“We’re better than we’ve been the last two years on defense,” Jones stated to the press once the game concluded. Dak Prescott’s offense has always been the team’s biggest strength, but now the Cowboys are more balanced following their recent additions.

It is often said in the NFL that defenses win championships. This season, the Cowboys spared no expense in strengthening that side of the ball, and it is clearly starting to pay off.

Schottenheimer agrees with Jones

The Commanders presented a tough challenge, especially with a leader like Jayden Daniels on the other side. America’s Team had to work hard to get the job done. There are still areas to improve, but Brian Schottenheimer echoed Jones’ comments about the defense’s improvement.

“Overall, I thought the communication was better. There’s certainly things to clean up. We certainly did a poor job of containing Jayden (Daniels), but he can do that. He does that to a lot of people. That’s really where the rush yards got away,” Schotty said during his press conference.

“And then we got some things to improve on third down. I thought we really rushed the passer well. I don’t know what the pressure numbers were. I know we didn’t get any sacks, but (Daniels) and Marcus (Mariota) were both moved off the spot quite a bit. So, I felt good about that. But there’s always things to clean up. We certainly have not arrived. We got a lot of work to do.”

Washington couldn’t handle the pressure

The Cowboys’ defense finally flexed its muscles when it mattered most to lock down a 37-20 win over Washington. While they got ripped early on by Jayden Daniels’ legs, the defense slammed the door shut right at the goal line before halftime.

In the second half, they came out swinging—forcing a crucial fumble that flipped into an instant touchdown two plays later and shutting Washington down to just 10 points after the break.

Significant improvements on Dallas’ defense

The Cowboys‘ defense went from a top-tier group to a complete liability over the past two seasons. In 2024, they were solid enough, allowing roughly 27.5 points per game, racking up 52 sacks, and picking off 13 passes. But the 2025 campaign was a total disaster: they allowed a franchise-record 511 points (over 30 a game), saw their sacks plummet to 35, and managed a measly 6 interceptions.

They simply couldn’t get off the field or force turnovers, transforming what used to be an aggressive unit into one of the league’s most porous defenses.

Key takeaways

• Jerry Jones praised the defensive growth after previous concerns over unit strength.
• Dallas Cowboys defeated the Washington Commanders 37-20 behind a second-half defensive surge.
• 511 points allowed in 2025 set a franchise record for Dallas’ struggling defense.

“Give Harbaugh and his team a bunch of credit. They were the more physical team tonight. That’s certainly not our standard. That’s certainly not how we see our identity playing. They shoved us around in the running game. We couldn’t get the running game going on offense,” the Cowboys head coach revealed to the press.

“Situationally, they were outstanding. They did a really good job of keeping the ball away from us in the second half. I think they had the ball for 36 minutes and 40 seconds. So, this is a humbling business. We got humbled tonight, and that’s what I told the guys.”

The running game, as expected, prevailed for the Big Blue in the 28-20 victory. For America’s Team, it will be a matter of turning the page, correcting their mistakes, and analyzing what happened ahead of the rematch against the Giants.

Dart and Skattebo ran wild

Jaxson Dart and Cam Skattebo set the tempo in New York’s performance over the Cowboys. Dart anchored the air and ground attack, completing 79.3% of his passes for 230 yards and three touchdowns (134.2 passer rating) while adding 54 rushing yards.

Skattebo set the tone in the backfield, rushing 18 times for 81 yards and punching in an early touchdown. Together, they kept Dallas on its heels and set a physical baseline for the Giants’ offense.

Harbaugh is already instilling his work culture in New York

Nearly two decades at the helm of the Baltimore Ravens gave John Harbaugh’s teams a trademark identity: they were physical, powerful, and athletic. That is something he is looking to replicate in East Rutherford, and it was not only evident in the Week 1 debut, but also in previous additions to the roster that fit those characteristics.

In Week 2, they will face another major test, as they take on a serious Super Bowl contender. The Giants will travel to SoFi Stadium to face the Los Angeles Rams in a dream Monday Night Football matchup.

