The Washington Commanders are coming off two straight losses for the first time under new head coach Dan Quinn. It's the first period of sustained adversity this team has faced. How they respond will go a long way to determining whether they make the postseason.
Washington currently sits at 7-4 in the standings. Winning the division looks difficult considering the Philadelphia Eagles are now ascending after their win over the Commanders on Thursday Night Football. But all hope is not lost just yet.
It seems as if two wildcard spots will go to the NFC North with the Minnesota Vikings and Green Bay Packers flying high behind the red-hot Detroit Lions. Quinn's men remain in a good position for the seventh seed, but the margin for error is gone.
Fortunately for the Commanders, they have their long-awaited bye week upcoming. Washington also has some favorable games on the schedule. Capitalizing on them is crucial.
This is a time for big characters and adjustments. The Commanders have proven capable of hanging with anybody. However, it'll be interesting to see how this group bounces back in the coming weeks.
With this in mind, we looked at how the Commanders might fare over their next four games following their 7-4 start in 2024.
Predicting the Commanders' next four games after 7-4 start in 2024
Commanders vs. Cowboys - Week 12
- Date: Sunday, November 24
- Time: 1.00 p.m. ET
- Venue: Northwest Stadium
- TV channel: FOX
The Washington Commanders haven't enjoyed the best fortunes against the Dallas Cowboys in recent years. They'll never get a better chance to turn the tide.
Washington is an overwhelming favorite with sportsbooks in Week 12. And with good reason.
The Cowboys are going through significant complications. Their embarrassing loss at home to the Houston Texans on Monday Night Football represented another stain on owner/general manager Jerry Jones' handling of team affairs. Not having quarterback Dak Prescott is having a negative ripple effect on everybody.
Couple this with the Cowboys' woeful run defense and an inability to solidify the trenches on both sides of the football, it's not hard to see why this is a must-win game for the Commanders. Something head coach Dan Quinn will be demanding as he goes up against his old employers for the first time.
- Prediction: Commanders win (8-4)
Fans will demand a convincing, confidence-boosting victory against a storied divisional rival. Becoming complacent is not an option, but the Commanders can dispose of the Cowboys with a mini-bye week under their belts.
Commanders vs. Titans - Week 13
- Date: Sunday, December 1
- Time: 1.00 p.m. ET
- Venue: Northwest Stadium
- TV channel: CBS
It's been a long road to the Washington Commanders' bye week. Bodies are weary and aches are building across the board. One last big effort is needed in Week 13 before their extended rest period.
Much like the situation in Week 12, this represents another game where the Commanders will be favored on home soil. The Tennessee Titans are languishing at 2-8 after their heavy loss to the Minnesota Vikings last time out. They have some nice pieces on both sides of the football, but nowhere near enough to be considered a legitimate threat.
This is the first season under new head coach Brian Callahan, so it's given the offensive mind a lot to ponder. Quarterback Will Levis doesn't look like the answer despite countless chances to impress. Letting running back Derrick Henry leave was a grave error in judgment looking at how the prolific presence is thriving with the Baltimore Ravens.
One or two top-level performers won't compensate for their deficiencies. Jeffrey Simmons is a phenomenal presence on the defensive front and must be respected. Calvin Ridley can go off at any moment if the wide receiver gets the correct distribution under center. Harold Landry III is a decent linebacker. The Commanders know what running back Tony Pollard can bring to the table from his time with the Dallas Cowboys.
Aside from that, nobody is standing out for this struggling outfit. They are leading the league in passing yards allowed per game at 164.6. However, it's also worth remembering that teams are running the football more given their large leads versus Tennessee in the second half.
- Prediction: Commanders win (9-4)
Maintaining focus and giving everything to the cause before they get the opportunity to recuperate is the minimum requirement. If the players can muster one final pre-bye push and everyone executes their assignments effectively, they should come away with another morale-boosting triumph at Northwest Stadium.
Commanders at Saints - Week 15
- Date: Sunday, December 15
- Time: 1.00 p.m. ET
- Venue: Caesars Superdome
- TV channel: FOX
The Washington Commanders come off their bye week fresh and ready to cement their postseason hopes in this scenario. Traveling to the New Orleans Saints will be a stern test of their credentials, but it's another contest where they should feel confident about getting a positive result.
New Orleans has underachieved this season based on their bullish hopes before the campaign. Losing to the Carolina Panthers in Week 9 was the final nail in head coach Dennis Allen's proverbial coffin, who was fired to signal the start of a new era.
This also impacted the Commanders. General manager Adam Peters sensed vulnerability with the Saints and pounced immediately, trading for stud cornerback Marshon Lattimore with just hours remaining before the November 5 deadline.
The four-time Pro Bowler hasn't been seen yet due to a hamstring issue. Dan Quinn is confident things are trending up for Lattimore when speaking to the media this week. He'll be relishing the prospect of going up versus the team that took him in the first round out of Ohio State.
This will be a tricky test for the Commanders. The Saints have won their last two games since Allen's firing. Players have rallied around interim head coach Darren Rizzi. They've had a little bit of luck along the way, but they are not out of the NFC South championship race just yet despite their 4-6 record.
Washington will be well rested and the extra time to prepare will help. Rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels is also returning to the area where he starred in college en route to a Heisman Trophy at LSU. He'll be keen to put on a show and bolster the Commanders' postseason chances for good measure.
- Prediction: Commanders win (10-4)
Silencing the crowd early will be crucial. Restricting running back Alvin Kamara's influence is another key to success. Putting the game in Derek Carr's hands is the best way to go, something that improves Washington's hopes exponentially.
Commanders vs. Eagles - Week 16
- Date: Sunday, Decemver 22
- Time: 1.00 p.m. ET
- Venue: Northwest Stadium
- TV channel: FOX
The Washington Commanders get a chance for revenge against the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 16. A much better effort is needed from head coach Dan Quinn's men to avoid a similar fate.
After an immense amount of hype before their Thursday Night Football clash in Week 11, the game ended up a little lackluster. Both offenses found it difficult until the Eagles blew Washington away in the fourth quarter. Significant adjustments are needed from coordinator Kliff Kingsbury to have more joy against a defense coming on leaps and bounds.
The Eagles have some outstanding young talent on that side of the football. Jordan Davis and Jalen Carter are a wrecking crew on the defensive line interior. Zack Baun is one of the league's most prolific linebackers. The rookie duo of Cooper DeJean and Quinyon Mitchell have transformed Philadelphia's secondary in the blink of an eye.
This is a stern measuring stick for the Commanders. They fell short during their first meeting at Lincoln Financial Field. Learning lessons and making the correct schematic corrections is crucial.
These are the sort of games where Marshon Lattimore's presence is critical. Mike Sainristil was arguably Washington's best player on primetime, holding his own against A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith en route to an encouraging performance. That wasn't enough thanks to others in the cornerback room failing to meet expectations.
That will change with Lattimore - someone capable of locking down one side of the field and taking on the challenge of guarding the opposition's best-receiving threat. But unless the Commanders have an answer for running back Saquon Barkley, the complications are there for all to see.
- Prediction: Commanders loss (10-5)
The Commanders will be keen to stamp their authority on the Eagles after a poor first showing versus the two historic rivals. But even if they don't come out on the other end smiling, being 10-5 with two games remaining isn't a bad position to be in by any stretch of the imagination.