Two NFC East teams open Week 2 with the same record and a similar list of problems. The Washington Commanders lost 24-22 in Philadelphia. The Dallas Cowboys lost 28-20 in New York. One of them leaves AT&T Stadium at 0-2. The market has Dallas as a short home favorite at -4, with the total in the low 50s and the public leaning toward the road side. Our two best bets, plus a bonus angle, are below.
Last Updated: Sunday, September 20, 2026
Washington Commanders vs. Dallas Cowboys — Time & How to Watch
| Where | AT&T Stadium, Arlington TX |
| When | Sunday, September 20 – 4:25 PM ET |
| TV | FOX |
Washington Commanders vs. Dallas Cowboys Betting Preview
Both teams opened on the road against a division rival, and both lost. Washington sits third in the NFC East at 0-1 with a minus-2 point differential. Dallas is fourth at 0-1 at minus-8. The Giants and Eagles are 1-0.
Washington was one play from overtime in Philadelphia. Jayden Daniels threw for 164 yards and two touchdowns, then watched a late two-point conversion get stuffed behind the line. The defense was the encouraging part, holding Philadelphia to 318 total yards. The offensive line was not, and Daniels spent much of the afternoon moving off his spot.
Dallas had the uglier evening. Dak Prescott threw for 175 yards with two touchdowns and an interception, the run game averaged 3.8 yards a carry, and the Cowboys were outgained 394-244 while losing time of possession 36:40 to 23:20. New defensive coordinator Christian Parker’s unit could not get off the field late.
The injury sheets matter on both sidelines. Washington ruled out linebacker Frankie Luvu with a groin injury and tight end Chig Okonkwo with a hamstring, per the team’s Week 2 injury report, and listed defensive tackle Javon Kinlaw as questionable with a back issue. Left tackle Laremy Tunsil is on injured reserve with a torn triceps. Dallas ruled out safety Malik Hooker (forearm) and linebacker DeMarvion Overshown (hamstring), and left guard Tyler Smith remains on injured reserve after thumb surgery. Neither starting quarterback appears on the report.
Recent history sits with the home team. The Cowboys lead the all-time series 81-49-2 and swept 2025, winning 44-22 in October and 30-23 on Christmas Day. For the wider market picture, see our odds breakdown for this game.
Washington Commanders vs. Dallas Cowboys Odds
| Spread | Moneyline | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Commanders | +4 (-115) | +170 | U 51 (-110) |
| Cowboys | -4 (-105) | -200 | O 51 (-110) |
Odds accurate as of September 20, 2026 via TheSpread.com. Odds change, get the latest NFL Odds – Futures – Props
Washington Commanders vs. Dallas Cowboys — Who Is the Public Betting?
| Commanders | 60% | 40% | Cowboys |
See the latest NFL Public Betting Splits and make smarter wagers!
Commanders vs. Cowboys Prediction — Can a Rebuilt Defense Fix Itself in Six Days?
Start with what the market did rather than what it says. This spread opened at Dallas -4 with standard -110 pricing on both sides. The number never moved. The juice did. Washington is now -115 and Dallas is -105, which means the road side got more expensive without the line itself shifting to 3.5. That is a half-step, not a full one, and it lines up with 60 percent of spread tickets sitting on Washington.
The case for the road team is straightforward. Washington’s defense was the better unit in Week 1 by a clear margin. It held Philadelphia under 320 yards while Dallas surrendered 394 and could not force a stop when the game was there to be won. The Cowboys are also breaking in a new scheme with a heavily reworked front, and mobile quarterbacks tend to punish defenses that are still sorting out assignments. Daniels is exactly that profile.
The case against is real, and it starts up front. Without Tunsil, Washington’s protection cracked against Philadelphia’s rush, and Daniels never settled into a rhythm. Losing Okonkwo removes an outlet on early downs. Dallas has also owned this matchup recently, sweeping last season by a combined 19 points. Still, four points is a lot to lay with a team that just gave up 165 rushing yards.
The Pick: Washington Commanders +4 (-115)
Commanders vs. Cowboys Prediction — Is a Full Point of Total Movement Worth Chasing?
The total opened at 50 and now sits at 51, a full point of movement in one direction. Money has clearly landed on the over, and the reasoning is easy to follow. Dallas allowed four touchdowns in the opener and has not shown it can get off the field on third down. Washington should find soft spots.
The counterweight is what these offenses produced. Washington managed 295 total yards and 22 points. Dallas managed 244 and 20. Those games combined for 46 and 48 points, both below where this number sits now. Washington is also down its starting left tackle and its starting tight end, and Daniels was under duress for most of the opener. A quarterback throwing from a muddy pocket rarely fuels a shootout. Because the number climbed, under backers are buying a better price than the opener offered. For the same debate a week ago, see our Week 1 prediction on Washington in Philadelphia.
The Pick: Under 51 (-110)
Final Thoughts and Bonus Angle
There is a second way to play the same read. Washington’s moneyline sits at +170, an implied win probability of roughly 37 percent. For a team that lost by two on the road to a division favorite, against an opponent outgained by 150 yards in its own opener, that is a defensible number rather than a reach. The trade-off is clear: the outright ticket loses on a one-point Dallas win that the spread play would still cash.
Bonus Angle: Washington Commanders Moneyline (+170)
To recap, our three positions are Washington +4 (-115) on the spread, Under 51 (-110) on the total, and the Commanders moneyline at +170 as the bonus angle. All three lean the same way: a close, grinding division game rather than the shootout the total movement is pricing in. If Dallas’s front wins early and Daniels spends another afternoon running for his life, the whole card is on the wrong side.
NFL Commanders vs. Cowboys FAQ: Sunday September 20, 2026
What time does the Commanders vs. Cowboys game start?
Kickoff is 4:25 PM ET on Sunday, September 20, 2026, in the late-afternoon Sunday window of Week 2. Both teams enter at 0-1 after opening-week road losses inside the NFC East.
What channel is the Commanders vs. Cowboys game on?
FOX carries the broadcast. The network holds the late-afternoon window for this NFC matchup, so viewers in most markets will find it there rather than on a regional cable channel.
Where are the Commanders and Cowboys playing?
The game is at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, the Cowboys’ home venue. Washington is the visiting team after opening the season on the road in Philadelphia, making this a second straight away game.
Who won the last meeting between the Commanders and Cowboys?
Dallas won the last meeting 30-23 on December 25, 2025. That result completed a season sweep for the Cowboys, who had also won 44-22 in October. Dallas leads the all-time series 81-49-2 heading into Sunday’s rematch.
Who is starting at quarterback for the Commanders and Cowboys?
Jayden Daniels starts for Washington and Dak Prescott starts for Dallas. Neither quarterback appears on the Week 2 injury report. Daniels threw for 164 yards and two touchdowns in the opener, while Prescott posted 175 yards with two touchdowns and an interception.