The Washington Commanders are looking to bounce back in 2026. Not much went right for head coach Dan Quinn last season, but fans are still confident that this slump will be a blip rather than a permanent return to the dark days when this sleeping giant was among the bottom feeders.
It remains to be seen just how much growth the Commanders will make. Fans aren't expecting miracles, but they want strides to be made in some capacity. If Quinn cannot make a better go of things, he'll be firmly on the hot seat.
That's the glass-half-full outlook. Mike Tannenbaum, a former general manager who now works as an analyst for ESPN, had a much more promising outlook for the Commanders. In fact, it was nothing short of staggering in the team's current state.
Mike Tannebaum predicts the Commanders to win the Super Bowl next season
Tannenbaum predicted the Commanders to win the Super Bowl next season, beating the Buffalo Bills on the biggest stage of all. He's based the theory on quarterback Jayden Daniels staying healthy and reaffirming his status as an elite-level difference-maker under center. And it would be the stuff of pure dreams.
"Commanders over Bills. Quarterback Jayden Daniels stays healthy next season and bounces back in a big way. He plays in every game and finishes the season by outdueling Allen and the Bills in a 45-42 shootout in L.A."Mike Tannenbaum via ESPN
The former front-office figure, who still works as a consultant around the NFL upon request, also projected Daniels to win NFL MVP next year. His belief in the signal-caller or the Commanders' ambitious project hasn't wavered. Still, sportsbooks hold a completely different opinion on how things could go for Washington.
According to FanDuel Sportsbook, the Commanders are 10th-favorites to win the NFC Conference at +2500 (bet $100 to win $2,500). They are 19th in the Super Bowl odds at +4500 (bet $100 to win $4,500). That makes them underdogs of epic proportions, and that's without counting the expected strength of the division to factor into the equation.
To say Tannenbaum's prediction was bold is an understatement. The Commanders won five games last season. They have holes almost everywhere on the roster, and their two new coordinators have no NFL play-calling experience. There are so many unknowns right now that it's hard to even consider Washington lifting its first Super Bowl trophy in 35 years.
At the same time, the scope for an immediate bounce-back to being competitive is evident if everything comes together and the Commanders' key men get a better run of luck on the health front. That might not result in a Super Bowl, but it would confirm that this organization is on the right path to prosperity.
And after how things unfolded last season, that just might be enough.