We have arrived. The Washington Commanders are gearing up for the start of the regular season, and fans are about to find out what head coach Dan Quinn's team is really made of.
Washington has had a fascinating summer. General manager Adam Peters set the tone by overhauling his roster with more athleticism and youth. Quinn brought in new offensive and defensive coordinators, which he believes could be the key to unlocking this team's true potential. As for the players? They've shown steely determination to right the wrongs of the previous campaign.
Everything isn't perfect, of course. The Commanders were stung by the loss of five-time Pro Bowl left tackle Laremy Tunsil and defensive lineman Johnny Newton to long-term injuries. A poor end to the summer raised concerns, but there is no need to panic at this stage.
The Commanders didn't show much schematically. They have secrets to tell, but with Quinn's squad facing a brutal start to the campaign, the need to hit the ground running cannot be overstated.
The campaign carries enormous stakes. Quinn got a reprieve for last season's failures, but he might not be so lucky if the Commanders struggle again. However, quiet optimism is also building that this new-look roster can be more competitive.
We're about to find out which way it'll go. With this in mind, we took a look and predicted how the first five games of a massive Commanders season could shake out.
Predicting the first five games of the Washington Commanders' 2026 season
Commanders at Eagles - Week 1
- Date: Sunday, September 13
- Time: 4:25 p.m. ET
- Venue: Lincoln Financial Field
- Channel: FOX
The Commanders couldn't have asked for a tougher start.
Dan Quinn's squad makes the intimidating trip to Lincoln Financial Field to take on the Philadelphia Eagles, who are looking to defend their NFC East title and once again harbor hopes of a deep postseason run. And Washington must be ready to meet fire with fire.
While the Eagles are strong, they have questions to answer. Wide receiver A.J. Brown is gone after being traded to the New England Patriots, which might be addition by subtraction considering the friction between the pass-catcher and quarterback Jalen Hurts.
Speaking of Hurts, he's got a new offense to run again. Sean Mannion, much like Washington's play-caller David Blough, is a first-time offensive coordinator. That brings significant intrigue, but it could also lead to early growing pains.
That's the same for the Commanders, too.
They have new offensive and defensive systems, and there is no bedding-in period. Things have to click immediately, and as is typical between these bitter rivals, the contest will likely be decided in the trenches.
Prediction: Win (1-0)
Nobody is expecting the Commanders to come away with a victory. But if they manage to get off to a fast start and take the hostile crowd out of the equation, they might have the tools to cause an upset.
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