Commanders vs. Bears — Week 6
- Date: Monday, October 13
- Time: 8.15 p.m. ET
- Channel: ESPN
- Venue: Northwest Stadium
The Hail Mary miracle completely shifted the course for the Commanders and the Chicago Bears last season. It propelled Dan Quinn's squad to a completely different stratosphere while the NFC North club free-fell into obscurity, firing head coach Matt Eberflus along the way.
Would things have been different if the Bears had defended Jayden Daniels' prayer that was caught by Noah Brown? It's hard to say, but Chicago will be intent on righting this wrong when the two teams square off again at Northwest Stadium.
There's a different look about the Bears. New head coach Ben Johnson comes with lofty ambitions. Chicago fortified the offensive line to help Caleb Williams. It's a well-balanced roster that should be more competitive. They'll also have all the motivation in the world to get one over on Washington after what happened last season.
- Prediction: Loss (4-2)
I've got a bad feeling about this one. The Commanders won't win every home game, and this could be one where they slip up.
Commanders at Cowboys — Week 7
- Date: Sunday, October 19
- Time: 4.25 p.m. ET
- Channel: FOX
- Venue: AT&T Stadium
The Commanders turned the tide in their heated, bitter rivalry with the Dallas Cowboys last season. It's been a long time since they've had the upper hand, so keeping their foot on the gas is critical.
Dan Quinn knows the quality Dallas possesses across the roster. They massively underachieved in 2024, which is typical of how things have unfolded for the Cowboys over the last two decades, but underestimating them is not an option. There is too much pride at stake for that.
Washington gets a chance to strike another blow on the Cowboys by beating them on the road. AT&T Stadium hasn't been a happy hunting ground for the Commanders over the years, but their win at the same venue in Week 18 ended the slide. Quinn will be hoping this inspires his squad to a period of dominance versus their long-term adversaries.
- Prediction: Win (5-2)
Getting off to a strong start is crucial. If they can build an early lead, that might cause enough frustration from the Cowboys' perspective to guarantee things play out positively.
Commanders at Chiefs — Week 8
- Date: Monday, October 27
- Time: 8.15 p.m. ET
- Channel: ABC
- Venue: Arrowhead Stadium
The Kansas City Chiefs are entering a crossroads campaign of sorts. They've reached dynastic levels in recent years and made the Super Bowl again in 2024. However, Andy Reid's men were never at their best, and eventually got exposed with a heavy loss to the Philadelphia Eagles.
They are running it back in the hope some magic remains. The Chiefs always have a chance with Patrick Mahomes leading the charge. Travis Kelce is giving it another go-around with retirement looming. Chris Jones is the defensive linchpin, and phenomenal coordinator Steve Spagnuolo is one of the most revered strategists around.
Couple this with the intimidating atmosphere Arrowhead Stadium provides, and it's not hard to see why this is a stiff challenge for the Commanders. This team came through almost every test with flying colors last season. They'll be hoping for the same again.
- Prediction: Loss (5-3)
This might be a step too far. But it might also be the perfect platform to put the NFL on notice.
Commanders vs. Seahawks — Week 9
- Date: Sunday, November 2
- Time: 8.20 p.m. ET
- Channel: NBC
- Venue: Northwest Stadium
The Seattle Seahawks are a tough evaluation heading into the season. They have enough to be competitive, but trading away wide receiver D.K. Metcalf and quarterback Geno Smith were questionable choices that could come back to haunt them.
Their fate rests almost squarely on the shoulders of Sam Darnold. The well-traveled signal-caller signed a big-money deal in free agency after the best season of his pro career with the Minnesota Vikings. Seattle is betting on the player's upward trend continuing alongside the likes of Cooper Kupp and Jaxson Smith-Njigba.
The Commanders won't take them lightly. They have a home-field advantage in this one, and momentum should be high. Establishing the run will be key, which is easier said than done with Leonard Williams, Johnathan Hankins, and DeMarcus Lawrence standing in their way.
- Prediction: Win (6-3)
This might be closer than people think, but the Commanders have more than enough defensively to force Darnold into some customary mistakes.