When and where: Weeks 1 at home; Week 8 on the road on Sunday Night Football, with Washington coming off their bye

Key additions: OC David Blough, WR Brandon Aiyuk (possibly, though probably not at this rate) EDGE Odafe Oweh, TE Chig Okonkwo, LB Leo Chenal, EDGE K’Lavon Chiasson, CB Amik Robertson, DT Tim Settle, S Nick Cross, RB Rachaad White

Key subtractions: OC Kliff Kingsbury, LB Bobby Wagner, WR Deebo Samuel, TE Zach Ertz, EDGE Von Miller, C Tyler Biadasz, RB Chris Rodriguez, EDGE Jacob Martin

The question for this team: Are they actually better?

In 2024 the Commanders were coming off a 4-13 season and overturned their roster. Adam Peters and Dan Quinn brought in mostly middling, aging, culture changing guys of the scrap heap.

In 2026 the Commanders are coming off a 5-12 season and overturned their roster. Adam Peters and Dan Quinn brought in mostly middling guys off the scrap heap. Kliff Kingsbury was also sacrificed.

Commanders skill position players caught 3,329 yards worth of passes last year. 50% of that production has left the team. To not only replace but to improve on that production the Commanders brought in… nothing special.

Their second best WR is… Dynami Brown? Treylon Burks? Rookie Jaylin Lane’s playing time decreased as the season progressed, 3rd round pick Antonio Williams had a disappointing season at Clemson, and Luke McCaffrey ain’t it. If he gets himself together Brandon Aiyuk, who hasn’t practiced let alone played since October 2024, isn’t turning this WR group around.

Replacing Zach Ertz’s 50 catches for 504 yards is Chig Okonkwo, who averaged… 48 catches for 504 yards in four seasons in Tennessee.

Jacory Croskey-Merritt is a fan favorite but was inconsistent, he had just 4 games with more than 61 rushing yards, and followed those up with games of 17, 61, 25, and 29 yards. He also offered nothing as a pass catcher with just 9 receptions all year.

Just about everything that could go wrong for Washington in 2025 went wrong, and just about all of it was easy to see coming. Their old roster couldn’t stay healthy, 3rd most Adjusted Games Lost. The recipient of several fortunate wins and a 9-3 record in one score games in 2024, they went 1-5 in one score games in 2025. Their old and slow defense that couldn’t stop anyone in 2024 was even worse in 2025. Their QB whose playing style and frame had everyone worried he wouldn’t hold up in the NFL was in and out of the lineup. In keeping with franchise history, high profile acquisitions were a bust: Deebo Samuel had such a good season that he is currently unemployed, while Javon Kinlaw had 0 sacks and anchored one of the worst run defenses.

And now running the offense is a guy who was taking snaps in a game four years ago. (The Eagles have a similar issue.)

In Year 3 of the Peters/Quinn regime, the Commanders still have no one to compliment Terry McLaurin in the passing game, no running game to lean on that isn’t the QB, a mediocre OL, and a mediocre at best defense. Other than that they’re doing great.

To Washington’s advantage is that the Eagles struggle out of the gate. While Nick Sirianni has yet to lose a season opener, over the past four seasons the Eagles have won by a combined 13 points.

Last season: Murphy’s Law