Week 2 Warning: Jerry Jones speaks out before pivotal Commanders matchup
The Cowboys owner was in a playful mood even as Dallas faced an important early-season test
Jerry Jones found time for a little rivalry banter before the Dallas Cowboys ’ first home game of the season, even with his team already facing pressure to respond after a disappointing opener.
As Jones made his way through the tunnel at AT&T Stadium before Sunday’s NFC East matchup against the Washington Commanders , he stopped to acknowledge supporters and spotted one fan wearing Washington colors.
“Tell 'em to be sweet to us,” Jones said. The exchange was lighthearted, but the stakes surrounding the game are not.
Dallas entered Week 2 looking to avoid an 0-2 start after a 28-20 loss to the New York Giants , a result that immediately put renewed focus on a defense that struggled to contain New York in key situations.
Washington, also searching for its first win, offered the Cowboys little room for another slow start.
Giants were better than expected
Jones had already created headlines earlier in the week by acknowledging that New York exceeded his expectations in the opener.
“They were better than how we thought they were,” Jones told 105.3 The Fan. “They played better than we thought they could.”
That assessment stood out given Dallas ’ own recent history. The Cowboys missed the playoffs in each of the previous two seasons and entered 2026 hoping that changes made on defense would help them re-establish themselves as a serious NFC contender.
Jones , however, is expecting improvement against Washington: “The improvement from where we played on Sunday [on defense] will be there,” he said. “I'll go on record saying that.”
His confidence puts added attention on a unit that showed familiar problems in Week 1, including a lack of pressure and communication breakdowns.
Cowboys know home opener carries more weight
Jones also made clear that Sunday’s game feels more important because of how poorly Dallas opened the season.
“This one is particularly challenging, not challenging, exciting if you will because we really did not do what we wanted to do in our opening game there in New York,” he said.
“This puts added emphasis on this game. We really want to play well in front of our home fans.”
Jones may have joked about wanting Washington to “be sweet,” but Dallas knows it cannot rely on favors. A stronger defensive performance and a cleaner overall showing are needed if the Cowboys are going to move past Week 1 quickly.
The rivalry adds another layer. Dallas and Washington have spent decades trading blows inside the NFC East, and even an early-season meeting can carry more emotion than its place on the calendar might suggest.
Jones ’ tunnel message drew smiles. What happens once the ball is kicked off will matter far more.
