It's a long season. Nobody will remember that the Washington Commanders got beaten in Week 1 if they managed to put a consistent run of results together in the coming months. This all starts by beating the New York Giants and reannouncing themselves within the NFC East for good measure.
Things didn't go according to plan right away, and that's fine. The Commanders churned over two-thirds of their roster under general manager Adam Peters this offseason. Some growing pains were expected. Fans remain expectant before their home opener despite the loss. It won't take long for that to change if a better performance doesn't arrive.
Dan Quinn and his accomplished coaching staff will be turning over every stone to progress in all phases. The bar isn't exactly high in that regard following a subpar showing at the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. They cannot take anything for granted, but this looks like one of the more winnable contests on their schedule looking at how woeful the Giants were during their home loss to the Minnesota Vikings.
Another fascinating rivalry matchup awaits. With that being said, here are seven bold predictions for the Commanders in Week 2 at Northwest Stadium.
Bold Commanders' predictions vs. the NY Giants in Week 2
Commanders hold the Giants to 35% on third downs
It might be a new era for the Washington Commanders, but the same problems emerged defensively in Week 1 at the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. One glaring flaw above all else became an ongoing frustration throughout a less-than-stellar outing for Joe Whitt Jr.'s unit.
Getting off the field on third down was a seemingly impossible task for the Commanders. Baker Mayfield's elusiveness and lack of coverage capabilities meant Tampa Bay had its way in this key area. The Buccaneers' third-down conversion rate stood at 69.23 percent, which is nowhere near good enough and something that must change as a matter of urgency.
The Commandeers have some significant adjustments to make, and quickly. Whitt's probably read the riot act to his players throughout the week to ensure higher standards are met. Daniel Jones' ongoing struggles under center leave reasons for encouragement, but this could go either way.
If the Commanders can get this number down to around 35 percent or lower, that might be enough to give the offense a fighting chance. Easier said than done, but not impossible if everyone pulls together and improves collectively.
Jayden Daniels throws for 250+ yards
Jayden Daniels was voted NFL Rookie of the Week for his performance at the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. This was down to 88 rushing yards and two scores on the ground rather than anything in the passing attack.
Daniels' rushing ability is renowned. He relied on it way too much in Week 1, taking off when the first read wasn't there and failing to go through his progressions effectively. This part of his game will come with more experience, but head coach Dan Quinn wants to find a better balance moving forward to keep opposing defenses honest.
The Heisman Trophy winner comes up against a stout New York Giants defensive front this weekend, which poses a different set of challenges. Daniels needs to pick and choose his spots running the football. But opportunities to get things moving downfield through the air should be plentiful if the offensive line meets their end of the bargain.
If Daniels maintains his high-level accuracy and trusts his instincts a little more in the passing game, a profitable afternoon could be in the offing for the No. 2 overall selection at Northwest Stadium.
Noah Igbinoghene gains an interception
The Commanders will be without Emmanuel Forbes Jr. for Week 2 and beyond after those in power decide to clean up his thumb issue right away. There's a chance that the cornerback could have played with protective padding over the problem. Those in power opted to get it sorted immediately and take the struggling former first-round selection out of the firing line.
That might not be a bad thing. Forbes found life difficult again at the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, so giving him some additional time away to learn and grow the mental side of his game won't be a bad thing. Looking at how things unfolded in Week 1, veteran Noah Igbinoghene could be the primary beneficiary from his enforced absence.
The former first-round pick came in at the expense of Forbes and provided more of a presence. It wasn't flawless by any stretch, but it was enough to suggest more involvement would arrive against the New York Giants whether the Mississippi State product was healthy or not.
Igbinoghene won't get many more opportunities to impress from a prominent role if he cannot take advantage of this one. Gaining an interception off quarterback Daniel Jones would be a tremendous stepping stone to better fortunes.
Frankie Luvu and Bobby Wagner combine for 20+ tackles
One of the biggest disappointments from Week 1 centered on the performances of Frankie Luvu and Bobby Wagner. The Washington Commanders' new linebacking duo was projected to be a tone-setting force capable of transforming this defense's mindset. That might still be the case, but it didn't happen right away.
Wagner and Luvu both seemed a little sluggish to kick off the campaign. They got 15 tackles between them, but the second-level enforcers left a lot of plays out on the field. This is probably a small blip rather than anything too concerning. However, the pair should be chomping at the bit to firmly establish themselves against the New York Giants.
The Commanders are expecting big things from Wagner and Luvu this season. One indifferent display doesn't change that, so thwarting a Giants rushing attack that no longer has Saquon Barkley to lean on should restore confidence quickly.
Washington needs Wagner and Luvu to become the beating heart of their defense in 2024. If they can attain 20 or more tackles between them at Northwest Stadium, that represents a positive step in the right direction.
Luke McCaffrey gains 75+ yards and 1 TD
There was a lot to like about Luke McCaffrey's regular-season debut in Week 1 at the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Nobody expected the rookie wide receiver to be an immediate focal point, but there were flashes of what he could potentially bring with some extra development.
McCaffrey showed an ability to get open upon further examination of the game film. This didn't amount to anything more than bringing in all three of his receptions for 18 receiving yards. However, this was an encouraging first step to possibly becoming more of a factor as the campaign progresses.
The No. 100 overall selection in the 2024 NFL Draft did not look out of place whatsoever. That was the biggest positive above all else for someone with just two years' experience as a wideout in college. Building on this newfound momentum in Washington's home opener against the New York Giants would send excitement through the roof.
Opportunities should be there with the running game, first-year quarterback Jayden Daniels and Terry McLaurin taking up the lion's share of attention. McCaffrey is going to have a breakout game at some point this season. What better time than the present?
Commanders secure 5+ sacks
Baker Mayfield proved to be a slippery customer in Week 1. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback was incredibly elusive in the pocket and worked wonders to escape pressure. This was something the Washington Commanders couldn't counteract effectively en route to an opening-day loss.
This was disappointing, but the fact they were disrupting the line of scrimmage was pleasing. Turning these pressures into sacks is the next big challenge. Especially considering the ability of New York Giants signal-caller Daniel Jones to make plays on the move.
Jones might be struggling for form, but he's been a constant thorn in Washington's side since entering the league. Making every tackle count and arriving quickly to the contact point is the only way they can limit this area of his game. It won't be easy, but this is not the first time Dan Quinn and Joe Whitt Jr. have schemed against the former first-round pick.
Finding a way to get sacks would make a significant difference. If they can get to five, that would almost guarantee a profitable afternoon at the office defensively.
Commanders win by 10+ points
It's hard to say this is a must-win game. But that's what it appears looking at the current state of affairs.
The Commanders or New York Giants cannot afford to start their season at 0-2. This puts them on the back foot right out of the gate and in Washington's case, would burst their newly-acquired optimism bubble pretty quickly.
A rousing effort is needed from Dan Quinn's men. There will be an expectant fanbase demanding that pride is restored in some capacity. That means taking advantage of the lack of confidence within the Giants and putting together a performance that can send them home happy.
All the positivity away from the gridiron is well and good. If this doesn't translate to a competitive setting and the Commanders continue to put out a poor football product, that's a big problem.
Washington didn't shine in Week 1. Dwelling on that for too long is only going to hurt their cause moving forward. This is the perfect chance to get right and prove to the NFL world that this operation is not the same walkover of previous campaigns.
