After suffering a slight bump in the road last time out at the Baltimore Ravens, things went back to the Washington Commanders' new normal in Week 7.
Their comfortable dismantling of the Carolina Panthers had the ruthless professionalism fans have come to expect from the team since Dan Quinn took charge. It strengthened the Commanders' position atop the NFC East and enhanced their chances of making the postseason for good measure.
It's been a remarkable turnaround in such a short timeframe. Expectations are growing with rumored interest in veteran pieces before the trade deadline coming up almost daily. However, quarterback Jayden Daniels' rib injury is a potential stumbling block.
Daniels was officially listed as week-to-week and will be monitored closely by Washington's exceptional staff team. The Commanders must err on the side of caution with their prized possession. This exciting new regime is always keeping the bigger picture in mind, which is more important than ever amid their instant accomplishments.
Opportunity knocks for the Commanders. With this in mind, we took a look at how Washington might fare over the next four games following a sensational 5-2 start.
Predicting the Commanders' next four games after 5-2 start in 2024
Commanders vs. Bears - Week 8
- Date: Sunday, October 27
- Time: 4.25 p.m. ET
- Venue: Northwest Stadium
CBS flexed this one to their primetime late afternoon slot. It was projected to be a battle between the top two selections in the 2024 NFL Draft. Unfortunately for the broadcasters, that might not be the case.
Jayden Daniels' status for Week 8 against the Chicago Bears is hanging in the balance. The No. 2 pick's rib injury will need time to heal and the Washington Commanders are a long way from their bye week. Not exactly ideal with Caleb Williams coming to town, but their offense functioned soundly enough with veteran backup Marcus Mariota under center.
The Bears boast a much better defense than the Carolina Panthers, which isn't difficult. However, Washington has enough talent to compensate for Daniels' potential absence looking at the efficient operation that offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury is running.
- Prediction: Commanders win (6-2)
There's nothing to suggest the Commanders cannot keep their unbeaten home run going versus the Bears. If Daniels suits up, the better their chances will be.