The Washington Commanders harbored lofty ambitions to make strides during the third season under head coach Dan Quinn. But midway through the 2026 campaign, things are following a similar trend.
Washington is struggling to generate momentum. Quinn is facing increasing pressure about his future as the Commanders languish at 2-5-1. Their schedule is going to get a little easier in the coming weeks, but if they don't beat the New York Giants on Thursday Night Football, their campaign is all but over.
It's a sorry state of affairs. But the bullish claims about being more competitive are not translating into positive results.
And at the end of the day, this is a results business.
The Commanders still believe they can get out of their slump. It's looking a lot less likely, and fans are starting to lose faith in this project.
General manager Adam Peters spent big money this offseason to revamp the roster, and the improvements haven't arrived. As such, this franchise is now in real danger of wasting quarterback Jayden Daniels' rookie contract window.
A lot of blame goes around. But some areas have been bigger disappointments than others.
With that in mind, here are seven of the biggest Commanders letdowns behind a campaign unraveling by midseason.
Biggest Washington Commanders letdowns behind a campaign unraveling by midseason
Commanders' red-zone defense
The Commanders' defense has been among the league's worst for years. Joe Whitt Jr. was fired during the offseason, and Daronte Jones was the man trusted with picking this unit up off the canvas.
Adam Peters prioritized defensive reinforcements this offseason, which was the only route to take. The group has more energy and athleticism, but they haven't put together a full four-quarter game through the first half of 2026.
And their red-zone defense is a big reason behind their demise.
The Commanders rank among the league's worst in this critical area of the field. Jones' group gives up touchdowns 75 percent of the time (29th) when opponents get into the red zone, which is simply unacceptable and cannot continue much longer.
This is where the Commanders need to be firmer and more aggressive. They are dealing with some key defensive injuries, but every team gets them. Washington has to be better when the field gets tighter, but there is enough evidence to now suggest this might not be possible with the current personnel.
It's deeply disappointing. The Commanders brought in Steve Wilks to help Jones, which signals dissatisfaction. But if this key stat doesn't improve, everyone will suffer.
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