Cowboys news: Jerry Jones drops declaration on defense after crushing Commanders

Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones made a clear statement about the team's defense improving over recent years after the Cowboys secured a 37-20 home victory against the Washington Commanders on Sunday. Jones, who has guided the Cowboys franchise for decades, expressed his hope for the team to return to Super Bowl-winning glory in the modern era.

With a star-studded roster on both offense and defense, Dallas appears poised to contend for a playoff spot. The 2026 season began on a rocky note with a narrow 28-20 loss to the New York Giants in the season opener, but Dallas bounced back with a convincing win over Washington this weekend. Owner Jerry Jones revealed his positive assessment of the defense's quality, stating, "We're better than we've been the last two years on defense," according to reporter Jon Machota.

Dallas' offense also dominated the game, scoring in all four quarters and leading 17-10 at halftime. Quarterback Dak Prescott had an exceptional performance, completing 26 of 31 passes for 279 yards and four touchdowns while also rushing for 26 yards. Wide receiver CeeDee Lamb and Jake Ferguson were the leading receivers, with Lamb amassing 153 yards and two touchdowns on eight receptions and Ferguson contributing 43 yards and two touchdowns on four catches.

The Cowboys will aim to build on this momentum, as they travel to Brazil for their next game on Week 3, facing the Baltimore Ravens on September 27 at 4:25 p.m. ET.