Week 2 of the 2026 NFL season brings an early NFC East showdown to AT&T Stadium, where the Dallas Cowboys host the Washington Commanders on Sunday, September 20. Both teams are looking to shake off disappointing openers in a matchup that could shape the division race before September is over. 

Dallas dropped its opener 28-20 to the New York Giants, a result that raised questions about both the Cowboys' offense and their defense. Washington's opener was even tougher to swallow. 

 A 24-22 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles that came down to a failed two-point conversion in the closing moments. Neither team can afford to start 0-2, especially with a division loss already on the books. 

NFL Week 2 Odds: Cowboys vs Commanders 

According to lines provided by BetMGM Sportsbook, as reported by the Arizona Republic, the Cowboys are 3.5-point favorites. Dallas sits at -200 on the moneyline, Washington is priced at +165, and the over/under is set at 50.5.  

That number puts Dallas on the shorter side of a typical home favorite, reflecting how uneven both teams looked in Week 1 rather than strong confidence in either side. 

Home field has traditionally been worth close to three points in the NFL, but oddsmakers now generally price it closer to 1.5, a shift that helps explain why the spread hasn't moved further toward Dallas. 

The moneyline gap is also fairly modest for a divisional game, suggesting oddsmakers see this closer to a coin flip than the spread alone implies. 

Predictions 

Outside projections lean toward Dallas, though not by a landslide. Win-probability models put the Cowboys in the low-to-mid 60s, with projected scorelines ranging from a comfortable Dallas win in the high 30s down to a margin of just a few points. 

The common thread is a Cowboys offense capable of exploiting a shaky Washington line, paired with a Commanders squad live enough to keep it close into the fourth quarter. 

Dallas Cowboys v/s Washington Commanders Week 2 game preview

The Cowboys didn't inspire much confidence against the Giants. The defense looked barely improved from last season, and the offense actually took a step backward. That combination puts Dallas in an uncomfortable spot at home against a divisional opponent that nearly stole a win in Philadelphia. 

Washington's near miss against the Eagles came down to execution rather than opportunity, with the game-tying two-point play never reaching either of the team's top receivers. 

Both teams have something to prove, and neither can afford another early hole in a division this competitive, which should make Sunday's opener at AT&T Stadium closer than the spread suggests. 

Written by

Chionia Libania Colaco