Commanders vs. Lions — Week 10
- Date: Sunday, November 9
- Time: 4.25 p.m. ET
- Channel: FOX
- Venue: Northwest Stadium
The Commanders' crowning glory last season was their divisional round playoff win over the Detroit Lions. Knocking off the No. 1 seed was no mean feat, but there were mitigating circumstances attached.
The Lions' defense was decimated by injuries. Guys were being signed off the street and thrown into immediate starting responsibilities. It was enough to get them through the regular season, but this glaring flaw quickly became exposed when Jayden Daniels came calling.
Detroit will be looking to avenge this loss when the two sides meet in 2025. How the Lions will look after losing their two coordinators — Aaron Glenn and Ben Johnson — to head coaching jobs is anyone's guess. But their talent across the roster warrants serious respect.
- Prediction: Loss (6-4)
If edge rusher Aidan Hutchinson is back to his best and the offense keeps rolling without Johnson calling the shots, it'll take a monumental effort from the Commanders to get another win in the column. That's not to say it isn't possible, though.
Commanders at Dolphins — Week 11
- Date: Sunday, November 16
- Time: 9.30 a.m ET
- Channel: NFL Network
- Venue: Santiago Bernabéu Stadium (Madrid)
The Commanders receiving the honor of competing in the first international game in Spain signifies the changing tide across the franchise. But for head coach Dan Quinn and his players, winning is all that matters.
Getting a road game at a neutral venue is marginally better than heading down to the Florida sunshine. The Miami Dolphins will be a tough nut to crack, but the Commanders have more than enough to put on a show before their long-awaited bye week rest.
The Dolphins are going through some changes. They remain committed to quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, but it's a precarious situation. Washington has nothing to fear, and the league believes it can put on a show to enhance its global brand.
- Prediction: Win (7-4)
If the Commanders' revamped secondary meets their end of the bargain, this could be a comfortable afternoon at the office.
Commanders vs. Broncos — Week 13
- Date: Sunday, November 30
- Time: 8.20 p.m. ET
- Channel: NBC
- Venue: Northwest Stadium
Jayden Daniels took the league by storm in Year 1. But there was one player who came closer than anyone to throwing doubt on his NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year crown.
Bo Nix adjusted extremely well to a professional environment. The Denver Broncos found their guy, and head coach Sean Payton believes this is the start of a prosperous new era for the organization.
This will be the first time Daniels and Nix will square off in the pros. Both are very different quarterbacks, but both have long-term promise. However, the biggest conundrum facing Washington is how best to counteract Denver's elite defense led by All-Pro cornerback Patrick Surtain II.
- Prediction: Win (8-4)
It's a riddle that very few effectively resolved last season. Daniels and Kliff Kingsbury need to be at the top of their respective games to get the better of this particular challenge. Anything less than supreme execution won't be tolerated, especially coming off their bye week.
Commanders at Vikings — Week 14
- Date: Sunday, December 7
- Time: 1.00 p.m. ET
- Channel: FOX
- Venue: U.S. Bank Stadium
The Minnesota Vikings were a nice surprise last season. Kevin O'Connell worked miracles with quarterback Sam Darnold. Brian Flores transformed the defense into a game-wrecking force that created havoc at will. This was despite suffering some grave injuries as the campaign progressed.
Whether the Vikings reach similar feats this season is almost entirely dependent on J.J. McCarthy. Minnesota placed its faith in the first-round pick after he missed his entire rookie campaign through injury. Darnold signed for the Seattle Seahawks, so it's another journey into the unknown for O'Connell.
This could work in Washington's favor. Putting McCarthy under pressure early and often could force the inexperienced signal-caller into mistakes. However, blitzing too much is risky, especially considering the presence of Justin Jefferson, T.J. Hockenson, and Jordan Addison in the passing game.
- Prediction: Win (9-4)
This is another one that could legitimately go either way. But if it comes down to McCarthy or Jayden Daniels in the clutch, not even Jonathan Allen's intent for revenge should prevent a Commanders' win.