The Washington Commanders finally have something to point to after Sunday night’s 27-10 win over the Philadelphia Eagles, but the bigger picture still looks messy as Week 9 arrives.
Washington came out of its bye week looking rusty early, giving up 10 points in the first quarter before locking in and shutting Philadelphia out the rest of the way. The finish was sharp.
The start was not. And the offense still has plenty to clean up, from pre-snap penalties to play-calling to execution.
The Commanders got away with those issues against a depleted Eagles team. The question now is what happens when they run into a top-tier opponent that’s rolling.
The win did give Washington a much-needed jolt in the power rankings. Across the board, the Commanders are still sitting in the lower half of the league, but several outlets moved them up after the victory.
USA TODAY has Washington at No. 21, up from 25, while noting that despite all the mistakes this season, no team has turned the ball over fewer times than the Commanders’ three. That’s a big reason they still have a real shot at the NFC East.
Yahoo! Sports placed Washington at No. 23, up one spot, and pointed to the loss of Terry McLaurin as the biggest issue.
With receiver help now a clear need, the Commanders could look to the trade market, especially with veteran options available. Yahoo!
also flagged the secondary, which ranks 27th in passing yards allowed.
FOX Sports slotted Washington at No. 25, up from 27, and listed the Commanders’ Super Bowl odds at +12000, 22nd. The outlet called Sunday’s result a much-needed win for Dan Quinn, but said the team still has too many injuries and holes to expect much more without stronger play from Jayden Daniels.
CBS Sports ranked the Commanders No. 27, up two places, and summed up the night simply: Jayden Daniels won for the first time in a long time, the offense showed life, and the defense was better. Now the Rams are next.
Sports Illustrated was the most bullish of the bunch, moving Washington to No. 22 from 27 and saying the Commanders are its favorite to win the NFC East. The outlet pointed to the connection between Daniels and Antonio Williams as a sign there may still be enough spark in the offense to fuel a run.
The Athletic kept Washington at No. 25 after moving it up from 27 last week, but added a warning label: Jayden Daniels is getting beat up. The quarterback took a big hit from Nolan Smith on Sunday night, and his rushing production has dipped to 33 yards on scrambles over the last two weeks. If he isn’t dynamic on the ground, the article noted, he isn’t the player Washington thought it was getting as a rookie.
theScore had Washington at No. 26, unchanged, and said the Commanders should be deadline sellers. Even so, the outlet argued that GM Adam Peters and coach Dan Quinn are on the hot seat and need to improve the team to save their jobs, with both lines identified as the best place to start.
Bleacher Report moved Washington up to No. 25 from 27 after the win and noted that the Commanders got out of the NFC East basement. At 2-4-1, they still have work to do, but the outlet said the team has found some hope in recent weeks despite losing McLaurin in Week 6. Washington now has to start stacking complete games, and the Rams will provide a test next Sunday.
Walter Football ranked the Commanders No. 17, up from 19, and said it’s hard to believe Daniels just picked up his first win of the year. The outlet also noted that the victory over Philadelphia was Washington’s first since Week 3 against Seattle.
ESPN’s NFL Nation placed Washington at No. 25, up from 29, and used the Commanders’ spot to highlight a different piece of franchise history: Calvin Muhammad, the best in-season trade acquisition ever. In 1984, Washington dealt a fourth-round pick to Oakland for Muhammad after Art Monk was injured, and he responded with 42 catches for 729 yards and four touchdowns in 10 games.
For now, the Commanders have a win, a bump in the rankings, and a chance to build on it. They also still have plenty to fix.
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For a receiver who arrived with real long-term promise, that kind of slide naturally invites outside interest, and trade chatter has already started to swirl around him. Several teams have been mentioned as possible fits, which only adds to the sense that Jacksonville may have to decide whether Thomas is still part of the core or a name worth listening on if the right offer comes along. [Read more 🡒]
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That makes the next few days worth watching closely, because the front office has a chance to address more than one need if it wants to keep this push alive. One possibility that has surfaced is help at receiver, where Josh Downs would fit the kind of young, useful addition Washington could use, while the defensive front could also use another body if Javon Kinlaws knee issue lingers. The deadline will show whether the Commanders are content with the surge theyve made or ready to spend to make it last. [Read more 🡒]