The Washington Commanders put up a decent fight against the Philadelphia Eagles before ultimately falling short. Though it was disappointing, plenty of football remains, and there's still a lot to play for.
There were some good moments for the Commanders. Plenty of concerns need to be addressed before confidence in their chances increases. Head coach Dan Quinn is also awaiting news on some potential injuries to key figures like linebacker Frankie Luvu and tight end Chig Okonkwo, which wouldn't be ideal in an all-hands-on-deck situation.
Fans are still hopeful. They gave the Eagles problems, especially late in the game. Too many sloppy individual mistakes became their undoing, but it's also worth remembering that this is only Week 1.
Most starters don't play much in the preseason. It takes a couple of weeks to find the right balance, which is why you see so many surprising results at this time of year. The cream always rises to the top, and the Commanders will be hoping to find themselves in this company once again.
Easier said than done. Things won't get any easier for the Commanders in the coming weeks, so they'll need huge resolve to get back on track.
With this in mind, we predicted how the next five games could go for the Commanders after their 0-1 start to the campaign.
Predicting the Washington Commanders' next five games after a 0-1 start in 2026
Commanders at Cowboys - Week 2
- Date: Sunday, September 20
- Time: 4:25 p.m. ET
- Venue: AT&T Stadium
- Channel: FOX
This has suddenly become a must-win game for these bitter rivals.
The Washington Commanders and Dallas Cowboys both suffered one-game weekend defeats to their division rivals. Dan Quinn's squad was narrowly beaten by the Philadelphia Eagles, while the New York Giants pulled off an eye-catching upset on Sunday Night Football to make the league sit up and take notice.
Another defeat within the NFC East would put either team firmly on the back foot. And given what's at stake for Quinn this season, the Commanders cannot afford that to happen.
The Cowboys have a lot of quality, especially on offense. The likes of Dak Prescott, Javonte Williams, CeeDee Lamb, and George Pickens have the scope to cause Washington's secondary untold problems, so putting the signal-caller under pressure is crucial.
If the Commanders can keep the score close, they can expose Dallas' defensive frailties.
Despite revamping the defensive unit throughout the offseason, the same glaring issues remained at MetLife Stadium. It'll take time for everything to mesh, so catching them early might be the key to making them uncomfortable on the road.
Prediction: Win (1-1)
This is an incredibly tough one to call. Pickens and Lamb could torch Washington's corners, but if Jayden Daniels is more in his groove right from the outset, the Commanders might just be able to pull this off.
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