Dak Prescott Sets Franchise Record as Cowboys Beat Commanders 37-20
The Dallas Cowboys secured their first home victory of the 2026 season behind a historic performance from their veteran quarterback. Dak Prescott threw four touchdowns against the Washington Commanders, pushing his career total to 249 scores through the air and breaking the previous franchise record held by Tony Romo.
Dak Prescott Sets Franchise Record in Home Opener
Prescott finished the afternoon with 279 passing yards. The 33-year-old signal-caller connected twice with wide receiver CeeDee Lamb and twice with tight end Jake Ferguson. Prescott and Lamb have now linked up for 37 career touchdowns, establishing the most productive scoring combination for any receiver in Prescott’s career. The Cowboys’ ground game added 66 rushing yards to support the aerial assault.
Jayden Daniels Exits With Injury as Commanders Fall Short
The game turned sharply at the end of the first half when Washington quarterback Jayden Daniels was forced to leave the field on a cart. Daniels injured his left elbow on the final play of the first half while attempting to break his fall near the one-yard line with three seconds remaining. The play unfolded after the left guard accidentally stepped on the quarterback, causing Daniels to scramble and throw under heavy pressure.
Medical staff evaluated the second-year star, whose season was previously disrupted by a similar left elbow dislocation against Seattle in November 2025. Prior to his exit, Daniels was performing effectively, completing 11 of his first 14 passes and rushing for 69 yards on seven carries. Backup quarterback Marcus Mariota took over the offense for the second half.
Wide receiver Stefon Diggs provided a bright spot for the Washington offense in the second half, catching two touchdown passes, including one in the fourth quarter that narrowed the gap to 30-20. Mariota directed the offense through the final two quarters under intense pressure from the Dallas defense. Ultimately, the Cowboys added a late touchdown to seal the 37-20 final score.
Offensive Statistics and Game Momentum
Despite mounting a respectable offensive output, Washington could not overcome the early deficit or the loss of their starting quarterback. Washington outgained Dallas in total yardage, posting 389 yards to the Cowboys’ total, and won the time-of-possession battle at 31 minutes and 29 seconds. However, red-zone inefficiency proved costly; Washington converted only one of three red-zone trips, compared to a three-for-four success rate by Dallas.
Looking Ahead to Week Three
Both teams face demanding schedules as the NFL season progresses. The Cowboys will travel internationally to play the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday, September 27, 2026, in Río de Janeiro, Brazil. Meanwhile, Washington prepares to host its home opener next Sunday, awaiting further medical updates regarding Daniels and other injured starters, including left tackle Brandon Coleman and right guard Sam Cosmi.