Commanders News: Chase Young, Josh Harris, Mitchell Rales and elite defense

Elite defense can carry Commanders in 2023

Although there are questions about the offense and whether it can make the necessary improvements under Eric Bieniemy's expert guidance, there are no such concerns where the Washington Commanders' defense is concerned. This unit looks primed for another campaign of supreme dominance, which should keep games close and give them a fighting chance at the very least.

This was a sentiment echoed by Kristopher Knox from The Bleacher Report, who stated that the Commanders don't need elite quarterback production to make the playoffs. Instead, they can lean on their formidable defense to carry them into postseason contention.

"If [Sam] Howell can hold off Jacoby Brissett and perform better than last year's tandem of Taylor Heinicke and Carson Wentz did, Washington might just be a playoff contender. The reason for this—and the reason Washington should feel confident about its chances—is a defense that is among the NFL's best. The Commanders ranked third in yards allowed last season, seventh in points allowed and eighth in defensive red-zone touchdown rate (51.9 percent), according to Pro Football Reference. No team was better defensively on third down (31.9 percent conversion rate). The Commanders don't need elite quarterback play to be a playoff team in 2023. They only need Howell and/or Brissett to be average, and the optimist's view is that at least one of them will."

- Kristopher Knox, The Bleacher Report

Washington still needs to put points on the board and this league is being driven more towards offenses in recent years. However, the saying 'defense wins championships' exists for a reason.

If the Commanders' secondary creates more turnovers and health doesn't become a factor, Jack Del Rio's defense is going to be a real problem.