The Dallas defense wanted a better showing after the opener. On Sunday it got one, and a rookie delivered the biggest play.
Early in the third quarter, with the Cowboys holding a 20-13 lead over the Washington Commanders, linebacker Jaishawn Barham forced a fumble on a screen pass on the first play of a Washington drive. Dee Winters recovered it inside the Washington 20. Two plays later, Dak Prescott threw a 12-yard touchdown pass to Jake Ferguson, and Dallas led 27-13.
The Cowboys never let the lead get closer than 10 again. They won 37-20 at AT&T Stadium to even their record at 1-1.
The defense answers
A week earlier, Dallas had lost 28-20 to the New York Giants in the debut of defensive coordinator Christian Parker. Against Washington, the AP wrote, the defense "at least put up some resistance."
The numbers show a unit that bent but took the ball away when it counted. Washington gained 389 yards and ran for 182, but it turned the ball over once and scored only 20 points. Dallas did not turn it over at all.
Winters led the Cowboys with nine tackles, including one for a loss, to go with the fumble recovery. Caleb Downs also had nine tackles, and Barham added seven.
The Cowboys played much of the game shorthanded in the secondary. Safety P.J. Locke hurt a foot on Washington's first series and did not return, and cornerback Cobie Durant left in the first half with a hamstring injury, according to the AP.