“Tyler Smith’s a great player, but we feel really confident in T.J., and he’s put great film on here,” the head coach said via the official team’s website. “He’s played next to Cooper Beebe, he’s played next to [Tyler] Guyton, so that’s nothing new, the communication and all that stuff…”

Schotty also added: “We tendered him the way we tendered him because we trust this guy as a football player. He’s a damn good football player that unfortunately is just playing behind a lot of really, really good players. So we have great confidence in T.J.“

Oftentimes, a player’s position on the depth chart doesn’t necessarily reflect their talent. That much is clear to Brian Schottenheimer, who has full confidence in Bass to replace Smith as one of Dak Prescott’s key protectors.

Protection guaranteed for Dak Prescott

The Giants will go all out in an attempt to slow down Dak Prescott, one of the league’s top quarterbacks during the 2025 season. However, they will have to contend with an immense talent standing in their way, ready to give everything he has to protect his QB.

Tyler Guyton will line up as the starting left tackle, alongside the previously mentioned left guard, T.J. Bass. Cooper Beebe will take over at center, with Tyler Booker at right guard and Terrence Steele at right tackle.

Brass’ numbers since entering the NFL

T.J. Bass went undrafted in the 2023 NFL Draft coming out of Oregon, but the Cowboys snapped him up right away as an undrafted free agent—and he’s been a total steal for their interior offensive line ever since. Over his first three seasons in Dallas, he played in 48 regular-season games, earning 10 starts while logging over 1,000 offensive snaps and proving to be an amazingly reliable backup across both guard spots and center.

He’s even made history as one of only two undrafted offensive linemen in Cowboys history to appear in that many games over their first three years in the league.

Nabers did deliver a cryptic injury update, raising concerns ahead of Week 1‘s matchup between the Giants and Cowboys. However, all signs still point to him playing and doing so as the main threat on New York’s offense. The fact that the Giants updated their depth chart and released Darius Slayton could well indicate that Nabers is healthy enough to play on Sunday night.

Still, whether Nabers plays or not, the Cowboys have yet to decide on their defensive matchups—or they simply won’t give their tell away. Asked about which cornerbacks will see the field at MetLife Stadium, a controversial, problematic turf field in its own right, Schottenheimer had a concise answer.

“You’ll see them all play,” Schottenheimer said about the Cowboys’ cornerback plan for Sunday night’s NFL season-debut in the Meadowlands, via Dallas Morning News’ Joseph Hoyt.

Cowboys make final tweaks to gameplan

Indeed, Schottenheimer and the Cowboys’ defensive backs have one less name to worry about after the news of Slayton’s release, though the wide receiver is not holding a grudge against the Giants.

Regardless, America’s Team has more than enough on its plate as things stand. The Cowboys face a tough decision with their lineup, and their cornerback depth chart may be the biggest question mark.

Cowboys’ depth at cornerback

For the time being, DaRon Bland and Cobie Durant are the main lynchpins set on the boundaries and are expected to be most responsible for keeping Nabers and New York’s revamped receiving corps, with Isaiah Likely, Malachi Fields and Odell Beckham Jr., in check.

Other options such as Shavon Revel Jr., Caelen Carson and Ameer Speed could be in play, too. According to Schottenheimer, they will, and as much as it could be bait for New York, there’s little the head coach could gain from openly deceiving his own players.

Caleb Downs: Dallas’ X-Factor

The crown jewel in Arlington, Caleb Downs, is expected to play at the nickel cornerback position, even though he came out of Ohio State as a safety prospect. With his elite mix of speed and strength, he could be Dallas’ perfect antidote for Likely, the tight end expected to be a slot presence in New York and who is reportedly already Jaxson Dart’s most trusted target.

“I don’t have a plan [yet], but this is my 16th year in the National Football League,” he said via the official team’s website. “I like to think that I’m a coach’s dream.
I just try to make everybody’s job easy — coaches and the players around me. Whatever I can do to help contribute to wins is why I’m here.

“Whether that’s in the locker room or out there on the football field, I’m still a sack daddy, so I’ll have my opportunity to go out there and rush the quarterback and contribute to wins.”

