Finally. After a ridiculously long offseason, it’s finally game week for the Washington Commanders. After leading off with Justin Herbert and the Chargers last season, schedule-makers decided to take it easy on Ron Rivera’s side this time around in the form of a home game against the three-win Jaguars.
On paper, this is a relatively soft opener for the Commanders. However, they shouldn’t take Jacksonville for credit after their busy offseason, that included the hiring of Doug Pederson to replace Urban Meyer and spending an astronomical $328.9 million in free agency and $195.15 million in guaranteed money.
As long as the Commanders don’t rest on their laurels, they should open the 2022 campaign with a tally in the win column. With that in mind, let’s put our fortune teller hats on and predict why Washington will defeat Jacksonville.
3 reasons the Commanders will beat the Jaguars in Week 1
3. Terry McLaurin goes scorched earth on weak secondary
There were far too many instances last season when McLaurin just wasn’t involved in Washington’s passing attack. In fact, McLaurin was targeted six or fewer times in five different games and he was only targeted 10 times in four games.
Look for that to change in a big way with Carson Wentz under center.
Fresh off signing a $73 million extension, we’re expecting McLaurin to go nuclear against a lackluster Jaguars secondary this Sunday. Like most of their positions, Jacksonville’s secondary should make major improvements in 2022 with second-year breakout candidates Tyson Campbell and Andrew Cisco.
Campbell is the Jags’ top corner, so he’ll likely match up with McLaurin. A promising second-round pick out of Georgia last year, Campbell had a solid rookie year but took his lumps in coverage like most rookie defensive backs.
As long as Wentz shows up (more on him in a minute), McLaurin should erupt for a huge season-opener. We’re expecting 8 catches on 12 targets for 107 yards and a touchdown. The Commanders have a tendency to win when McLaurin performs well and Sunday’s opener should be no different.
Pepper him with targets and good things will happen.
2. Defense comes up with a huge turnover
The defense coming up with a huge turnover implies that this game will be close in the second half, and that’s exactly what I’m expecting.
The Jaguars finished 3-14 and got the No. 1 overall pick last year, but this isn’t the same team … or coaching staff. Urban Meyer is no longer around to embarrass himself and the franchise. Doug Pederson is no friend to Washington fans, but he’s a good coach and should have the team ready to play on Sundays.
Additionally, Trevor Lawrence is a prime breakout candidate and he’s surrounded by a plethora of weapons after their free-agent spending spree. However, he’s still a young quarterback who’s prone to turnovers and he’ll commit what proves to be a game-changing interception early in the fourth quarter.
Who gets the pick? None other than Kendall Fuller, who brought in a handful of interceptions during training camp and was the team’s defensive standout in camp. The Commanders will tack onto their lead on the ensuing possession and ultimately coast to a comfortable victory over the much-improved Jaguars.
1. Carson Wentz plays a clean game
Wentz might still have nightmares from the last time he played the Jaguars. Of course, it was that Week 18 performance that sealed his Colts fate, as he finished 17-of-29 for 185 yards, just 6.38 yards per attempt, one touchdown and two back-breaking turnovers that played a huge role in Jacksonville pulling off the upset.
Wentz has taken full accountability for his performance, which might’ve been the worst of his career given what was at stake and that everyone and their mother assumed Indianapolis would dominate. Remember, Jags fans were so disgusted with the team that they showed up with paper bags over their faces.
Look for Wentz to play a clean brand of football this time around.
That’s not to say he’s completely altered how he plays quarterback, but surely he doesn’t want a repeat of what happened in Week 18 against Jacksonville in both his regular season and home debut for the Commanders.
I’m not normally in the business of predicting stat lines, but Wentz is a new quarterback and it’s Week 1, so why not? Let’s say he goes 20-of-30 for 220 yards and two touchdowns to zero interceptions in a 24-17 victory for Washington.