The Washington Commanders are looking to capitalize on the Dallas Cowboys' vulnerable defense in Week 2. And formidable defensive lineman Quinnen Williams knows exactly what threat is coming their way.
After an indifferent start, when the Commanders took too long to get going offensively against the Philadelphia Eagles, one would expect things to be a little more cohesive this time.
The late fourth-quarter rally gave fans an idea of what this unit can do under offensive coordinator David Blough's guidance. Things will only improve once everyone gets more familiar with the system.
Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels is striking fear into the Cowboys' locker room
Oh, and Jayden Daniels is back.
The Cowboys' defense looked the same as it did in 2025 during a demoralizing defeat to the New York Giants. Poor linebacker play, failing to contain the edge, and allowing quarterback Jaxson Dart to make plays off-structure with minimal fuss caused their demise, which was completely unacceptable after the investments made this offseason.
Given the dynamism Daniels brings to the table, he should see this game as a significant opportunity to make a statement.
Daniels is one of the league's most effective dual-threat quarterbacks. He can flip any game on its head in the blink of an eye. And unless the Cowboys' defense figures things out, the Commanders' offense could be an incredibly difficult proposition to overcome.
This sentiment is not going unnoticed in Dallas, either.
Williams, who arrived in a blockbuster trade last year, was quick to acknowledge what Daniels can do if given time in or out of the pocket. He also highlighted Terry McLaurin and Stefon Diggs as threats Dallas needs to take seriously to get their campaign back on track.
"He's extremely dangerous. They've got two receivers over there that're really good, and they've got a run game that's good also. I just think especially learning from what we did last week and growing and executing and communicating is a big thing for this week also."
This is a sign of the respect Daniels is held in around the league and across the NFC East.
Nothing much went right for the No. 2 pick in 2024 last year, but that was primarily down to injuries. Now he's healthy again, and the closing stages at Lincoln Financial Field suggest he is finally finding his groove.
Against a team that coughed up 284 total yards (passing and rushing) and three touchdowns without a takeaway to Dart in Week 1, Daniels should be licking his lips like a cartoon wolf at the thought of facing the Cowboys this weekend.
Of course, Daniels cannot do it alone. But he can meet fire with fire if the prolific Cowboys offense gets the better of Washington's improving defense.
Only eight of the 51 teams that started 0-2 have made the playoffs since the league implemented the new format. The stakes are always high between these bitter rivals, and this only raises the stakes.
Daniels is a big-game performer. So is Williams, and the interior lineman has no doubt let every teammate know how much Washington's franchise player can hurt them if they don't show up again.
Let's hope these pleas fall on deaf ears.
Add us as a preferred source on Google