Week 1 always brings the same kind of noise: everyone has a power ranking, everyone has a take, and Washington is already all over the map.
The Commanders landed as high as 18th and as low as 31st in the national polls, a spread that says plenty about how unsettled the outside view is entering the season. Some writers see a team with enough upside to surprise. Others look at the front line and see trouble before the opener even kicks off.
ESPN put Washington 20th and pointed straight to Jayden Daniels, noting that the only time a Washington quarterback threw for more than 30 touchdowns was Sonny Jurgensen in 1969 (31). Daniels threw for 25 in his rookie season, and ESPN’s John Keim wrote that the Commanders have a stronger receiving corps than last season with Terry McLaurin, Stefon Diggs and promising rookie Antonio Williams.
He also said Daniels has looked ultra-sharp in David Blough's new offense in practices. If Daniels stays healthy -- and the offensive line without Laremy Tunsil can protect him -- he can top Jurgensen.
CBS Sports slotted Washington 26th, with Pete Prisco keeping the focus on the line and the staff changes: “Jayden Daniels is back, but the offensive line is a mess. This is a big year for coach Dan Quinn after changing both coordinators.”
NFL.com was even harsher, ranking Washington 31st. Nick Shook wrote that after losing left tackle Laremy Tunsil to a torn triceps and missing center Nick Allegretti for most of August due to a calf strain, things appear rather dire up front for Washington.
He added that the Commanders produced a dreadful showing in a joint practice with the Ravens, then followed that up by getting destroyed by Baltimore in the preseason finale. Shook said Washington knows it needs to keep Jayden Daniels healthy in order to be competitive, and right now, I'm afraid for the quarterback's well-being Sunday in Philadelphia.
Fox Sports placed the Commanders 26th and made the same basic point: “They are putting absolutely everything on QB Jayden Daniels and the hope that he’ll recapture his rookie magic. The problem, though, is the offensive line may not be able to properly protect him.” That was Ralph Vacchiano’s view.
Sports Illustrated was the most optimistic of the bunch, ranking Washington 18th. Conor Orr wrote, “I see Washington as a possible 10-game winner.
Some analysts I respect have this team finishing dead last in the NFC East. It’s all on the table, especially with large-scale changes at the coordinator positions and a ton of new everyday starters.
Jayden Daniels’s health remains the biggest x-factor, though. In a David Blough system, we’ll see him even more protected, we’ll see play-action even more weaponized and-possibly-the full extent of his powers unleashed.
There’s a reason I nearly arm wrestled my fantasy comanager for the right to draft Terry McLaurin this year.”
Yahoo Sports ranked Washington 22nd, with Frank Schwab saying no preseason injury was more damaging than the Commanders losing left tackle Laremy Tunsil for all or most of the season. He wrote that will affect the entire offense, which didn't add much in the offseason, and added, “This is not how Jayden Daniels wanted to start his third season.”
Pro Football Talk put Washington 27th, and Mike Florio offered a blunt line: “It already feels like it’s just a matter of time before Dan Quinn is relieved of his duties.”
The Athletic had the Commanders 23rd. Chad Graff and Josh Kendall wrote that the loss of Laremy Tunsil is big, especially for protecting an injury-prone quarterback.
They also pointed to a joint practice against the Ravens that went terribly for the Commanders’ O-line and the offense in general. They noted the team signed D.J.
Humphries and Stefon Diggs in August, but said this team will go as far as Jayden Daniels takes it. And after training camp, it doesn’t seem like it’s going very far.
For now, the national read is clear enough: most of the conversation is about whether Washington can keep Jayden Daniels upright, not whether Daniels himself can play. The offensive line is the loudest concern, while the defense barely enters the discussion even though it could wind up being the unit that carries the team.
The 13-position gap between Washington’s highest and lowest ranking says just as much as the individual blurbs. There’s no consensus here, only a wide-open range of opinions on what the Commanders will be.
We’ll check back on these rankings each week and see how the national mood shifts.
In Other News...
Commanders Face A Brutal Week 1 Test With Plenty At Stake Up Front
The Commanders are heading into Week 1 with a fresh voice in David Blough, who is set to make his NFL debut as a play-caller against the Philadelphia Eagles. Blough retired after the 2023 season and joined Washingtons coaching staff in 2024, and now he takes on one of the leagues toughest opening assignments with plenty of attention already fixed on how the offense will handle the moment.
Up front, the biggest question is whether Washington can hold together long enough to let that new system breathe. Offensive line coach Darnell Stapleton has been publicly confident in the group despite injuries to key players, but the Eagles are not the kind of opponent that lets a team ease into answers. For a staff still building its identity, the first test may come down to how well the line protects the entire plan before the rest of the offense can even get going. [Read more 🡒]
Commanders Suddenly Have A Week 3 Quarterback Twist To Watch
The Seahawks quarterback situation has already turned into an early-season variable for Washington to monitor. Sam Darnold left Seattles opener injured and did not return, and reports now say he will miss Week 2 against the Arizona Cardinals, keeping the spotlight on backup Drew Lock after he helped push Seattle past New England, 13-10, in the opener.
For the Commanders, the immediate question is whether they get Seattles preferred starter back in time for Week 3. Darnold could return as soon as that meeting, which adds another layer to a game Washington may already be tracking closely as the early schedule starts to take shape. [Read more 🡒]
Tim Settle Could Decide Washingtons Biggest Week 1 Problem
The early-season test for Washingtons defense is already clear, and it starts with the run game. Philadelphia brings a rushing attack that can force a defense to stay honest snap after snap, and the Commanders know how much pressure that puts on their interior line and linebackers. Saquon Barkley is the kind of runner who exposes any hesitation, so the focus this week has been less about flash and more about whether Washington can hold its ground at the line of scrimmage.
Tim Settles return gives the Commanders a defender built for that sort of fight. His development has centered on better technique, and the staff believes he can help steady the middle by doing the simple things well, especially in a scheme where gap control matters so much. For Washington, the question is whether that progress is enough to change a problem that has already shown up at the worst possible time. [Read more 🡒]