3 distinct advantages Commanders have over the Cowboys in 2022

The Washington Commanders will be hoping to squash the Dallas Cowboys’ aspirations of winning the NFC East two years in a row. That hasn’t been accomplished since Philadelphia rattled off back-to-back titles in 2003 and ’04.

The NFC East has gotten a bad rep over the years, but it figures to be more competitive in 2022 than fans have grown accustomed to.

The Cowboys took a glaring step back this offseason, while the Eagles’ aggressive offseason suggests they realize their window is just opening. With a new general manager and head coach, the Giants are a different story, but they shouldn’t be the same pushovers they were in 2021 under the clumsy Joe Judge.

The Commanders improving their division record will go a long way towards helping them return to the playoffs and maybe even win the division. Since the Cowboys are technically the team standing in their way of the NFC East crown, let’s highlight three advantages Ron Rivera’s group has over Mike McCarthy’s squad.

3 clear advantages the Commanders have over the Cowboys

3. Wide Receiver

This time last year, the Cowboys’ receiving room was miles more talented than Washington’s. Fast forward to the present, however, and the Commanders now have the advantage … and a pretty significant one at that.

There’s no denying CeeDee Lamb is a stud, and Michael Gallup’s penchant for making acrobatic catches saw him sign a $62.5 million contract this offseason. Having said that, Gallup’s recovering from a torn ACL, so there’s a real chance he isn’t 100% until the middle of the season. That’ll put even more onus on Lamb to become Dak Prescott’s No. 1 target and third-rounder Jalen Tolbert to step up as a rookie.

In Week 1, Dallas could be trotting out this starting lineup:

• CeeDee Lamb
• Jalen Tolbert
• James Washington
• Noah Brown

In comparison, Washington could trot out this lineup:

• Terry McLaurin
• Jahan Dotson
• Curtis Samuel
• Dyami Brown

We’re obviously biased, but give us the Commanders’ lineup seven days a week and twice on Sundays. McLaurin is a top 10 talent, Jahan Dotson was the team’s most impressive offensive performer during spring practices and Samuel tallied over 1,000 yards from scrimmage in his last full season in 2020.

That trio has the potential to form one of the most dynamic receiving corps in the league, and Brown and Cam Sims give the team real depth.