5 takeaways from Cowboys’ big win: Sunday’s result has turning point potential
The Dallas Cowboys are back in the win column after a dominant 44-22 victory over the Washington Commanders at AT&T Stadium on Sunday, as the team moves back to .500 at 3-3-1.
The return of wide receiver CeeDee Lamb provided an additional spark to an already powerful offense (more on that below), as he notched his third 100-yard game of the season with 110 yards. He was one of a handful of offensive weapons that got going, as Javonte Williams added 116 yards, along with Dak Prescott’s 264 yards passing and three touchdowns.
There were a lot of positive points to take away from the Cowboys’ big win. Here are the five biggest takeaways:
Sunday’s result has turning point potential
The Cowboys have been up and down to start the year. That goes without being said.
Some games, like ones against the Bears and Panthers, this team blows golden opportunities to get into the win column. In others, like ones against the Packers and Eagles, this team plays competitive ballgames. But unlike any of those four contests, the Cowboys were able to get a win Sunday against a playoff team from a year ago in their own division — in dominating fashion.
“The next game,” Prescott said. “That’s what’s important to us and for us. ... We have high expectations for each other.”
In 2018, the Prescott-led Cowboys began the year 3-5 before a road win over the Eagles jump-started an end-of-season run that powered them into the playoffs. Can this win be a similar boost? The energy certainly looked drastically different against the Commanders, to the point that it’s easy to wonder if a run could be coming with Denver, Arizona and Las Vegas coming up.
More CeeDee Lamb, more offense
How much better can the No. 1 offense in the NFL really get? Well, the Cowboys had the chance to answer that question by inserting Lamb back into the lineup Sunday after he missed three games with a high ankle sprain, and with his return came even more production.
Lamb hauled in the team’s first third-down conversion on the opening drive that eventually ended in a touchdown, and then he followed it up with a score of his own on a 74-yard seam go-route that saw him break wide open for the team’s longest play of the season.
“It’s exciting, man,” Lamb said about his return. “To be able to enjoy it and make [the defense] play true to what we got, it’s fun.”
Even though the Cowboys were averaging the most yards (387.5) and the third-most points (29.7) in the NFL coming into the game, they were able to eclipse both of those marks with 409 yards and 44 points in the win. Consider Lamb’s presence pleasantly welcomed, even on an already league-leading offense — as if there was any question.
Did Cowboys’ defense flip the switch?
The Cowboys mentioned all week through owner Jerry Jones and defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus that they would run more man coverage against the Commanders, and they followed through on that guarantee. For the first time all season, the Cowboys ran more man coverage than zone in a half after the first two quarters saw them play receivers on more of a matchup basis.
The whole unit benefited as a result. Not nearly as many big plays were given up despite a lack of pass rush early on, and it helped the offense control the game from start to finish.
Then, in the second half, DaRon Bland finally got back to what he has done so well in the past. On an underneath throw to Zach Ertz from Commanders backup quarterback Marcus Mariota, Bland cut off the lazy throw and returned it 68 yards for his sixth career interception return for a touchdown.
After the defense’s performance with more man concepts in place, is there hope that this unit might actually be competent enough to help out its offense?
“There’s definitely things that we got to clean up,” defensive tackle Osa Odighizuwa said. “We’re always chasing the perfect game, but this is definitely something to build off of.”
Quiet the Javonte Williams concerns
It’s understandable why some Cowboys fans last week questioned the team’s decision to priortize Javonte Williams in free agency over Rico Dowdle. After all, Dowdle dominated the Cowboys with 239 total yards and Williams finished with 34 total yards.
But on Sunday, Williams got back on track with his second 100-yard rushing day of the season and one touchdown. Any doubts about the team’s decision should be deferred after what Williams put on display against the Commanders.
“I don’t really focus too much on last week,” Williams said. “It’s all about what you do next. My focus was really just going out there and executing the game plan. You feel it, but I don’t really worry too much about it.”
When his production is humming, it allows the Cowboys’ offense to operate at full rhythm. Prescott’s expertise in working out of the play action is made possible by an efficient ground game, and it’s safe to say that — despite last week’s disappointing comparison — signing Williams was the right call.
Shemar James secures starting spot
It’s been a rotating door at linebacker so far this season, as Kenneth Murray, Damone Clark, Marist Liufau, Jack Sanborn and rookie Shemar James have all seen starts. James started against the Panthers as a result of Sanborn being out with a concussion, and the defense decided to keep rolling with James in the middle upon Sanborn’s return.
“It means a lot,” James said. “Because it means the coaches trust you to keep you in there and allow you to do your thing. That’s what I’ve been trying to do since I’ve been here, just earn the coaches’ trust, show them I can play and show them I can be for all 11.”
Against the Commanders, he secured the trust. After combining for 26 tackles over the past two weeks, James added nine more on a much more efficient day that also featured a strip sack on quarterback Jayden Daniels to start the second half.
The instincts were on display, and the comfort appears to be settling in for James. With DeMarvion Overshown nearing his return, could James still find his way into the starting lineup when it’s all said and done?
This story was originally published October 19, 2025 at 6:39 PM.
