Washington Worry As Regression Predicted For Commanders?
How can the Washington Commanders possibly do better than their historic turnaround from last season?
After winning just four games in 2023, the Commanders saw a nine-win jump in the regular season and reached the Conference Title Game for the first time in 30 years behind a new owner, general manager, head coach, and quarterback.
Advertisement
Sustaining success is a new thing for the franchise, though. And it's why one reporter believes a natural regression is coming for the Commanders.
Bleacher Report writer Moe Moton believes the team will finish 10-7 in 2025 due to the team's tougher schedule, and holes along the defensive line.
"While the Commanders offense looks better than last year's group on paper, the club will struggle to match up against top offensive attacks with its lackluster pass-rushing unit," Moton wrote. "Washington lost its 2024 sack leader, Dante Fowler Jr., in free agency. The Commanders will need more than Dorance Armstrong Jr. and Deatrich Wise to collapse the pocket on the edges.
"Frankie Luvu and Daron Payne must be active near the line of scrimmage on passing downs."
Advertisement
Should Washington worry?
Washington possesses one of the oldest rosters in the league despite their young quarterback. They will be expected to at least make the playoffs this year as part of their growth as an organization.
And while 10 wins is nothing to scoff at - especially compared to past years for the franchise - the Commanders still have a lot to prove under new management at this time.
Related: Commanders' Harris Wins Championship After 164-Year Wait
Related: Commanders Trade for Tyreek Proposed in Controversial Media Move
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Kiki Iriafen named May WNBA Rookie of the Month
The first month of the 2025 WNBA season is officially in the books. On Wednesday, the league its announced its awards for the month of May. Sure enough, the league's first Rookie of the Month in 2025 was none other than USC product Kiki Iriafen. Iriafen is eight games into her rookie season with the Washington Mystics. In her first month in the pros, she averaged a double-double, putting up 14.6 points and 10.0 rebounds per contest. Washington currently holds a record of 3-5 on the young season. Advertisement After spending the first three years of her college career at Stanford, Iriafen transferred to USC for her senior season in 2024-2025. In her lone year with the Trojans, Iriafen averaged 18.0 points and 8.4 rebounds per game. Teaming up with superstar Juju Watkins, she helped lead the Trojans to a Big Ten regular season title, a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament, and a trip to the Elite Eight. The Mystics selected Iriafen with the No. 4 overall pick in April's WNBA Draft. Obviously, it is still extremely early, but thus far, her professional career is off to an incredibly promising start. This article originally appeared on Trojans Wire: USC's Kiki Iriafen named May WNBA Rookie of the Month for Mystics
Newsweek
3 hours ago
- Newsweek
Commanders Coach Opens up on Jayden Daniels' Growing Comfort Level
Heading into the 2025 season, Jayden Daniels will be looking to avoid going through a sophomore slump. As the rising star prepares for his second season in the NFL, his coach seems confident that he'll remain on the path toward stardom. Over the years, countless quarterbacks have reached the NFL and had an immediate impact as a rookie. However, Daniels is still a bit of a rare case. Along with throwing for over 3,500 yards and 25 touchdowns, he managed to lead Washington all the way to the NFC Championship game. Earlier this week, Daniels and the majority of the Commanders began their ramp-up for this season with mandatory minicamp. While speaking with the media, head coach Dan Quinn reflected on the growth he's seen in the young QB compared to last year. He went on to name multiple key improvements of the reigning Offensive Rookie of the Year. Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels during an NFL football game against the Atlanta Falcons, December 29, 2024, in Landover, Maryland. The Commanders defeated the Atlanta Falcons in overtime Sunday night, clinching their first spot in... Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels during an NFL football game against the Atlanta Falcons, December 29, 2024, in Landover, Maryland. The Commanders defeated the Atlanta Falcons in overtime Sunday night, clinching their first spot in the NFL playoff since 2020. More Stephanie Scarbrough/ASSOCIATED PRESS "I've always felt he had real control of things and we work at the line of scrimmage a lot and he's really comfortable in that," Quinn said of Daniels, according to SI. "He was always somebody that really was on his details. What I guess seeing now is just the accuracy, the footwork, so more of his body mechanics that he wanted to emphasize. I see that coming through in his play." Last season, Daniels was playing with house money as a rookie just looking to prove himself. That will not be the case in year two, as he has lofty expectations to live up to. After leading his team deep into the postseason, many want to see him keep solidifying himself as one of the top quarterbacks in the NFL. In the span of one year, Daniels was able to turn the Commanders from a retooling team to a contender. Now, the pressure is on for him to keep Washington in a position to contend in the NFC. Daniels does have a lot of things going for him when it comes to maintaining his current trajectory. For starters, he knows what he's getting into now with a year of experience under his belt. Also, Washington continues to put him in a position to succeed. They went out and upgraded the cast of talent around Daniels in the offseason, most notably trading for Deebo Samuel. Coming off his strong rookie campaign, Daniels looks ready to take the reigns as one of the premier QBs in the NFL. Only time will tell if he can continue to answer the call for the Commanders as the face of the franchise.
Miami Herald
3 hours ago
- Miami Herald
Rookie Ramirez has big night as Marlins had to wait to taste victory
Rookie Agustin Ramirez had three hits, including two solo home runs, and the Miami Marlins held on to beat the host Washington Nationals 11-9 on Friday in a game delayed more than two hours by rain in the fourth inning. For Miami, Dane Myers had three hits and two RBI, and Eric Wagaman had two hits and drove in three. James Wood had three hits, including a two-run home run, scored three runs and drove in four for Washington, which has lost six straight. CJ Abrams (three runs) and Keibert Ruiz each had three hits. The teams combined for 33 hits. Miami starter Edward Cabrera pitched three innings and left after colliding with Wagaman and Abrams on a play at first in the bottom of the third. Cabrera allowed two runs on two hits and two walks while striking out five. Tyler Phillips (1-0) pitched two-thirds of an inning for the win and Calvin Faucher tossed a scoreless ninth for his sixth save. Washington starter Mitchell Parker (4-7) allowed six runs on eight hits in 3 1/3 innings. He walked three and struck out three. The Marlins took a 1-0 lead two batters into the game on Ramirez's first homer of the night. In the second, Miami loaded the bases with one out but settled for one run on Nick Fortes' sacrifice fly. Ramirez led off a four-run third with another homer to left, his 10th of the season, and Miami's lead was 3-0. Otto Lopez singled and scored on Wagaman's double. After Connor Norby walked, Myers doubled home Wagaman and Norby to make it 6-0. In the bottom half, Abrams reached on an infield single after first baseman Wagaman collided with Cabrera at the bag. Abrams also made contact with Cabrera on the play. Wood followed with his 17th home run, and the Nationals were within 6-2. Cabrera finished the inning but did not come out for the fourth. Back-to-back RBI singles in the fifth by Fortes and Xavier Edwards (three hits) made it 8-2. Robert Hassell III and Abrams singled to open the seventh and Wood doubled them home. Nathaniel Lowe singled home Wood, and then Luis Garcia Jr. reached on a fielder's choice and scored on Alex Call's single. Ruiz's single scored Josh Bell to bring Washington within a run at 8-7. Miami answered in the eighth, getting a two-run single from Wagaman to make it 10-7 and adding a run on a fielder's choice. In the Washington eighth, Abrams scored on Lowe's groundout and Wood crossed the plate to make it 11-9 when Bell hit into a fielder's choice.
