Commanders vs Cowboys Prediction, Top Picks & TD Scorer: NFL Week 2

Jason Logan: Senior Betting Analyst at Covers
Jason Logan • Senior Betting Analyst 21+ years betting experience
Updated: Sep 20, 2026 , 01:25 PM ET • 4 min read

Both the Cowboys and Commanders sputtered out in Week 1, combining for a meager 42 points in their opening losses. However, Jason Logan expects a far higher-octane performance when these NFC East rivals lock horns in Week 2.

nfl

Sep 20 • 12:25 PM ET
Terry McLaurin Washington Commanders NFL
Photo By - Reuters Connect. Washington Commanders wide receiver Terry McLaurin in action.

My Commanders vs. Cowboys prediction tries not to overreact to a turbulent opening week as two NFC East rivals look to bounce back in Arlington.

The Dallas Cowboys enter today's 4:25 p.m. ET kickoff at AT&T Stadium as 4.5-point home favorites against Washington, with both teams desperate for a better performance following tough Week 1 losses.

Check out my full breakdown of top NFL picks for this Sept. 20 matchup below.

 TOP Pick
Commanders vs Cowboys prediction: Over 49.5

These NFC East foes scored 20 and 22 points, respectively, in their Week 1 defeats, which seems strange given the firepower on the field.

The Dallas Cowboys had their juice dried, with New York dominating the football and limiting the offense to seven possessions (just two in the second half).

Meanwhile, the Washington Commanders had only 99 yards at halftime versus Philadelphia’s top-tier defense before picking up the pace with nearly 200 yards and 13 points in the final 30 minutes.

The Cowboys are a much softer stop unit than Philly, especially with key starters ruled out for Week 2. The Commanders' defense benefited from the Eagles' struggles adapting to a new offense but still allowed 6.0 yards per play.

Covers COVERS INTEL: The advanced stats give a clear look at both offenses’ potential for points. Dallas ranked No. 5 in EPA per play/No. 8 in DVOA. Washington was 12th in EPA for Week 1 but jumps to No. 6 when you isolate the second half.

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Commanders vs Cowboys combo

We didn’t get a good look at either offense in Week 1. Dallas didn’t touch the ball, and Washington wasted an entire half before finding it form. Neither defense is drum tight, and the fast track inside Jerry’s World will help pump out plenty of points in Week 2.

CeeDee Lamb scored against New York and is excellent at adjusting and exploiting holes in blitzing defenses. Although Terry McLaurin couldn’t get going against a solid Eagles secondary, he'll shred the Cowboys' crappy coverage for at least 50 yards in Week 2.

Commanders vs Cowboys combo

  • Over 49.5
  • CeeDee Lamb anytime touchdown
  • Terry McLaurin 50+ receiving yards

Commanders vs Cowboys touchdown scorer: CeeDee Lamb

I feel like I might be chasing my tail when it comes to calling out which Dallas receiver scores a touchdown.
 
Last week, I took George Pickens. CeeDee Lamb scored.

This week, I’m on Lamb. So, naturally...

The reason I gravitate to Lamb over Pickens in Week 2 is Washington’s new defensive coordinator Daronte Jones and his blitz-happy approach. He heated up the QB at the fifth-highest rate in Week 1 (37.5% up from 23.5% in 2025).
 
Dak Prescott is exceptional at recognizing and exposing the blitz, most often finding Lamb on quick reads for yards after the catch. 

Lamb has six touchdowns in 11 career games against Washington, and multiple projections have his TD probability as high as 60%.

Commanders vs Cowboys player prop: Terry McLaurin 50+ receiving yards 

Remember in the offseason when Commanders' new offensive coordinator David Blough said he wanted to get Terry McLaurin 10 targets a game? 

Well, Blough came up six short of that target talk in Week 1. McLaurin drew only four balls, catching two for just 14 yards versus Philadelphia.

The Eagles presented a tougher challenge than this Cowboys secondary, which comes into Week 2 without starting safety Malik Hooker

McLaurin has gone for at least 50 yards in six straight matchups with Dallas and racked up 50+ in nine of 12 career meetings. Week 2 projections all sit north of 50 yards, with most at 60+ and my number at 63.

Want more NFL player props? Check out our NFL player prop projections!\

Jason Logan's 2026 Transparency Record
  • Top picks: 4-0, +3.53 units
  • Combos: 0-4, -4.00 units

Commanders vs Cowboys odds

For help understanding probabilities, see our odds calculator.

  • Spread: Commanders +4.5 | Cowboys -4.5
  • Over/Under: Over 49.5 (52%) | Under 49.5 (49%)
  • Moneyline: Commanders 35% | Cowboys 66%

For the full slate of NFL matchups, check out our NFL odds board!

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Commanders vs Cowboys weather

AT&T Stadium is a domed stadium, so weather won’t have an impact.

Check out our NFL weather page for up-to-date info on every matchup.

Commanders vs Cowboys trend to know

The Cowboys were 5-2-1 O/U at AT&T Stadium last season and have produced 65% Over winners as hosts since 2020 (32-17-1 O/U). Make those divisional home games, and Dallas is 13-5 O/U (72% Overs) when hosting NFC East rivals over the past five seasons. Find more NFL betting trends for Commanders vs. Cowboys.

How to watch Commanders vs Cowboys

Location AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Texas
Date Sunday, Sept. 20, 2026
Kickoff 4:25 p.m. ET
TV FOX

Commanders vs Cowboys latest injuries

Check out our NFL injuries page for updates on every team. 

Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change.
Not intended for use in MA.
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Jason Logan Senior Industry Analyst Covers.com
Senior Betting Analyst

In his 20 years with Covers, lead NFL betting analyst Jason Logan has seen it all and bet it all. Through the wild west of early Internet gambling to lobbying for legalized sports betting to our brave new wagering world, Jason has been a consistent source of actionable info and entertainment for squares and sharps alike.

Since joining the Covers team back in 2005, he honed his handicapping skills to provide audiences with the most thorough insights, blending traditional capping methods with advanced modelling and predictive analysis. Jason has studied the ins and outs of the sports betting business, learning from some of the most successful gamblers in the industry and the biggest sportsbook operators on the planet.

He is under center for Covers during NFL season as our top NFL expert, taking the points in his infamous NFL Underdogs column and representing the Covers Community at the Super Bowl. While he lives for football season, Jason's first love is basketball and that shows in his in-depth NBA, NCAA, and WNBA betting breakdowns.

On top of being a mainstay in media from coast to coast at stations like WPIX, PHL17, Fox 5 San Diego, WGNO, TSN, SportsNet, ESPN Radio, Jason's analysis has also been featured in USA Today, MSNBC, ESPN, the Wall Street Journal, CBS, Bloomberg, the L.A. Times, the New York Times and other major publications. You can also find JLo stuffing all the top picks and predictions he can into 10 minutes as the host of Covers' flagship podcast, The Sharp 600.

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