Which regular season games could receive primetime billing for the Washington Commanders ahead of the official schedule release this week?
With free agency and the 2023 NFL Draft wrapped up, it's time to switch gears. Offseason workouts and rookie minicamps and well underway around the league, which also comes with the eagerly-awaited schedule release this week.
While there was speculation it could be delayed, the NFL confirmed on Monday evening that teams will know their schedule fate on Thursday at 8 p.m. as originally promised. And based on recent history, a few leaks should also emerge before then.
Washington faces some stern competition next season and the NFC East isn't getting any easier. Couple this with the extra pressure on head coach Ron Rivera once new ownership gets the green light, and things could legitimately go either way for the franchise.
Looking at the opponents before the big reveal, here are some Commanders games that could be put on primetime in 2023.
Game No. 1
Commanders at/vs. Cowboys
Even though the Dallas Cowboys have attained very few playoff accomplishments since their most recent glory days in the mid-1990s, they remain the NFL's most talked-about franchise. A media darling beyond doubt for reasons that haven't necessarily transitioned to productive gridiron play more often than not.
If the Washington Commanders are going to land a primetime game in 2023, it might be against their fierce NFC East rivals. The Philadelphia Eagles are runaway favorites for the division, so who comes out on top in these fixtures will go a long way to determining wildcard standings when it's all said and done.
Commanders at Jets
A laughing stock no more, the New York Jets could feature in plenty of primetime games next season. The reason? Securing a bombshell trade to acquire Aaron Rodgers from the Green Bay Packers.
This has been on the cards for a while. After posturing and negotiating between both parties, a deal was finally struck before the 2023 NFL Draft, which works as a win-win for each team in the circumstances.
The Jets went from a dark horse to a potential AFC Championship candidate the moment Rodgers' arrival became official. As fate would have it, the Washington Commanders are scheduled to visit MetLife Stadium to take on Gang Green at some stage during the campaign.
Washington has its own quarterback looking to make a splash in Sam Howell. He might not be anywhere near Rodgers' league right now, but Ron Rivera has placed some significant faith in the former fifth-round selection making a go of things after spending most of his rookie year watching from the sidelines.
The Commanders and Jets are two storied franchises that endured some rough luck over the years. If this game did end up on primetime, the numbers would be pretty decent one suspects - even if that is primarily down to Rodgers rather than Howell.
Commanders at Broncos
Another team that might be getting plenty of primetime love next season despite struggling in 2022 is the Denver Broncos. The new owners made a whopping splash by convincing Sean Payton to end his brief retirement and become head coach, giving up high-end draft capital to the New Orleans Saints to get the respected offensive mind out of his contract.
This was an absolute stunner and one that can benefit the Broncos enormously. But much will depend on whether or not Payton can work his magic on Russell Wilson, who regressed considerably after his landmark switch from the Seattle Seahawks.
There is enough talent across the Broncos to suggest Payton can thrive. He'll face a stern test at home against the Washington Commanders' stout defensive unit in 2023, which might have enough intrigue attached to make it a primetime game depending on where it lands on the schedule.
The clash will also pit the NFL's two newest owners versus one another if Josh Harris' group gets their $6.05 billion bid for the Commanders approved as expected. That has no bearing on the game itself, but it's another fascinating talking point beforehand if nothing else.
In truth, the Commanders might not be on primetime much - if at all under the new rules. But it would be a major shock if they weren't involved in one or two now that Dan Snyder is out of the picture.
Will it be one of the aforementioned games? Time will tell.