Will Von Miller play a prominent role on the field? That remains an unknown. The coach knows he has a highly experienced player on his roster, so it would not be far-fetched for him to rely on Miller to help elevate the team.

Experience on the Cowboys’ defense

Throughout his career, Von Miller has established himself as one of the best players at the linebacker position, having won two Super Bowl rings. However, his new chapter with America’s Team appears to have him starting behind others on the depth chart.

Schottenheimer’s first option at ROLB is Donovan Ezeiruaku, with Miller currently behind him on the depth chart. Tyrus Wheat, who most recently played for the Detroit Lions, is listed as the third option.

Von Miller has found his joy in the NFL again

Von Miller’s latest stint with the Washington Commanders may not have gone as expected, but the linebacker himself appears to have found his joy again with America’s Team. “The smile has come back, you know? I’ve always loved playing football. I’ve been able to play for some amazing teams, with amazing quarterbacks and amazing coaches. But it’s just something different about being here.

“Coming here to The Star and seeing this amazing facility, and going to the stadium, I am glad we had that preseason game because I was in awe. I’ve played on the other side, but I haven’t been on this side wearing white jerseys and playing for the good guys. . . . I’m sure a lot of kids wish that, and I am living a dream.”

Anticipating the debut

The Dallas Cowboys will kick off the 2026 NFL season with a tough trip to MetLife Stadium, where they will face the New York Giants on September 13. After that, they will have these four games ahead:

• Week 2, vs Washington Commanders (September 20)
• Week 3, vs Baltimore Ravens (September 27)
• Week 4, at Houston Texans (October 4)
• Week 5, vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers (October 8)

“I think when we looked at the whole body of work we felt like Sam had done more [in terms of executing the offense],” the head coach stated. Insider Todd Archer also revealed that Schotty does not rule out the possibility of bringing Milton back to the practice squad if he clears waivers, although it is also a decision that the QB will have to consider.

The support from the coaching staff for the former Tennessee Volunteers player was outstanding, even though their paths may not remain together in the short term. “I think Joe is going to be a terrific player in this league,” Schottenheimer said.

Milton’s numbers that failed to convince

Joe Milton III put up solid box-score numbers during the Cowboys’ preseason action, completing 29 of 43 passes (67.4%) for 378 yards, three passing touchdowns, and no interceptions, while adding 12 carries for 14 yards and a rushing touchdown.

Despite showing off his cannon arm and accounting for four total scores, his play lacked the overall consistency and down-to-down accuracy the coaching staff wanted to see.

As of now, only one backup for Prescott in Dallas

With just a few days remaining before the start of a new NFL season, one of the teams generating the most excitement, as usual, is the Dallas Cowboys. The staff led by Brian Schottenheimer will enter Week 1 with only Dak Prescott and Sam Howell available at quarterback.

Will the Cowboys bring in a new QB?

The short QB room in America’s Team could indicate that a new addition may be on the way. However, for now, it is unknown whether the Cowboys will bring in a new quarterback in the short term, although no options have been ruled out.

A new hope in Dallas

Names like CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens make up the offense of a team with serious aspirations of reaching the Super Bowl. To achieve that, they will have to get off to a strong start in an NFL season that promises to be highly competitive.

• Week 1, at New York Giants (September 13)
• Week 2, vs Washington Commanders (September 20)
• Week 3, vs Baltimore Ravens (September 27)
• Week 4, at Houston Texans (October 4)
• Week 5, vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers (October 8)

“This is long from over,” the head coach said during his press conference. “We’re going back to Frisco, thankfully, get a chance to be home and put some more training camp days in. You’ve got to give Joe his credit, he’s played really well the past two games, but we have a lot of confidence in Sam as well.”

The main options to eventually replace Prescott during the season come down to just two names: Joe Milton III and Sam Howell. With one preseason game still to play, Schottenheimer still has an important decision to make.

Milton III makes strong impression against Cardinals

America’s Team has been showing a strong performance this preseason, with two wins in two games so far. In their latest outing, a 34-13 victory over the Arizona Cardinals, Joe Milton III made the most of his opportunity.

