Despite a decisive Week 2 victory over the Washington Commanders, former NFL quarterback and current analyst Dan Orlovsky has expressed significant doubts about the Dallas Cowboys’ readiness to compete for a Super Bowl title. While the team showcased a strong offensive performance, particularly from quarterback Dak Prescott, Orlovsky remains unconvinced about the defense’s capabilities, which he believes is the primary obstacle to their championship aspirations.
Dak Prescott’s Record-Breaking Performance
The Cowboys’ 42-10 win against the Commanders on Sunday was highlighted by a stellar outing from Dak Prescott. He completed 279 passing yards and threw for four touchdowns, etching his name further into the franchise’s history. His final touchdown pass of the game broke the previous Cowboys all-time passing touchdown record, a mark previously held by Tony Romo. This achievement drew widespread praise and contributed to a narrative that the Cowboys were finally beginning to resemble a formidable team.
Orlovsky’s Skepticism Regarding the Defense
However, Orlovsky, speaking on ‘The Pat McAfee Show,’ articulated a contrasting viewpoint. He acknowledged Prescott’s historic accomplishment but quickly pivoted to his concerns about the team’s defense. “I don’t think Dallas is good enough to win a Super Bowl right now,” Orlovsky stated. “Their defence isn’t good enough.”
Orlovsky pointed to the defensive unit’s statistics and performance against opposing offenses. He noted that through the first two games, the defense had only forced two punts. Furthermore, he highlighted that these limited successes came against quarterbacks Marcus Mariota, a backup, and Jaxson Dart, a second-year player. Orlovsky also raised concerns that the defense was surrendering more yards per drive than in the previous season, a year widely criticized for its defensive shortcomings.
“Defense has forced two punts, they’ve played against for the most parts, Marcus Mariota, who is the backup, while awesome career backup quarterback in Washington and Jaxson Dart, second-year quarterback and they forced two punts, they’re giving up more yards per drive than last year when everyone said it was a historically bad defence,” Orlovsky elaborated.
Offensive Strengths and Weaknesses
While the passing game under Prescott has shown promise, Orlovsky identified the running game as an area still needing significant improvement. He suggested that the absence of offensive lineman Tyler Smith has impacted the team’s ability to establish a consistent ground attack. Despite the defensive unit’s supposed improvements and a reduction in missed assignments compared to Week 1, Orlovsky argued that the overall production remained insufficient for a team aiming for a championship.
“I like the pass game, the run game is still not there and they’re missing Tyler Smith in that regard, the defence that was supposed to be this defence that got big, Week 2 less missed assignments, but still way less production,” he added.
Defensive Coordinator’s Perspective
The Cowboys’ new defensive coordinator had previously admitted to the unit’s struggles in their Week 1 loss to the New York Giants, characterizing the performance as poor but ultimately fixable. While there were flashes of positive play against the Commanders, the overall consensus, echoed by Orlovsky, is that substantial improvement is necessary for the Cowboys to be seriously considered Super Bowl contenders.
Looking Ahead: Super Bowl Aspirations
The Dallas Cowboys entered the 2026 season with considerable expectations, bolstered by significant roster changes, including a revamped defense designed to elevate their contention status. Their Week 1 loss to the Giants temporarily dampened this optimism. The decisive win over Washington has reignited some hope, but external analyses, like that from Dan Orlovsky, underscore the critical need for the defense to perform at a much higher level. The team’s ability to address these defensive concerns will be paramount in determining whether they can genuinely challenge for the Lombardi Trophy.
The journey to the Super Bowl requires a complete team effort, and for the Cowboys, the defensive performance remains the most scrutinized aspect. As the season progresses, all eyes will be on whether the team can coalesce into the dominant force many anticipated, particularly on the defensive side of the ball, to silence critics like Orlovsky and make a deep playoff run.
