In their first five games of the 2025 season, the Washington Commanders played teams with a combined record of 9-13-1. Their next five opponents have a current combined record of 13-10-1. The level of competition is about to rise.
It’s not only the records that should be drawing Dan Quinn’s attention. Four of the next five opponents boast top-10 offenses. The one that doesn’t — the Chicago Bears — is led by everyone’s favorite offensive genius, Ben Johnson. Clearly, the head coach is going to be tested.
And the tests do not merely exist in the opposition.
Commanders face a brutal six-week run that obliterates the typical routine
The following five weeks, which will go a long way toward determining the success or failure of the Commanders’ season, will provide a real test of Quinn’s logistical agility and his ability to adapt to changing circumstances.
NFL teams are creatures of habit. Coaches like to establish a routine. They practice the same way each week and develop a rhythm. Four of the Commanders' first five games were played on Sunday, and three of them were played in the 1 p.m. Eastern time slot that Washington is most comfortable with.
The game against the Los Angeles Chargers was played in the late window slot. Since it took place in California, that was the earliest time available.
One game was played off schedule. The Commanders traveled for a Thursday night game versus the Green Bay Packers in Week 2. Short-week games on the road are always challenging, so maybe it isn’t surprising that Washington turned in a mostly lifeless performance.
Over the next five weeks, the Commanders do not have a single 1 p.m. contest on Sundays. They will play in three games at night. Two are on Monday, meaning they will be on short rest for the following week. The other is on Sunday night. The two non-night games are in the NFL's late Sunday window.
Specific problems regarding schedule and recovery always occur when teams have non-standard game times. In this particular case, Quinn will need to prepare for a road trip to the Dallas Cowboys on short rest after playing the Bears. Then, he will have a short week to prepare for the resurgent Seattle Seahawks after playing the Kansas City Chiefs on Monday Night Football.
The sheer number of consecutive off-schedule games will also make it very hard to establish any rhythm during the week. Quinn, his coaches, players, and all the essential support staff will be adjusting to new timelines each week.
If you want the good news, the numerous featured time slots are a clear indication of how the NFL regards the Commanders with Jayden Daniels at quarterback. As complicated as the logistics will be, you’d still rather be a team that fans are clamoring to see each week than a middling performer that always seems to draw the announcers that fans have never heard of.
That’s what the Commanders had been for a very long time before the arrival of Quinn and Daniels.
As if to put an exclamation point on this roller coaster of a timeline, the NFL powers-that-be are sending Quinn and company to Madrid at the end of this five-week run. International travel and an East Coast starting time of 9.30 a.m. are just a couple more obstacles for the club to overcome.
On the bright side, their opponent in Spain will be the struggling Miami Dolphins. More importantly, after their European voyage, the Commanders get their well-deserved bye week.