The former Tennessee Volunteers quarterback started the game at State Farm Stadium, going 9-of-13 for 179 yards and a touchdown. Howell, who replaced him, went 7-of-10 for 65 yards and an interception.

Will Prescott see action in the preseason?

AT&T Stadium will host the Dallas Cowboys’ final preseason game on August 28, against the New Orleans Saints. As Schottenheimer indicated weeks ago, Dak Prescott is unlikely to see any action.

The reasons behind this decision are more than clear: to preserve the health of their biggest star and have him enter the 2026 NFL season at 100%. This year, the Cowboys want to compete for the NFC East and, why not, dream of returning to the Super Bowl.

Jon Machota, the insider who usually stays up to date with everything happening in America’s Team, revealed on X a conversation with Jake Ferguson, in which he warns opponents about the ferocity of this unit on the team.

“Cowboys TE Jake Ferguson says Dallas has only “barely scratched the surface” of who they can be on offense,” Machota said. “He also said this is the best talent he’s seen in the Cowboys’ tight end room.”

There are five names Dak Prescott can rely on to do damage to opponents moving forward: Jake Ferguson, Luke Schoonmaker, Brevyn Spann-Ford, Princeton Fant, and finally Michael Trigg.

Prescott has been able to take advantage of his TEs

During the 2025 NFL season, Dak Prescott and Jake Ferguson continued to anchor the Dallas Cowboys‘ aerial attack with highly productive campaigns. Prescott finished near the top of the league by throwing for 4,552 passing yards, 30 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions, completing 67.3% of his passes.

A significant portion of that success went through Ferguson, who earned a Pro Bowl nod after hauling in 82 receptions for 600 yards and 3 touchdowns. Heading into the new season, the duo will look to improve upon these numbers by turning their yardage into higher scoring efficiency—specifically targeting more consistency in the red zone to elevate Ferguson’s touchdown totals and carrying a more balanced offensive load to push past last year’s mediocre team finish.

Will Schottenheimer unlock the tight ends in Dallas this season?

Brian Schottenheimer might heavily emphasize his tight ends to set the tone for his entire offensive system. Rooted in a physical, run-first philosophy, his game plan relies on multi-tight end sets to establish a dominant ground game, which naturally sucks in the defense and unlocks highly efficient, explosive play-action targets down the seam.

“Where he can continue to go and grow is scary because what he did last year was amazing. And the more you watch the film, then you see it and you’re just kind of like, ‘Whoa.’ It’s just different,” the head coach said Saturday to the press. “We’ve got a lot of really good football players, and he’s certainly at the top of that list along with some of our other studs.“

The offense of America’s Team promises to be one of the most aggressive, to the point that the Cowboys already were impressed with UDFA tight ends Michael Trigg and DJ Rogers.

In the last couple of days, Schottenheimer tried to stay out of the trade buzz surrounding Pickens, although the wide receiver’s presence heading into the 2026 NFL season looks encouraging for this team. Can the former Steeler surpass the numbers he put up last season?

Pickens aims to improve on his 2025 numbers

George Pickens has truly cemented himself as one of Dak Prescott’s most lethal targets since joining the Dallas Cowboys in 2025. Following a blockbuster trade from the Steelers, Pickens exploded in his first season in Texas, recording career-highs across the board and earning his first Pro Bowl selection and AP Second-Team All-Pro honors.

Pickens finished the year ranked 3rd in the NFL in receiving yards, proving to be the perfect sidekick to CeeDee Lamb in an explosive Cowboys passing attack. His chemistry with Dak Prescott was evident in several massive performances, including a 168-yard game against the Panthers and a 146-yard showing in a comeback win over the Eagles.

Is he better now than he was in Pittsburgh?

George Pickens once established himself as a premier deep threat during his three seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers, where he recorded 174 receptions for 2,841 yards and 12 touchdowns in 48 games. After a promising rookie campaign in 2022 (801 yards), he had a breakout 2023 season with 1,140 yards and a league-leading 18.1 yards per catch.

However, his final year in Pittsburgh was marked by frustration, including a hamstring injury and public criticism regarding his effort on the field, which eventually led to his trade to Dallas in May 2025.

