Dallas Cowboys receiver George Pickens is brushing off a rough Week 1 outing and calling for a sharper response when Washington visits for Sunday’s NFC East home opener.
Key takeaways
- Pickens caught three passes for 28 yards on seven targets in Dallas’ 28-20 season-opening loss to the New York Giants.
- The Pro Bowl receiver had two drops, including a missed third-and-4 opportunity late in the first half with the score tied.
- Dallas surrendered 394 yards to the Giants while producing 244 total yards on offense.
- The Cowboys had only two possessions after halftime in the loss.
- Head coach Brian Schottenheimer expressed no concern about Pickens’ ability to rebound against Washington.
Pickens focused on correcting mistakes
Pickens entered the new season after the best year of his career, but his Dallas opener did not meet that standard. The former Pittsburgh Steelers receiver failed to secure two catchable balls, with the second coming when he had separation downfield with under 90 seconds remaining before halftime.
Three days after the defeat, Pickens said the focus had already shifted to improvement rather than dwelling on the errors.
“It’s football. Things are going to happen, but you want to keep them to a minimum,” Pickens said. “I want to make the big plays because I know what I can do. I’m just working to improve.”
Pickens joined the Cowboys in a trade from Pittsburgh and delivered career highs of 93 receptions, 1,429 receiving yards and nine touchdowns in 2025. Dallas will need that production quickly after opening the season with a division loss.
Washington matchup carries early urgency
Dallas’ problems against the Giants extended beyond Pickens’ drops. New York found the end zone in every quarter, while the Cowboys offense struggled to establish rhythm and was limited to 244 yards.
A second straight defeat, particularly against another NFC East opponent, would leave the Cowboys at 0-2 before the season has gained momentum. Pickens said the division stakes make Sunday’s game against the Commanders especially important.
“There is definitely urgency because it is another division game,” Pickens said. “We have to handle the details. I think that is where everyone’s mindset is now.”
Schottenheimer expects Pickens to return to the playmaking form that made him one of Dallas’ leading weapons last season.
“George will be fine,” Schottenheimer said Wednesday. “Normally, he catches that sideline ball, runs through it, makes people miss and gets into the end zone. I’m not worried about George.”
Pickens echoed that confidence, saying the Cowboys collectively have room to improve and expect to show it when they take the field Sunday in Dallas.
SEO Title: Cowboys’ George Pickens seeks Week 2 rebound against Commanders
SEO Description: George Pickens and the Dallas Cowboys are aiming to clean up mistakes after a Week 1 loss to the Giants before Sunday’s NFC East home opener against Washington.
