Updated

Updated · CBS Sports · Sep 15

Eric Cohen Picks Cowboys to Beat Commanders 34-26 in Week 2 as 4 Teams Eye 14-Point Wins

Updated

Updated · CBS Sports · Sep 15

Eric Cohen Picks Cowboys to Beat Commanders 34-26 in Week 2 as 4 Teams Eye 14-Point Wins

Q: With Prescott's historic dominance, is the Cowboys' shaky defense the secret trapdoor that could ruin this heavily favored prediction?

Yes. Dallas can still win, but its defense is the clearest reason Cohen’s 34-26 projection could miss. The case for the Cowboys is strong: Prescott is 13-2 against Washington as a starter, with 32 touchdown passes and a 107.4 rating in those games. Dallas is also at home, and recent meetings in this rivalry have been high-scoring, averaging 55.5 points over the last four. That supports Cohen’s view that Dallas can outscore Washington even if the game gets loose. But the warning signs are real. In Week 1, Dallas allowed 394 yards to the Giants and looked alarmingly similar to last season’s breakdowns. Reports from that game highlighted repeated coverage busts, poor flat defense, trouble against the run and quarterback mobility, and a disastrous 9-of-11 third-down rate allowed. One analysis noted Dallas gave up four points per drive in the opener after finishing last season at 2.9 points per drive allowed. That matters against Jayden Daniels, whose dual-threat ability could stress exactly the areas Dallas failed to handle. Daniels was uneven against Philadelphia but rallied late for two touchdown passes, and Washington still put up 22 points. If the Commanders protect him well enough, Dallas’ defensive issues could keep this within one score or create upset pressure. So the defense is not just a minor concern; it is the main vulnerability. It probably does not erase Prescott’s edge outright, but it makes a Cowboys cover far less secure than the history alone suggests.

3 articles · Updated · CBS Sports · Sep 15

Cowboys are Cohen’s featured Week 2 exact-score pick at 34-26 over Washington, with Dallas favored by 3.5 points in a game carrying a 50.5 total.
13 of Dallas’s last 15 meetings with Washington under Dak Prescott have gone the Cowboys’ way, and the last four averaged 55.5 points, reinforcing Cohen’s call for another high-scoring matchup.
Washington should still score against a Dallas defense that ranked last in points allowed in 2025 after finishing second-worst in 2024, but Cohen expects the Cowboys’ home edge to decide a one-score game.
188-96-1 straight up last season and 10-6 so far in 2026, Cohen released exact-score predictions for all 16 Week 2 games and said four teams could win by at least 14 points.