Commanders' moving up under Dan Quinn ahead of significant challenges

There was a palpable sense of relief when the Washington Commanders got their first win in 10 regular-season attempts during their Week 2 outing against the New York Giants. They left it late and things weren't perfect from an execution standpoint on either side of the football, but head coach Dan Quinn's men found a way to get over the line.

It's been a long time since fans tasted the winning feeling, least of all against a division rival. Whether the Commanders can build on this positivity with some testing games upcoming on the schedule is debatable. But for now, things are looking up.

Commanders moving up in FanSided's NFL power rankings

This was reflected in Cody Williams of FanSided's latest NFL power rankings heading into Week 3 at the Cincinnati Bengals on Monday Night Football. Washington landed at No. 25 in the standings - up from No. 29 - propping up the list of teams under the tag of 'there's something here, but maybe not enough'.

"It wasn’t pretty, but the Washington Commanders are up and running under new head coach Dan Quinn. Their last-gasp triumph over the New York Giants could have been more comfortable had several crucial penalties in the red zone not held them back. Fortunately, new kicker Austin Seibert was on hand to save the day. Seibert nailed a team-record seven field goals, including a walk-off effort to end Washington’s nine-game losing run dating back to last season. The Commanders still have plenty of problem areas to work on, but rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels proved that if he gets a chance in the clutch, he can deliver for this team."

- Dean Jones via FanSided

We'll find out much more about the Commanders in the coming weeks. After their nationally televised road showdown against the Bengals, Washington takes on the Arizona Cardinals, Cleveland Browns, and Baltimore Ravens before welcoming the lowly Carolina Panthers to Northwest Stadium in Week 7. This is a tough stretch, especially so early into Quinn's head coaching tenure.

Significant adjustments are needed to come out of these games with credit. The Commanders' red zone offense needs to improve drastically. Things are not perfect in the defensive secondary, which could prove complicated versus the likes of Ja'Marr Chase, Marvin Harrison Jr., Amari Cooper, and Zay Flowers.

The Commanders seem a long way off from entering the postseason picture right now. They sit atop the NFC East after two games, but fans shouldn't read too much into that. It's a long season. There will be many twists and turns. What's important for Quinn is keeping everyone on an even keel through the good times and bad.

That should be enough to ensure improvement arrives. If rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels continues his development and maintains the high standards he's set for himself, the better Washington's chances will be.

It won't take long for the Commanders to tumble down power rankings around the media if they cannot win any of their next four contests. For fans, keeping the bigger picture in mind is crucial during the first campaign of a comprehensive tear-down from top to bottom.

And who knows, perhaps the Commanders can surprise a few along the way.

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