Things didn't begin well for the Washington Commanders in their regular-season curtain-raiser at the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. However, it's a long campaign with plenty of twists and turns to come.
This was always going to be a gradual process where improvements would come over time. Everything is new - from the playing personnel to the coaching staff - so fans should have been expecting some growing pains over the first few weeks.
What was most concerning about Week 1 was the same problems that blighted the franchise during Ron Rivera's final year were still evident. A lack of coverage ability, wide receivers failing to create separation effectively, and no clue how to get off the field on third down were the primary catalysts behind their demise. Things must start trending up quickly in these key areas for the Commanders to stand any hope of becoming more competitive with head coach Dan Quinn leading the charge.
With this in mind, we took a look at how the Commanders might fare over their next four games following an 0-1 start to the 2024 season.
Predicting the Commanders' next four games after 0-1 start in 2024
Commanders vs. NY Giants - Week 2
- Date: Sunday, September 15
- Time: 1.00 p.m. ET
- Venue: Northwest Stadium
The Washington Commanders embark on their first home regular-season game under new head coach Dan Quinn in Week 2. This is also a chance for the new regime to stamp their mark within the NFC East right out of the gate.
There promises to be a festive atmosphere at the newly named Northwest Stadium for Washington's contest against the New York Giants. Significant improvements are needed, especially on the defensive side of the football. However, it's a game the Commanders can win if everyone does their jobs.
The Giants began their campaign with a disappointing home defeat to the Minnesota Vikings. Daniel Jones once again struggled to make an impression, but head coach Brian Daboll isn't going away from the struggling signal-caller just yet. He's got some pretty decent stats versus Washington, so doing everything possible to waver his confidence further is the primary objective.
- Prediction: Win (1-1)
Much will depend on how the offensive line holds up and whether the defensive front can generate the pressure needed. If the Commanders can win their battles in the trenches, that should be enough for their first win of the 2024 season.
Commanders at Bengals - Week 3
- Date: Monday, September 23
- Time: 8.15 p.m. ET
- Venue: Paycor Stadium
The Washington Commanders get the opportunity to showcase their supposed improvements with the entire NFL world watching in Week 3. A trip to the Cincinnati Bengals will take center stage on Monday Night Football, which sees two Heisman Trophy-winning quarterbacks out of LSU lock horns for the first time in a professional environment.
Rookie signal-caller Jayden Daniels made a decent enough impression on his full NFL debut. His ability to run the football caught the eye throughout, which was thanks in no small part to a lack of separation from his wide receivers. The No. 2 overall selection in the 2024 NFL Draft also protected the football and himself. There were some missed throws, but it was a pleasing outing overall despite the defeat.
Daniels will be eager to test his skills against Joe Burrow, who took the college football world by storm in 2019 to spearhead the Tigers to a national championship triumph. Things didn't begin well for the Bengals in Week 1. They scored just 10 points and looked out of sync against the New England Patriots en route to a disappointing loss.
All the talk leading up to the game centered on Ja'Marr Chase's status. The prolific wide receiver is looking for a new contract and hasn't featured much in practice of late. He did see the field on opening day, albeit for just 43 percent of the team's offensive snaps.
Whether the Bengals and Chase will have a new deal in place by this point is anyone's guess. Cincinnati should also have Tee Higgins back, so it's another stern test for a Washington secondary that had no answer for the outstanding tandem of Mike Evans and Chris Godwin in Week 1.
- Prediction: Loss (1-2)
It would be a surprise if the Bengals weren't markedly better after receiving a rude awakening in Week 1. The Commanders have a tough task on their hands with the national primetime spotlight glaring. But it's hard to predict anything other than a loss when one considers how woeful their cornerbacks looked at the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Commanders at Cardinals - Week 4
- Date: Sunday, September 29
- Time: 4.05 p.m. ET
- Venue: State Farm Stadium
Sitting at 1-2 going into their Week 4 contest at the Arizona Cardinals wouldn't be the end of the world, but the Washington Commanders won't want to get left behind in pursuit of making the progress anticipated under new head coach Dan Quinn. Playing catch-up typically leads to players operating with a little extra tightness. It can also lead to some panic from the coaching staff in their decision-making.
The Commanders shouldn't fear the Cardinals despite Jonathan Gannon's men boasting some exceptional young playmakers on both sides of the football. Although they didn't come away from their regular-season opener against the Buffalo Bills with a victory, they can take heart from the fact it was closer than most analysts predicted.
Kyler Murray is a dynamic dual-threat quarterback with improved weapons around him this time around. Getting rookie first-round selection Marvin Harrison Jr. more than one reception for four receiving yards will only help moving forward. The Commanders' secondary can be best described as porous following an indifferent showing in Week 1. With some extra time to enhance chemistry and get their football legs back, they can hopefully improve by this point.
This is a hard one to call. There is also previous knowledge from both sides, with Washington's offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury going back to the venue where he was fired as head coach following the 2022 campaign.
Kingsbury knows some of the personnel - including Murray - better than most. That doesn't guarantee success, but it doesn't hurt to have some inside intel into the signal-caller's traits and how best to counteract them.
- Prediction: Win (2-2)
The Commanders are going to get a marquee win on the road at some point. This is an area where Jayden Daniels began his college football journey at Arizona State before transferring to LSU. This is a notoriously fast surface at State Farm Stadium, something the signal-caller can put to good use if his skill position guys give him the help that was sorely lacking at the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Commanders vs. Browns - Week 5
- Date: Sunday, October 6
- Time: 1.00 p.m. ET
- Venue: Northwest Stadium
The Cleveland Browns have a Deshaun Watson problem.
After giving up significant draft assets and a record-breaking contract to secure the quarterback's services from the Houston Texans, it's been an extreme disappointment ever since. Watson's long suspension and lack of production upon returning to the field are an ongoing concern. His dismal performance during their regular-season opener against the Dallas Cowboys led to calls for the player to be benched in favor of Jameis Winston.
Couple this with more accusations of sexual assault and battery during a date in 2020, and this situation could get even murkier by the time Week 5 rolls around. The Washington Commanders will be eager to make Watson's life miserable if he's still under center by this point.
It's not like the Browns are a bad team, but they'll only go as far as Watson takes them. He's the franchise guy they mortgaged their future for. The former Clemson star hasn't come close to meeting these expectations as yet, which is damaging Kevin Stefanski's hopes of mounting an AFC North title challenge for good measure.
This won't guarantee much for the Commanders, who have problems of their own to rectify after a lackluster defensive showing at the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. What they do have is a productive young quarterback whose mobility can make things complicated for an outstanding Cleveland defensive front led by phenomenal edge rusher Myles Garrett.
Games versus the Browns are normally physical with no quarter given. This is the time when Nick Chubb could be activated after the highly productive running back began the season on their physically-unable-to-perform list. Even if the veteran does suit up, he's unlikely to accumulate the workload we're accustomed to seeing.
- Prediction: Win (3-2)
The Browns are not going to roll over because their signal-caller is going through turmoil. But if the Commanders' defense demonstrates growth leading up to the game and the coaching staff schemes things up effectively, it might be enough to come away with the win.