How could the Washington Commanders fare over their next four games after starting the season 2-3 and on the back of three straight defeats?
After such a positive start, things are starting to unravel for the Washington Commanders. Their loss against the Chicago Bears on Thursday Night Football was the harshest sign yet of how far this team is away from legitimately entering the postseason discussion, which isn't a good look for head coach Ron Rivera in Year 4 of his tenure.
The defense needs to improve drastically. That is the biggest thing holding the Commanders back currently, which isn't what many envisaged during the preseason given how many questions surrounded quarterback Sam Howell and how quickly Eric Bieniemy could implement his offensive ethos.
Howell is the least of Washington's concerns right now, which is a big positive. Bieniemy is also scheming things up nicely despite having to make significant in-game alterations as the Commanders look to recover from big deficits more often than not.
Morale is sapping slowly from the fanbase after three consecutive defeats. All hope is not lost just yet, but how could the Commanders fare over the next four games following a 2-3 start to the campaign?
Commanders at Falcons - Week 8
This has quickly become a must-win game for the Washington Commanders. Confidence isn't exactly high, but veterans within the locker room have been quick to rally the troops in recent days as the team looks to pick itself off the canvas and get its campaign back on track.
The Falcons boast a formidable rushing attack led by first-round sensation Bijan Robinson. Quarterback Desmond Ridder is shaky at best, so the onus will be on Washington's defensive front to start living up to their reputation and make things extremely uncomfortable.
Defensively, Atlanta has decent individuals at all three levels that can make an impact. Grady Jarrett, A.J. Terrell, Bud Dupree, and Jessie Bates III are all problems the Commanders need to counteract, but establishing their run versus a team giving up 104.4 yards per game on the ground would be a good place to start.
Prediction: Win (3-3)
This is made more in hope than expectation. But after getting their pride stung against the Chicago Bears, anything less than a positive response won't be tolerated.
Commanders at NY Giants - Week 7
Looking at how things have unfolded over the first five weeks, it appears as if the NFC East has two good teams and two going through some complications. The Philadelphia Eagles are unbeaten and look well on course to mount another bold Super Bowl bid, with the Dallas Cowboys also likely to reach the postseason despite being humbled by the San Francisco 49ers last time out.
That leaves the Washington Commanders and New York Giants. These teams will square off for the first time in 2023 during a pivotal Week 7 encounter, which could be a crossroads result in terms of their fortunes.
The Giants made the divisional playoff round last season after a memorable first campaign under Brian Daboll. Things aren't going nearly as well these days, which stems from a porous offensive line and a quarterback in Daniel Jones who isn't living up to his mammoth contract extension.
This is positive news for the Commanders, but star running back Saquon Barkey should be in the lineup by this point and Jones has gotten the better of Jack Del Rio's defense more often than not. Therefore, they are not in a position to take the G-Men lightly by any stretch of the imagination.
Prediction: Win (4-3)
Again, this is more in hope than guaranteeing a result. The Commanders' defensive front should be more than a match for New York's suspect protection - especially on the interior - it's whether they can keep Jones contained that represents the biggest potential stumbling block.
Commanders vs. Eagles - Week 8
A relatively quick second meeting sees the Washington Commanders welcome the Philadelphia Eagles for what should be another physical encounter. Ron Rivera's men arguably turned in their finest performance of the campaign against the defending NFC champions in Week 4, even if it only resulted in a narrow overtime loss despite a rousing effort.
The Eagles are currently unbeaten and look like the class within both the NFC East and the conference overall along with the San Francisco 49ers. However, if Washington wants to get on Philadelphia's level somewhere down the line, these are the games where they need to stamp their authority.
Those in the locker room can take heart from their performance at Lincoln Financial Field, but that will count for nothing in this one. The Eagles are likely to be much better from an execution standpoint by midseason, so it represents a grave challenge and if the Commanders are carrying any passengers, they'll pay the price.
Much like their first meeting, it all starts upfront. The defensive line must contain and pressure Jalen Hurts in the hope he'll make mistakes and the protection in front of quarterback Sam Howell must hold firm versus a stout defensive front that's stacked with weapons led by first-round pick Jalen Carter.
Prediction: Loss (4-4)
FedEx Field will hopefully be rocking after two straight wins in this scenario. But these are two teams on different paths right now and it's hard to see anything other than defeat looking at the grand scheme of things.
Commanders at Patriots - Week 9
These are not your dad's New England Patriots.
Bill Belichick's trophy-laden stint with the Patriots is rapidly becoming a distant memory. Things have fallen by the wayside since New England and quarterback Tom Brady parted ways, with their efforts this season indicating a major rebuild won't be long in the offing.
Beleaguered quarterback Mac Jones has been benched for two consecutive weeks. The Patriots offense is among the league's worst and have mustered just three points over their last two outings to further complicate matters.
There are few - if any - that boast Belichick's credentials. But the general manager is not helping the head coach right now - and the legendary figure happens to be both.
Going to Gillette Stadium isn't the easiest proposition and their defense does have some talent that could pose complications. Belichick is also a master at neutralizing the opposition's biggest threat, so it's a unique challenge that the Washington Commanders must overcome.
Prediction: Win (5-4)
Make no mistake, the Commanders have absolutely nothing to fear during their trip to the Patriots. Perhaps 3-1 over the next four games is the height of optimism, but this is a crucial stretch of fixtures that Ron Rivera must come out on the other side of with some genuine momentum.