What to Know for Commanders vs. Cowboys in NFL Week 2
The Washington Commanders travel to Dallas for a Week 2 meeting with the Cowboys in the 2026 NFL season. It is a familiar NFC East rivalry, but the timing makes it an unusual one.
Week 2 is the earliest Washington has traveled to Dallas since 2006, when the two teams also met in the second week. It is also the sixth time Washington and Dallas have played in Week 2. The season began with division matchups: Philadelphia hosted Washington on Sunday afternoon, and Dallas played the Giants at MetLife Stadium on Monday Night Football. The result is an early-season game between two teams that already know what a division opponent looks like.
The series history gives Dallas a clear edge. Washington is 18-44-2 against the Cowboys on the road and 47-81-2 all-time. Those numbers make the Cowboys the more successful team in the matchup over the long run, and they give Dallas reason to feel comfortable at home.
The Commanders will be shorthanded. Tight end Chig Okonkwo and linebacker Frankie Luvu have been ruled out for Sunday's game. The official preview material reviewed for this article did not say why either player is unavailable. Their absences touch both sides of the ball, since one is a receiving target and the other plays at the second level of the defense.
For anyone following the game, the Washington Commanders' official website has published a guide covering how to watch, listen, and stream the contest. The specific kickoff time and broadcast network were not confirmed in the material reviewed here, so the team's guide remains the most direct way to confirm those details. CBS Sports has also released a Week 2 preview with predictions, odds, and best bets from its projection model.
Washington and Dallas have played often enough that the record book is well established. This Week 2 meeting stands out because it is one of the earliest Dallas trips on Washington's schedule in nearly twenty years, and both teams are already inside the division portion of their calendar.