Starlights | 2026

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Starlights: Big play tracker for Cowboys-Commanders

Sep 20, 2026 at 03:30 PM

Dallas Cowboys Staff Writers

ARLINGTON, Texas — A much-needed mulligan is in order for the Dallas Cowboys, and they're hoping to make it count against the Washington Commanders. The Week 2 matchup pits two 0-1 teams against each other that are not only lifelong, bitter rivals, but who are both also looking to avoid the dreaded 0-2 start to the 2026 season.

Christian Parker and his defense will lean a bit more heavily this week on rookie third-round pick Jaishawn Barham who, alongside rookie 11th-overall pick Caleb Downs, will serve as two of the younger staples in the defensive unit on Sunday.

The home opener will also feature a locked in George Pickens, working to bounce back from uncharacteristic drops against the New York Giants in Week 1, as Dak Prescott and the offense try to light up the scoreboard on the ground and in the air.

Welcome to Starlights, the live blog for Cowboys' highlights!

First Quarter

first play from scrimmage is a play-action that goes back to Javonte Williams for an eight-yard gain.

sets up Dak to George Pickens on third-and-2.

move the chains.

also ... see below. #Cowboys https://t.co/cAadIePUs9
— Patrik [No C] Walker (@VoiceOfTheStar) September 20, 2026

good pickup by Javonte Williams to give Dak Prescott time ...

Dak ... CeeDee ...

move 'em i saidddddd #Cowboys
— Patrik [No C] Walker (@VoiceOfTheStar) September 20, 2026

Dak to CEDARIAN

ANOTHER CHUNK GAIN FOR 88

MOVE EMMMMMMMM

15 yards and now 23 yards on successive plays. #Cowboys
— Patrik [No C] Walker (@VoiceOfTheStar) September 20, 2026

Dak Prescott went through full progression while rolling out and finally decided to do it himself.

11 YAHDS MOVE EM
— Patrik [No C] Walker (@VoiceOfTheStar) September 20, 2026

Touchdown, Cowboys.

Dallas marches 66 yards down the field on ten plays for an opening drive score. Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb connected three times for 41 yards, capped off with a Prescott to Lamb touchdown from 3 yards out.

Cowboys - 7
Commanders - 0
1st Quarter | 10:01
— Tommy Yarrish (@tommy_yarrish) September 20, 2026

so let's recap:

play-action set up by the threat of Javonte Williams.#Cowboys get George Pickens and CeeDee Lamb (!!) involved EARLY thanks to it.

Dak Prescott uses his legs to move the chains in the red zone.

play-action causes Washington to bite hard and CeeDee Lamb gets… pic.twitter.com/HH10RCAeaf
— Patrik [No C] Walker (@VoiceOfTheStar) September 20, 2026

big play alert:

Jaishawn Barham shuts the door on the Commanders on third-and-5 with a tackle in space that leaves them three yards short of the chains.

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHH LET'S GO ROOK #COWBOYS
— Patrik [No C] Walker (@VoiceOfTheStar) September 20, 2026

DAK AND CEEDEE OUT THERE COOKING BBQ CHICKEN

MOVE THE CHAINSSSSS

38 YAHHHHDDDDSSS #Cowboys
— Patrik [No C] Walker (@VoiceOfTheStar) September 20, 2026

CeeDee Lamb with 5:45 remaining in the FIRST quarter:

5 targets, 5 catches, 90 yards, TD ...🔥 ... and Dallas is threatening inside the six-yard line.

he warned everyone (see below). #Cowboys https://t.co/sk8VeTuile
— Patrik [No C] Walker (@VoiceOfTheStar) September 20, 2026

dammit ... Pickens' momentum might've cost him a shot at a TD to end the second #Cowboys drive.

Butter is good on the 25-yard FG attempt.

10-0, #Cowboys score on first two possessions and, equally as importantly, their defense forced a three-and-out by Washington.
— Patrik [No C] Walker (@VoiceOfTheStar) September 20, 2026

Second Quarter

🤔💭🔬 in past years, that's probably a touchdown run by Croskey-Merritt on that handoff up the middle ... but Caleb Downs with the good run fit to keep it to five yards.

fumble by Commanders (recovered by WAS) then puts them on the DAL 22 with 3rd-and-18 in front of them —…
— Patrik [No C] Walker (@VoiceOfTheStar) September 20, 2026

Dak to Georgie Boy.

move the chains. #Cowboys (12 yahds)
— Patrik [No C] Walker (@VoiceOfTheStar) September 20, 2026

Emari Demercado with a nice run through traffic to make it 3rd-and-1.

bootleg toss from Dak to Pickens and flag for late hit in the back adds 15 yards to it.

Pickens jumps up and nods.

MOVE EM. #Cowboys
— Patrik [No C] Walker (@VoiceOfTheStar) September 20, 2026

Touchdown, Cowboys.

Dak Prescott goes up the seam to a familiar target in that area, Jake Ferguson, for his second touchdown of the day.

Cowboys - 17
Commanders - 3
2nd Quarter | 9:55
— Tommy Yarrish (@tommy_yarrish) September 20, 2026

17-3, #Cowboys lead

👀 first three Dallas offensive drives: passing TD, FG, passing TD

total movement: 35 plays, 189 yards of offense, 11:22 TOP, 17 points

defense: forced punt and FG (inside the red zone), 3 points allowed on two drives

this is ideal so far.
— Patrik [No C] Walker (@VoiceOfTheStar) September 20, 2026

OVERTURNED.

GREAT PLAY BY DARON BLAND!!! #Cowboys #Commanders https://t.co/nsiDArUhbm
— Patrik [No C] Walker (@VoiceOfTheStar) September 20, 2026

CALEB DOWNS WHAT A DAMN HIT/PBU pic.twitter.com/6zoDPrcqv2
— Patrik [No C] Walker (@VoiceOfTheStar) September 20, 2026

what a wonderful DISASTER by the Commanders.

1st-and-goal from the DAL 1:

bad pass, bad pass, stumble on QB rollout (throwaway) and Washington comes away with ZERO points.

WON'T HE DO IT
— Patrik [No C] Walker (@VoiceOfTheStar) September 20, 2026

Third Quarter

pressure from #Cowboys on 3rd-and-9 forces a bad pass that falls incomplete.

a rare, but much-needed, third-down stop by Dallas to open the second half — #Commanders settling for FG.

17-13, #Cowboys lead Commanders

Dallas' offense needs to find the momentum it had in the…
— Patrik [No C] Walker (@VoiceOfTheStar) September 20, 2026

Starlights | 2026

Starlights: Big play tracker for Cowboys-Commanders

First Quarter

Second Quarter

Third Quarter

Fourth Quarter

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