While Dan Quinn of the Washington Commanders may be fighting for his job, the Dallas Cowboys have been thinking about a trade, as usual. These teams meet in Week 2 of the 2026 NFL season, and here are our bold predictions.

The Commanders are coming off a tough 24-22 loss to the Eagles. They had a shot to tie with a minute left, but opted to put the ball in the hands of John Bates. Yes, backup tight end John Bates, who has 74 receptions in six NFL seasons. (Commanders’ fans can collectively sigh here).

Meanwhile, the Cowboys are coming off a beat-down by the Giants. Not on the scoreboard so much, but the way it happened. They were physically removed from MetLife Stadium. (Cowboys fans can scream into a pillow here).

One of these teams gets better this week.

Cowboys QB Dak Prescott will throw four TD passes

Let’s face it. The Commanders might have looked decent on defense against the Eagles, but there is little to no chance they can cover CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens. Whatever ailed the Cowboys in Week 1 will disappear into a sea of touchdown passes this week.

Prescott said the Cowboys need to press forward with the plan, according to their YouTube page via Heavy.com.

“I know the way that we approach things,” Prescott said. “I know that our routine, I know that our standard, I know that the way that we practice is the right way. So, my message is just echoing — don’t change, don’t flinch, don’t blink. This is a long year. We have to stick together. We are hanging our hat on our brotherhood, and that is who we believe that we are, so there is no better time to show it than after a loss.

“A little bit of adversity. We’ve got to make sure we use it as a lesson. Humble us. I am sure you guys are going to write whatever, deservingly, about this game. We’ve got to make sure we put the blinders on and focus on what we can control.”

What makes a big game for Prescott even more likely is that the Cowboys are mad about the way they played against the Giants.

“It sucks to lose,” Prescott said. “It damn sure sucks to lose the first one, to this team, a division game, but still optimistic. That doesn’t change our goals, that doesn’t change how we feel about our team. As I said, credit to those guys. This is a marathon, though it is a long season. And we’re going to respond. We’ve got great leaders, and I feel confident in even the message and the feel in the locker room after that.”

Cowboys WR George Pickens will go over 100 yards with two scores

It won’t necessarily be volume for Pickens. But he will scorch the Commanders’ defense for a 40-plus-yard touchdown. Maybe two of them.

Look for Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer to make sure Pickens gets a chance to make big plays against the Commanders. The Cowboys want to keep Pickens happy. And him not seeing the ball much in a Week 1 loss could become a distraction if the same thing happens in Week 2.

Schottenheimer said his team failed in Week 1, according to NBC Sports.

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“As a football team, we were pretty poor,” Schottenheimer said. “This is a humbling business. And we got humbled tonight. That’s what I told the guys. We lost mile one of a 17-mile marathon, and we have to be better, and we will be better.

“This one feels pretty bad just because, at the end of the day, we just didn’t perform the way we’re capable of playing. We didn’t play defense the way we’re capable of playing. We didn’t play offense in the first half the way we’re capable of playing.”

That will change against the Commanders. And Pickens will be front and center.

Commanders QB Jayden Daniels will top 275 yards passing

It’s hard to know how the Commanders will respond to the close loss to the Eagles. In some ways, it was encouraging. And even though Daniels didn’t have great numbers, he came up big in the fourth quarter.

The Commanders likely won’t be able to run the football against the Cowboys’ defensive front. So they will have to get yards through the air. Of course, the question is whether Daniels has enough weapons at the receiver positions to have a decent passing day. Terry McLaurin disappeared against the Eagles, catching two passes for 14 yards. Will he show up against the Cowboys?

If not, Stefon Diggs and rookie Antonio Williams will have to step up and get things done. It’s a challenge for sure. Perhaps Daniels can keep some plays alive against the Cowboys as he did against the Eagles.

Commanders WR Antonio Williams will again lead the team in receiving

It’s a matter of need. McLaurin looks like he’s lost a step. He’s no longer a true NFL WR1. At least not for a playoff-contending team. He can still be a WR1 for a team more likely to get a high draft pick in 2027.

Diggs seems to still have something left in the tank. He should have a good season. But Williams is going to be a focal point out of necessity. He had four catches for 64 yards and a score against the Eagles. Look for him to get way more than four targets this week. The Commanders are going to be playing from behind and probably throwing more than they want to throw.

That’s a plus for Williams, who appears to have been a very good draft pick by the Commanders.