Predicting the Commanders' next four games after 4-1 start in 2024
By Dean Jones
Commanders at NY Giants - Week 9
- Date: Sunday, November 3
- Time: 1.00 p.m. ET
- Venue: MetLife Stadium
Had the Washington Commanders been more efficient in the red zone during their first contest against the New York Giants in Week 2, it would have been a blowout victory. They still got over the line thanks to debutant kicker Austin Seibert's seven field goals - which was a franchise record and solved one problem in the blink of an eye - but the performance deserved a more comfortable result.
MetLife Stadium hasn't been a happy hunting ground for the Commanders in recent years. Former first-round pick Daniel Jones is a conundrum they haven't solved effectively. Even in their Week 2 defeat, the much-maligned Giants quarterback still performed well. That has to change for Washington to end its hoodoo in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
The Commanders are a different operation these days after positive changes across the board this offseason. They are better prepared, able to adjust in-game to what's transpiring and have the right characters - both on the coaching staff and within the playing personnel - to achieve their objective from week to week.
Just where the Giants will be at this juncture is anybody's guess. Their eye-popping road win over the Seattle Seahawks was surprising and leaves reasons for optimism, but things are still hanging precariously. The Commanders would like nothing more than to twist the knife into their NFC East rivals en route to a rare sweep of the G-Men.
- Prediction: Commanders win (7-2)
If the Commanders can somehow get to 7-2 after nine games of the 2024 season, it would be an astounding accomplishment in the circumstances. They'd be right in the playoff mix and potentially in control of the division at the midway point. It could go the other way unless these new standards aren't kept, but this is a decent stretch of fixtures following Washington's tricky-looking game at the Baltimore Ravens this weekend.
Taking advantage of them is crucial with expectations rising exponentially.
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