The Dallas Cowboys will host the Washington Commanders on Sunday in Week 2 NFL showdown on FOX.
Both teams lost to division rivals in Week 1, with the Cowboys falling 28-20 to the Giants on Sunday Night Football and the Commanders losing 24-22 to the Eagles.
After a disastrous 2025 season, Dallas made several moves to improve its defense. The Cowboys ranked last in the NFL in scoring defense (30.1 points per game) and passing defense (252.4 yards per game), while finishing 30th in total defense (377.8 yards per game).
However, these improvements did not produce immediate results in Week 1.
Dallas allowed New York to convert nine of 11 third downs (81.8%), the worst rate in the NFL in Week 1. Jaxson Dart also completed 23 of 29 passes (79.3%) for 230 yards and three touchdowns.
Meanwhile, Washington’s offense was stagnant for most of its loss to Philadelphia. Jayden Daniels drove in a late punt, but the Commanders failed to convert the ensuing two-point attempt to tie the game.
The encouraging sign was Washington’s defense. After ranking last in total defense and 27th in scoring defense last season, the unit had three sacks and mostly held Philadelphia’s offense in check outside of a few explosive plays.
So which NFC East rival will avoid an 0-2 start?
Let’s take a look at the odds Cowboys vs. Commanders on FanDuel Sportsbook as of Sept. 20.
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Money line
- Cowboys: -200 (bet $10 to win $15 total)
- Commanders: +168 ($10 bet to win $26.80 total)
SPREAD
- Cowboys -4.5: -110 (bet $10 to win $19.09 total)
- Commanders +4.5: -110 (bet $10 to win $19.09 total)
Over/Under
- Above 39.5: -110 (bet $10 to win $19.09 total)
- Under 39.5: -110 (bet $10 to win $19.09 total)
Commanders @ Cowboys Preview, Pick
From FOX Sports Research:
Although it wasn’t an ideal start to the season for Dallas, this is a prime spot for a comeback.
Dak Prescott and the Cowboys have dominated Washington in recent years. In his last 10 starts against the Commanders, Prescott is 9-1 while Dallas is averaging 35.5 points per game. He’s also averaging 271.1 passing yards per game with 29 total touchdowns and just five interceptions during that stretch.
Meanwhile, the Commanders lost to the Eagles by just two points, but the final score doesn’t reflect how the game really felt. Philadelphia led for most of the game, while Washington’s offense never seemed to find its rhythm.
Take Dallas to cover.
Pick: Cowboys -4.5
How to watch Cowboys vs. COMMANDERS
- Date: Sunday, September 20, 2026
- Time: 4:25 pm ET
- TV: FOX
- Transmission: Watch 3 days for free on FOX One, FOXSports.comThe FOX Sports app
- Location: AT&T Stadium, Arlington, TX
