At linebacker, things were much more bleak for the Cowboys, where novice Jaishawn Barham had a hard time, Demarvion Overshown didn’t begin strong and after that got hurt, and Dee Winters was a non-factor. Kenny Clark, Quinnen Williams, and the rest of the DT group could not stop the Giants from remaining on schedule offensively with fantastic push in the interior run video game.

To make matters worse versus the Commanders this Sunday, the Cowboys will lack Overshown and Hooker. The Commanders offense is likewise developed to assault the middle of the field, where Daniels had success versus the Eagles (where Parker’s plan originated from too), evaluating by this passing chart.

By means of Next Gen Stats, Daniels led the NFL in week one in time to toss at 3.4 seconds. The Eagles had simply one sack, and a Cooper DeJean struck on Daniels for the whole video game. The Cowboys defense likewise left a lot to be preferred in pass rush, so if they’re not getting to Daniels, they’ll require to be much better at winning 50/50 balls in the air to have an opportunity at leaving the field.

Washington’s backfield mix of Jacory Croskey-Merritt and Rachaad White is likewise constructed to check the Cowboys up the middle, however with the capability to pop an off take on run for a big gain anytime. The Commanders have actually been looking for a declaration kind of win for a long period of time, and will likely feel this Cowboys group provides their finest opportunity to get it in spite of not winning in Arlington given that 2020. They’ll get this self-confidence both from how the Giants assaulted the Cowboys, and how they were just a couple of plays and charges far from distressing the Eagles in week one.

Even in a win, the Cowboys will require much better linebacker and security play to be a competing group as this season endures anyhow, however to get win primary it need to come rapidly to not let the Commanders cut loose.