Predicting the Commanders final 4 games with playoffs on the line

Just over two months ago, the Washington Commanders were headed full-steam for a high draft pick. After a 1-4 start, and barely scraping by a then-hapless Bears team in primetime, fans and the media measured how hot Ron Rivera’s seat was, and entertained the idea of selling house and starting from scratch.

Much like the 2020 season when Washington overcame a 2-7 start to finish 7-9 and win the division, the Commanders have once again turned their season around when everyone, including some fans, left them for dead.

Now 7-5-1 and holders of the No. 6 seed in the NFC, Washington would travel to the west coast for a date with the 49ers on Wild Card Weekend. Speaking of the Niners, the Commanders will play them in San Francisco on Christmas Eve, so these teams could see each other twice in a four-week span.

With that in mind — and Washington’s quest to make the playoffs still incomplete — let’s predict the final four games left on the schedule.

Predicting the Commanders final four games of 2022

4. Week 15 vs the NY Giants

This is the grandfather of must-win games. Incredibly, it’s not as big for Washington compared to the Giants, as the Commanders could lose and still get in by winning two of their final three fixtures. Beat New York, however, and Washington would establish a two-game lead over their rivals with three games left.

The Week 13 matchup could’ve gone either way. Both teams made enough mistakes to make a tie a fair result, but the Commanders were uncharacteristically sloppy. Between giving up five sacks, finishing 3-for-14 on third down and committing seven penalties for 55 yards, it’s almost impressive Washington didn’t lose.

MetLife Stadium was rocking, and the Commanders’ biggest difference-makers rose to the occasion, including Jon Allen, Daron Payne, Terry McLaurin, and several others. Fans should expect much of the same in Week 15.

All the pertinent variables favor Washington. They’re coming off a bye, should get some players back from injury — including Benjamin St-Juste, who was sorely missed in the first matchup — will have the backing of a raucous FedEx Field, and the Giants have one win in their last six games; vs the one-win Texans.

No excuse for the Commanders to lose this game.

Prediction: Commanders 24, Giants 17