How could the Washington Commanders fare over their next four games after a 3-5 start and trading their two starting defensive ends before the 2023 deadline?
It's clear something was brewing within the Washington Commanders after their hard-fought loss against the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 8. What came in the days afterward represented a strong indication of which direction the team was going under Josh Harris' ownership group.
Perhaps fans were thinking one of their stud defensive ends would be moved. As it turned out, the Commanders traded both Montez Sweat and Chase Young to the Chicago Bears and San Francisco 49ers respectively for two Day 2 draft selections in 2024 - one of which could be a top-40 pick when it's all said and done.
Those behind the scenes are planning for the future. But there are still nine games to navigate as head coach Ron Rivera tries to turn this sinking ship around - however unlikely that might seem.
On this topic, we took a look at how the Commanders might fare over their next four games after a 3-5 start and trading two established figures on the defensive front.
Commanders at Patriots - Week 9
This is all about how much fight remains in the Washington Commanders locker room. It'll be weird for a few days without Montez Sweat and Chase Young given the esteem in which both were held by their peers, but those still around must turn their attention quickly to the business at hand.
The New England Patriots have a decent defense that can make things uncomfortable for promising signal-caller Sam Howell. However, their offense is going through some real complications and this is something the Commanders can take full advantage of.
Prediction: Win (4-5)
If Washington's offense plays anything like they did last time out and the defense shows resolve without Young and Sweat, they have a big chance of coming away from Gillette Stadium with a win. That might be on the optimistic side for a team who've lost five of their last six, but this is not the Patriots franchise that dominated the league for two decades under Bill Belichick and Tom Brady.
Commanders at Seahawks - Week 10
Another road game for the Washington Commanders sees them make what appears to be a daunting trip to take on the Seattle Seahawks in Week 10. Pete Carroll's men are once again performing way above expectations and a recent splash in the trade market suggests that they fancy their chances of winning the NFC West and perhaps even making a deep postseason run for good measure.
The Seahawks shelled out decent draft compensation to secure the services of defensive lineman Leonard Williams. Of course, he is no stranger to the Commanders having recently played for the New York Giants, so he's one of many hurdles this team must counteract in pursuit of an unlikely triumph.
Quarterback Geno Smith is playing tremendous football once again. The Seahawks have an abundance of skill position players on offense that can do damage and Seattle's defense has been another bright spot en route to their 5-2 record through seven games.
Not only this, but the Commanders will need to shake things up in terms of how plays come into signal-caller Sam Howell at Lumen Field. This is one of the loudest and most intimidating environments anywhere in the league, so the cards are stacked against Washington in no uncertain terms.
Prediction: Loss (4-6)
Although the Commanders have played up to their opposition this season more often than not, it's hard to predict anything other than a loss given how these two teams have fared so far in 2023.
Commanders vs. NY Giants - Week 11
This will be a revenge mission of sorts for the Washington Commanders after their embarrassing defeat at the New York Giants earlier this season. It was arguably the worst collective performance alongside a Thursday Night Football capitulation against the Chicago Bears, so taking some pride in front of their home support is of critical importance.
The Commanders have enough talent to more than hold their own against the Giants. They were favored to beat the G-Men at MetLife Stadium before underperforming massively, which has been the tale of the tape for Ron Rivera throughout his head coaching tenure.
Whether the Giants have quarterback Daniel Jones back by this point is anyone's guess. The former first-round selection has been officially cleared after a neck issue, but New York would be wise to err on the side of caution with nothing much to play for this season.
Jones has been a constant thorn in Washington's side thanks to his escapability from the pocket. Running back Saquon Barkley also had his way during their first meeting, so it'll take a big effort from the Commanders to tip the scales.
Prediction: Win (5-7)
Again, predicting any victory for the Commanders at this stage is done more in hope than expectation. But they'll have enough motivation to put things right after such a dire outing versus the Giants in Week 7 and it's also worth remembering the defense did restrict Brian Daboll's men to 14 points.
Commanders at Cowboys - Week 12
The Washington Commanders have a Thanksgiving Day date with the Dallas Cowboys in Week 12. It promises to be a tough test of their credentials versus a team that harbors legitimate hopes of winning the Super Bowl, so a big effort will be needed with the national NFL audience watching.
While the Dallas Cowboys suffered a blow with the loss of cornerback Trevon Diggs for the season, they look like a well-oiled machine capable of pushing the Philadelphia Eagles in their quest for the NFC East. They also have a reputation for preying on the league's bottom-feeders en route to blowout wins.
Nothing can be completely dismissed in a divisional game. These two teams know each other extremely well, but the Commanders need everything to go right to stand any chance of coming away with the upset.
Sam Howell is the key. The quarterback's made some encouraging strides this season and seems to perform best when the competition is steeper, which is exactly what the Commanders need in the face of Dan Quinn's formidable defensive unit led by star edge rusher Micah Parsons.
Prediction: Loss (5-8)
Much like the situation with Washington's game at the Seattle Seahawks, this might be a bridge too far given the current state of affairs. Where this would leave Ron Rivera with one game remaining before the Commanders' long-awaited bye week will be another hot topic for discussion if these predictions become reality.