Why the Dallas Cowboys Always Find a Way to Beat the Washington Commanders: Is It a Curse or Just Dominance?

The Latest Game: Cowboys Crush Commanders

On October 19, 2025 the Cowboys defeated Washington 44-22. Quarterback Dak Prescott passed for 264 yards and three touchdowns, while star receiver CeeDee Lamb returned from injury to produce 110 receiving yards and a TD. The Commanders’ starting QB Jayden Daniels exited in the third quarter with a hamstring injury after a strip-sack fumble. Washington entered the matchup with key receiver injuries and couldn’t keep up.
Despite this being a so-so season for Dallas overall (they sat at 3-3-1 before the game) the win was emphatic and the pattern continues.

The Head-to-Head History

The Cowboys dominate this rivalry historically: they lead the series by a large margin (79-49-2 overall) against Washington (including regular season) according to multiple sources. Over the last decade or so, Dallas has frequently pulled out wins even when their season was rocky. Since 2015 the Cowboys have gone 14-6 versus the Commanders.

So the recent result is not an anomaly but part of a long-standing pattern.

Why Does Dallas Keep Beating Washington?

Several possible reasons may explain why the Cowboys seem to have the Commanders’ number:

Psychological edge & confidence: When you have dominated a rival for decades, the mental edge matters. Dallas players know that “we beat Washington” is almost expected, so they play with belief.

Division familiarity & matchup comfort: Both are NFC East teams, they meet twice a year, and Dallas has often had the more consistent roster. The Cowboys exploit Washington’s weaknesses effectively.

Washington’s inconsistencies: Injuries, quarterback instability, penalties — Washington often brings self-inflicted wounds into games versus Dallas, making it easier for the Cowboys. For instance, in the latest game The Commanders committed 11 penalties for 118 yards. Dallas’ “trap game” advantage: Even in down years, Dallas seems to raise its level for this rivalry matchup. It’s almost like their season might be bad, but the “Commanders game” becomes elevated in focus.

Is It a Curse, or Just Dominance?

There are fans and commentators who joke that Washington is under a “curse” when playing Dallas — that no matter how well the Commanders might be doing, the Cowboys seem to find a path to victory. But the reality likely leans toward dominance rather than supernatural fate.

The rivalry’s origins date back to 1960, when Dallas joined the NFL as an expansion team and began playing Washington. Over the years, the Cowboys built a winning tradition, star power, and institutional culture that Washington hasn’t always matched. That structural advantage shows up in the records.

So while the “curse” tagline is fun for headlines and locker-room talk, it is more about institutional advantage, matchup-psychology, and Washington failing to get over the hump in these rivalry games.

What This Means Going Forward

For Cowboys fans, yesterday’s 44-22 win will feel like a silver lining in an otherwise uneven season. For Washington, the loss raises serious questions: If you can’t stop Dallas even when you’re healthier, then when can you?
Moving ahead, if the Commanders want to shake the pattern they must:

Fix discipline (reduce penalties)

Solidify the QB position and avoid match-up breakdowns

Raise their intensity when facing Dallas, treating it as the must-win it statistically is

Meanwhile Dallas knows that no matter how rough the year has been, the game versus Washington is one they can win. That gives them a fallback and keeps playoff or division hopes alive longer than they might otherwise.

An evergreen statement: DaRon Bland pick-six pic.twitter.com/7EdptnqLX6
— Nick Harris (@NickHarrisFWST) October 19, 2025