Predicting the Commanders next four games after 4-6 start in 2023
By Dean Jones
Commanders vs. Dolphins - Week 13
With the bye within touching distance, the Washington Commanders have one more daunting challenge to overcome in Week 12. The Miami Dolphins are taking the NFL by storm in 2023, which is thanks in no small part to their electrifying offense led by quarterback Tua Tagovailoa and masterful scheming by head coach Mike McDaniel.
Their defensive unit has some holes that can be exploited, but the Commanders' defense looks overmatched. Jack Del Rio needs to pull every rabbit out of the hat to stand any chance of limiting explosive plays, which has been an ongoing frustration for Washington under his leadership.
Tagovailoa gets the ball out quickly, which negates a suspect Commanders' pass-rush missing Montez Sweat and Chase Young. The likes of Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle cannot be caught with early momentum, so it's a case of containing rather than completely shutting down the dynamic wide receiver duo.
Controlling the clock on offense is key. The best way to thwart Miami is by keeping their offensive playmakers off the field entirely, which means establishing the run and winning tough battles in the trenches.
Prediction: Loss (5-8)
Again, this is a game that the Commanders can win if everyone performs up to or above expectations. The last thing they need is a shootout, but it might have to be that way if the defense continues its poor run of form.