After suffering a slight bump in the road last time out at the Baltimore Ravens, things went back to the Washington Commanders' new normal in Week 7.
Their comfortable dismantling of the Carolina Panthers had the ruthless professionalism fans have come to expect from the team since Dan Quinn took charge. It strengthened the Commanders' position atop the NFC East and enhanced their chances of making the postseason for good measure.
It's been a remarkable turnaround in such a short timeframe. Expectations are growing with rumored interest in veteran pieces before the trade deadline coming up almost daily. However, quarterback Jayden Daniels' rib injury is a potential stumbling block.
Daniels was officially listed as week-to-week and will be monitored closely by Washington's exceptional staff team. The Commanders must err on the side of caution with their prized possession. This exciting new regime is always keeping the bigger picture in mind, which is more important than ever amid their instant accomplishments.
Opportunity knocks for the Commanders. With this in mind, we took a look at how Washington might fare over the next four games following a sensational 5-2 start.
Predicting the Commanders' next four games after 5-2 start in 2024
Commanders vs. Bears - Week 8
- Date: Sunday, October 27
- Time: 4.25 p.m. ET
- Venue: Northwest Stadium
CBS flexed this one to their primetime late afternoon slot. It was projected to be a battle between the top two selections in the 2024 NFL Draft. Unfortunately for the broadcasters, that might not be the case.
Jayden Daniels' status for Week 8 against the Chicago Bears is hanging in the balance. The No. 2 pick's rib injury will need time to heal and the Washington Commanders are a long way from their bye week. Not exactly ideal with Caleb Williams coming to town, but their offense functioned soundly enough with veteran backup Marcus Mariota under center.
The Bears boast a much better defense than the Carolina Panthers, which isn't difficult. However, Washington has enough talent to compensate for Daniels' potential absence looking at the efficient operation that offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury is running.
- Prediction: Commanders win (6-2)
There's nothing to suggest the Commanders cannot keep their unbeaten home run going versus the Bears. If Daniels suits up, the better their chances will be.
Commanders at NY Giants - Week 9
- Date: Sunday, November 3
- Time: 1.00 p.m. ET
- Venue: MetLife Stadium
The Washington Commanders are proudly sitting on top of the NFC East through seven weeks of the campaign. It's a slender advantage over the Philadelphia Eagles, but it's something nobody anticipated in Year 1 of this extensive rebuild under the new regime.
There's nothing to legitimately fear in the division anymore. The Commanders have been the whipping boys for years before head coach Dan Quinn took charge. This is changing through fundamentally sound football and a complete culture shift across the franchise.
They've already proven to be a match for anybody. Therefore, nothing but a win at the New York Giants in Week 9 will do.
Washington has already gotten one over on the Giants this season. Their Week 2 triumph would have been a lot more comfortable had the Commanders been effective in the red zone. Those kinks have now been worked out, so confidence should be high versus a Giants team navigating some turbulent waters.
Saquon Barkley came back to haunt the Giants in Week 7, torching his old employers en route to a convincing win for the Eagles. Quarterback Daniel Jones was benched but will remain the starter this weekend. Whether he'll be under center by the time Washington comes to town is another matter.
The Commanders cannot take this - or any game for that matter - as a foregone conclusion. That shouldn't be a problem considering how comprehensively they've been disposing of the league's bottom feeders so far. Their defense should be respected, especially considering nose tackle Dexter Lawrence II is playing at an All-Pro level, but they've been vulnerable at all three levels throughout the season.
- Prediction: Commanders win (7-2)
Washington cannot take the Giants lightly. They also don't have the best record at MetLife Stadium in recent years. At the same time, this is a completely different outfit - one with a collective purpose that treats every opposition with the same mentality.
Commanders vs. Steelers - Week 10
- Date: Sunday, November 10
- Time: 1.00 p.m. ET
- Venue: Northwest Stadium
This is a tricky one to call. The Washington Commanders would have a significant amount of momentum sitting at 7-2 in this scenario. However, the Pittsburgh Steelers also look more than capable of reaching the postseason this season.
Mike Tomlin made a bold move at the quarterback position before their game against the New York Jets on Monday Night Football. He went solo and benched Justin Fields in favor of Russell Wilson. The experienced head coach believed this could provide the spark that ignited the entire offense. It was a decision that received instant vindication.
Wilson was sensational after overcoming some early rust. It would be a big shock if Fields got his job back if the same trend continues. Wide receiver George Pickens came to life with a more consistent distributor under center. Couple this with an outstanding defense, it's not hard to see why this is going to be a stern test of Washington's credentials.
There are ways to exploit the Steelers' secondary if the formidable defensive front can be contained. T.J. Watt is arguably the best player in football right now. A human wrecking ball - one of the few pass-rushers around the league who can completely change the trajectory of any game when early momentum is generated.
The Commanders have enough to beat the Steelers, but it won't be easy. This is a well-drilled football team under one of the league's most accomplished coaches. They all sing from the hymn sheet and work exceptionally hard for each other. This is going to be a physical battle Washington must be ready for.
- Prediction: Commanders win (8-2)
This one could legitimately go either way. It's a genuine 50/50 contest between two honest teams with plenty of quality attached. Hopefully, the Commanders can put their home-field advantage to good use and bolster their hopes of winning the NFC East in 2024.
Commanders at Eagles - Week 11
- Date: Thursday, November 14
- Time: 8.15 p.m. ET
- Venue: Lincoln Financial Field
A quick turnaround awaits the Washington Commanders in Week 11. Dan Quinn's men have a few short days to recover from what promises to be a physical encounter with the Pittsburgh Steelers before traveling to the Philadelphia Eagles for Thursday Night Football. It also happens to be a pivotal divisional matchup with huge ramifications attached.
The Eagles - and everyone else - are chasing the Commanders right now. There's a long way to go and a lot of football left, but this resurgence in Washington is not going unnoticed by those in the NFC East. Beating head coach Nick Sirianni's squad on the road would be another massive statement of intent.
Philadelphia seems to be getting things together after a rocky opening. Their games against the Cleveland Browns and New York Giants - two struggling outfits - couldn't have come at a better time. Sirianni is clapping back to fans who've questioned his methods. It's a bold strategy, especially considering the coaching changes made under the head man throughout the offseason.
What the Eagles do have at their disposal is Jalen Hurts and Saquon Barkley in the backfield. The Commanders had trouble with the tandem of Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry in Week 6. This is a similar complication that defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr. must solve more effectively.
The Eagles also have A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith. There's also the presence of former Commanders wide receiver Jahan Dotson, who's made almost no impact so far since the trade between division rivals before the campaign.
- Prediction: Commanders loss (8-3)
Washington has nothing to fear at this juncture. They've proven capable of mixing it with the elite. Getting off to a strong start is crucial, but being at 8-3 with the bye week on the not-too-distant horizon would still be a major achievement in Year 1 of Quinn's head coaching tenure.
