The Washington Commanders are teetering on the brink after blowing a sure-fire win against the New York Giants. Surrendering a 14-point lead in the fourth quarter was bad enough, but botching their final overtime play sequence was organizational malpractice.
Head coach Dan Quinn came in for scathing criticism. Quarterback Jayden Daniels and offensive coordinator David Blough went under the radar in comparison, but they were hugely complicit in the team's failings.
And pressure is building.
Calls from some fans and pundits to fire Quinn after this debacle fell on deaf ears. Josh Harris is staying patient, but despite some tough conversations, the Commanders will let things play out before drawing a conclusion.
Quinn knows what his fate will be if results don't improve. He remains steadfast in his belief that the tide can be turned, but the time for brash talk and bold claims is long gone.
Action and improvements are all that matter.
The Commanders are not out of the fight just yet, but their margin for error has evaporated. With the bye week and several prime-time games upcoming, it'll be interesting to see how much faith and fight remain in the locker room.
With this in mind, we predicted how things might unfold for the Commanders over their next five games, three of which are scheduled to be in front of a national NFL audience.
Predicting the Washington Commanders' next five games after their 1-3-1 start to the 2026 season
Commanders at 49ers - Week 6
- Date: Monday, October 19
- Time: 8:15 p.m. ET
- Venue: Levi's Stadium
- Channel: ESPN/ABC
If the Washington Commanders could have hand-picked their next game, a Monday Night Football road showdown against the San Francisco 49ers would be way down the list. But they just have to suck it up and get on with it.
The Niners have been on a tear this season. They have dealt with a plethora of injury problems, but head coach Kyle Shanahan's squad is finding ways to win. Nobody has beaten them yet, and their impressive win over the defending Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks confirmed the team's status as a serious contender.
Brock Purdy is playing superbly at quarterback. Christian McCaffrey remains one of the league's best dual-threat running backs, and wide receiver Mike Evans has proven incredibly difficult to stop.
And we cannot forget about ex-Washington left tackle Trent Williams, the stonewalling blindside presence destined for the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
- Prediction: Loss (1-4-1)
Their defense could get a big boost with the return of pass rusher Nick Bosa. That will only make things more difficult for the Commanders, and after last weekend's debacle, it would take a brave man to predict a Washington win here.
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