The Washington Commanders produced a spirited effort at the Baltimore Ravens before falling to defeat. Their defensive deficiencies came back to haunt them, but the fact they kept fighting and remained competitive in the face of elite opposition is proof things are heading in the right direction under new head coach Dan Quinn.
There are no moral victories in the NFL. At the same time, nobody within the Commanders should be too despondent looking at their overall body of work through six weeks. They are also embarking on a crucial stretch of contests that could enhance their postseason hopes in no uncertain terms.
Opportunity knocks for the Commanders. Quinn will be eager to keep motivation and standards high despite a slight setback at M&T Bank Stadium. They'll have to do it without veteran defensive tackle Jonathan Allen, who's been ruled out for the season after suffering a torn pectoral against the Ravens.
That's not ideal, but the Commanders have to plow forward accordingly. With this in mind, we took a look at how Washington might fare over the next four games following a 4-2 start to the campaign.
Predicting the Commanders' next four games after 4-2 start in 2024
Commanders vs. Panthers - Week 7
- Date: Sunday, October 20
- Time: 4.05 p.m. ET
- Venue: Northwest Stadium
If the Washington Commanders could have hand-picked a game to get right, being at home to the Carolina Panthers would be high on the list. However, they cannot take anything for granted despite coming up against one of the league's bottom feeders.
The Panthers are languishing at 1-5 and with plenty of key players missing through injury. Their defense is going through some significant complications right now, which center on having no pass rush whatsoever and an inability to stop the run. This should be music to rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels' ears.
Washington's potential problems arrive on defense. The Panthers have a stout offensive line even without Taylor Moton and Austin Corbett. Chuba Hubbard is a promising young running back. Andy Dalton is providing more calm assurance under center after unseating former No. 1 pick Bryce Young as the starter after just two games. Wide receiver Diontae Johnson is another who can hurt the Commanders if their secondary doesn't improve on a woeful showing in Week 6.
- Prediction: Commanders win (5-2)
Everyone in the facility will be striving for Frankie Luvu and Jeremy Chinn to get one over on their old employers. It won't be a complete walkover, but the Commanders have more than enough in their locker to dispose of the Panthers on home soil.
Commanders vs. Bears - Week 8
- Date: Sunday, October 27
- Time: 4.25 p.m. ET
- Venue: Northwest Stadium
Another home game awaits the Washington Commanders in Week 8 when they welcome the Chicago Bears to Northwest Stadium. This will be tabbed as a duel between the top two picks in the 2024 NFL Draft. Both teams have started the campaign well, so it should be an entertaining game if everyone lives up to their billing.
Jayden Daniels was reportedly No. 1 on the Commanders' draft board over Caleb Williams. Whether that's true or not is anyone's guess considering how tight general manager Adam Peters has kept the front-office operation since taking the job. Both signal-callers look capable of having productive careers. This could be the start of an enticing rivalry for the next decade when push comes to shove.
The Bears have plenty of offensive talent. Williams has come to life over the last two weeks, which is thanks in no small part to the weapons at his disposal. D.J. Moore, Keenan Allen, and Cole Kmet represent a formidable pass-catching trio who can hurt Washington's underperforming secondary if adjustments aren't made by defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr.
All eyes will also be on the battle between wide receiver Terry McLaurin and stud cornerback Jaylon Johnson. There are plenty of intriguing storylines attached, and we haven't even mentioned the first return for defensive end Montez Sweat since the Commanders traded him to the NFC North outfit before the 2023 deadline.
This is a fascinating game that could legitimately go either way. The Commanders have nothing to fear with Daniels under center. They always have a chance with such a composed, polished presence running the offense. But their success is likely dependent on whether the defense can confuse Williams enough to make mistakes.
- Prediction: Commanders win (6-2)
There will be plenty of motivation on both sides at the midway stage of the campaign. Hopefully, the Heisman Trophy winner out of LSU can continue his meteoric rise to superstardom by getting one over on the only player who was called before him in the 2024 draft.
Commanders at NY Giants - Week 9
- Date: Sunday, November 3
- Time: 1.00 p.m. ET
- Venue: MetLife Stadium
Sitting with a 6-2 record at the midway stage of the campaign would be beyond anyone's wildest dreams before the season began. Dan Quinn and his staff deserve tremendous credit for the way they've galvanized this revamped roster in such a short space of time. Adam Peters must also get plaudits for finding the right characters with the right blend of youth and experience capable of hitting the ground running.
The Washington Commanders travel to the New York Giants in Week 9. They've already beaten their NFC East rivals once this season thanks to kicker Austin Seibert's franchise-record seven field goals in Week 2. Had the offense converted their red-zone chances into touchdowns, the game would have been over long before the final play.
MetLife Stadium hasn't been a happy hunting ground for the Commanders in recent years. Daniel Jones always seems to play well versus Washington. They also had trouble stopping first-round pick Malik Nabers during their first outing, who should be back by this point after missing time due to a concussion.
There's also the formidable presence of Dexter Lawrence II to consider. The NFL's best nose tackle is on a tear to start the campaign. For someone of his size to have seven sacks through six weeks is astonishing. Washington's offensive line interior restricted him to four tackles during their first outing. They'll need similar output on the road in this one.
The Giants aren't as bad as some in the media seem to think. However, head coach Brian Daboll's men are 0-3 on home soil so far this season. This is something the Commanders must capitalize on to extend their exceptional start to the campaign.
- Prediction: Commanders win (7-2)
This is all about momentum. The Commanders have more of that than most despite falling to defeat at the Baltimore Ravens. Winning on the road versus the Giants would be another telling indicator that the divisional tide is turning in their favor.
Commanders vs. Steelers - Week 10
- Date: Sunday, November 10
- Time: 1.00 p.m. ET
- Venue: Northwest Stadium
It's hard to put into words the job Mike Tomlin continues to do as head coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers. He's never had a losing record. Despite the quarterback conundrum facing the squad throughout the offseason and the lack of talent at the wide receiver position, he's kept things ticking over with a 4-2 record and the postseason in sight.
This is the sternest test facing the Washington Commanders over the next four games. The Steelers' defense is opportunistic and formidable, led by exceptional edge rusher T.J. Watt and defensive lineman Cameron Heyward. Jayden Daniels must be at the top of his game to counteract this supreme threat.
Pittsburgh also boasts one of the league's toughest run defenses, giving up just 85.5 yards per game on the ground through six weeks. Quarterback Justin Fields is also performing much better than anticipated, keeping veteran Russell Wilson on the bench through improved poise and the obvious ability to improvise when things aren't developing as anticipated downfield.
The Commanders have enough in their locker to beat the Steelers, especially considering the momentum they'll have by this point. Keeping Fields contained in the pocket is crucial. Limiting running back Najee Harris' influence will also go a long way to achieving success.
Testing veteran cornerback Donte Jackson would be wise. The offseason arrival via trade from the Carolina Panthers can create turnovers when mistakes are made. He's also susceptible to getting beat on big plays, which is something Daniels can expose given his deep-ball accuracy.
- Prediction: Commanders win (8-2)
This will be a close contest decided by fine margins. Home-field advantage could prove crucial for the Commanders, but there's just no telling for sure. If Dan Quinn's squad can dig deep to get a win and somehow find themselves at 8-2 through 10 weeks of the 2024 season, it would be nothing short of miraculous.
It's tough. But it's not impossible by any stretch of the imagination.