Right now, the player is enjoying a strong run of form on the field, and it seems he may have found his place in Dallas. For now, Schottenheimer and company are excited about what he could unlock in the near future.

“I don’t think there’s any reason for us to have that [conversation]. That’s now what we plan on doing,” Schottenheimer admitted to The Dallas Morning News.

After putting pen to paper on the $27.3 million franchise tag for the 2026 NFL season, Pickens is set to become an unrestricted free agent next offseason. Thus, it begs the question of which route Jerry Jones and the Cowboys will go down. Dallas has made it clear it won’t entertain extension talks at this point. If anything, America’s Team will wait to see how Pickens performs next season.

Cowboys won’t make Pickens decision right now

Facing a plethora of options, there’s even room for Jones and the Cowboys to make Pickens the highest-paid WR in NFL history. That prospect is surely one that will motivate Pickens to put together another strong year in Arlington. However, Schottenheimer believes Pickens isn’t one to be money-driven.

“I think [Pickens] would play this game for a dollar as much as he loves football,” Schottenheimer commented on Dallas’ star wideout. “These guys that love playing the game, they love playing the game.”

That might be true, but Jones and the Cowboys still had a tough time reaching an agreement with Pickens and his camp. At the end of the day, the wide receiver out of Georgia will play on the tag in 2026. Whatever happens next is uncertain. Schottenheimer says Dallas isn’t entertaining any speculation around Pickens—neither an extension nor a trade. However, history should warn everybody to keep an eye on America’s Team.

Parsons’ case casts a cloud of concern over Pickens

Anything can happen. Knowing Jones’ history with Pickens’ agent, David Mulugheta, it’s easy to question whether such a record-setting extension will be possible. After all, Micah Parsons—represented by Mulugheta as well—was also poised to sign a groundbreaking contract back in 2025, but he ended up putting pen to paper on a record non-quarterback contract in NFL history in Green Bay.

Indeed, everything is bigger in Texas, but it seems like Jones’ will to extend stars doesn’t match that. Or, what’s also big is the Cowboys owner’s grudge against Mulugheta.

Schottenheimer may have pushed back on a potential trade, but recent history indicates nothing can be taken for granted when it comes to the franchise valued at approximately $13 billion—according to Forbes‘ list in 2025—and located in Arlington, Texas, the “American Dream City.”

“Super Bowl 61, February 14th, 2027. That’s where we plan on being,” he said via Jon Machota on X. “That’s a tall task. And we have to clean up a number of things that we need to improve on from last year.

“But it was proven this year by Seattle and New England that if you didn’t qualify for the playoffs the previous year, it doesn’t mean you can’t get to the big game.”

The last time the Dallas Cowboys played in (and won) a Super Bowl was on January 28, 1996, in Super Bowl XXX. Can Schottenheimer lead Dak Prescott and company back to the top of the NFL?

Cowboys’ Super Bowl appearances

The Dallas Cowboys have made eight Super Bowl appearances throughout their history, tied for the second-most in NFL history. They hold a 5-3 record in the championship game, securing victories in Super Bowls VI, XII, XXVII, XXVIII, and XXX.

The franchise’s golden eras were defined by legendary figures such as Roger Staubach, Troy Aikman, Emmitt Smith, and Michael Irvin, along with Hall of Fame coach Tom Landry. Despite their storied past and five rings, the team has not returned to the Super Bowl since their last victory in January 1996.

Seattle wins Super Bowl LX

The Seattle Seahawks captured their second Lombardi Trophy in franchise history by defeating the New England Patriots 29–13 in Super Bowl LX, held on February 8, 2026, at Levi’s Stadium. Led by head coach Mike Macdonald, the Seahawks’ defense delivered a masterclass, recording six sacks and forcing three turnovers, including a decisive pick-six by Uchenna Nwosu.

Running back Kenneth Walker III was named the game’s MVP after a dominant performance with 135 rushing yards on 27 carries. Additionally, kicker Jason Myers set a Super Bowl record by converting five field goals, while quarterback Sam Darnold managed an efficient game to secure the title for the “12s” exactly 12 years after the team’s first championship.