The Dallas Cowboys secured a win on Sunday, and it’s likely that you’re aware of that. You might have also assumed they didn’t stand much of a chance on the road against the Washington Commanders. After all, even the most optimistic Cowboys fans have been skeptical about the team’s performance this season.
When you take fandom out of the equation, oddsmakers also didn’t favor Dallas in this matchup. Depending on which sportsbook you reference, the Cowboys were generally seen as significant underdogs. ESPN’s Todd Archer highlighted that Dallas closed as a 10.5-point underdog at ESPN BET. This victory marked the first time since Week 10 of 2010 that Dallas won as an underdog of at least 10 points, when they triumphed on the road against the New York Giants. That game was memorable as it led to Jason Garrett being named the Cowboys’ permanent head coach—a decision that sparked much debate at the time.
While being a double-digit underdog is rarely a positive sign for any team, and not something a team expects to encounter often, it’s noteworthy that the Cowboys pulled off the upset. Their victory over a division rival when few believed in them was a strong statement.
