2025 Commanders game-by-game predictions: Next stop Super Bowl?
What will Jayden Daniels do for an encore after winning the NFL's Offensive Rookie of the Year Award in 2024? After leading the Washington Commanders to the 2024 NFC title game, can the star quarterback take the team one step further in 2025? The last time Washington appeared in a Super Bowl was 1992.
The Commanders face a daunting 2025 schedule — the eighth-toughest in the league based on opponents' winning percentage last year — that includes five prime-time games, a trip to Madrid and a Christmas Day tussle with the Cowboys. Washington's road slate includes the Packers, Chargers, Chiefs and Vikings — all playoff teams last season. And in the final three weeks of the regular season, the Commanders play four straight games against NFC East rivals, including the Super Bowl-champion Eagles twice.
Bottom line: Daniels & Co. have an uphill climb to duplicate the success of last year. Let's break down their season week by week. Week 1: vs. Giants, Sunday, Sept. 7
Head coach Dan Quinn gets his first look at a New York offense led by Russell Wilson, with whom he teamed up to win a Super Bowl with the Seattle Seahawks. Daniels will have to contend with talented edge rusher Abdul Carter, the No. 3 overall pick in the draft. But the Commanders swept the season series with their NFC East rivals last year and have won four of the past six games. They'll continue to have the Giants' number here.
Result: Win, 1-0 record Week 2: at Packers, Thursday, Sept. 11
Washington's first prime-time game of the season is in Green Bay, where the Commanders have a 5-13-1 all-time record. The last time Washington won in Green Bay was 1986. Packers QB Jordan Love has a new weapon in the passing game with speedy first-round receiver Matthew Golden. The Commanders do get the benefit of playing in Green Bay in late summer, avoiding cold weather, but they still take a loss.
Result: Loss, 1-1 Week 3: vs. Raiders, Sunday, Sept. 21
Quinn faces his mentor in Pete Carroll as the Commanders host the Silver and Black. While Carroll-led teams have traditionally been competitive in cross-country games, the Raiders finished 2-7 on the road in 2024 and will still be finding their way at this point of the season.
Result: Win, 2-1 Week 4: at Falcons, Sunday, Sept. 28
Daniels and fellow 2024 draftee Michael Penix Jr. meet for the second time in their short careers. Daniels won the first matchup, rushing for a season-high 127 yards in a hotly-contested 30-24 victory in Week 18. Former Falcons coach Quinn returns to Atlanta for the first time as a head coach, facing his former colleague Raheem Morris.
Result: Win, 3-1 Week 5: at Chargers, Sunday, Oct. 5
Daniels and Justin Herbert face off at SoFi Stadium in a scintillating matchup between two of the top quarterbacks in the league. The Bolts also have one of the top defenses from the 2024 season, led by up-and-coming coordinator Jesse Minter. Washington's run defense will be tested by L.A.'s one-two punch in the backfield of first-round pick Omarion Hampton and free-agent signee Najee Harris.
Result: Loss, 3-2 Week 6: vs. Bears, Monday, Oct. 13
Last season, the Commanders beat the Bears on a last-second Hail Mary, so Chicago will surely be looking for some payback. Plus, Caleb Williams, who was drafted ahead of Daniels, will want to show his progress under new head coach Ben Johnson, one of the league's best offensive minds. Note that Johnson spurned the Commanders during the 2024 hiring cycle, which ultimately led to the hiring of Quinn, who will beat the Bears again.
Result: Win, 4-2
RELATED: Bears-Commanders among top 10 revenge games for 2025 Week 7: at Cowboys, Sunday, Oct. 19
The Cowboys have won six of the past eight games in this classic rivalry, including the last four games in Dallas. New Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer will experience some growing pains in his first season, but having a healthy Dak Prescott back leading the offense should alleviate some of those issues. In Prescott's first matchup against Daniels, the veteran will come out on top.
Result: Loss, 4-3 Week 8: at Chiefs, Monday, Oct. 27
After facing Prescott, Daniels takes on Kansas City and Patrick Mahomes for the first time in his NFL career. He'll also face the daunting task of going against longtime Chiefs defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo, whose scheme has been tough to decipher for young quarterbacks.
Result: Loss, 4-4 Week 9: vs. Seahawks, Sunday, Nov. 2
Legion of Boom founding member Bobby Wagner faces his former team for the first time as a Commander. And receiver Deebo Samuel is probably licking his chops in anticipation of seeing his former NFC West rival. Samuel totaled 766 receiving yards and four touchdowns in eight games against Seattle while playing for the San Francisco 49ers.
Result: Win, 5-4 Week 10: vs. Lions, Sunday, Nov. 9
Washington faces one of last season's most explosive offenses in the Lions. However, how different will Detroit's offense be with John Morton replacing Ben Johnson as OC? The Lions also lost defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn, who left to become head coach of the Jets, so Dan Campbell will have his hands full resetting the culture on both sides of the football.
Result: Win, 6-4 Week 11: vs. Dolphins, Sunday, Nov. 16
In the franchise's first international game since 2016, facing Miami in Madrid, the Commanders take on another explosive offense. Top of mind for Washington defensive coordinator Joe Whitt will be slowing down Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, who loves to create explosive plays down the field for Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle.
Result: Win, 7-4 Week 12: Bye Week 13: vs. Broncos, Sunday, Nov. 30
Daniels takes on another quarterback from the 2024 draft class in Bo Nix, who surprisingly helped lead Denver to the playoffs in his first season. The Broncos also bring one of the top defenses to Northwest Stadium, led by last year's Defensive Player of the Year, cornerback Patrick Surtain II.
Result: Win, 8-4 Week 14: at Vikings, Sunday, Dec. 7
With J.J. McCarthy set to lead the Minnesota offense, Daniels will face the fourth different quarterback from his 2024 draft class. This is an important game for the Commanders, as it could affect playoff seeding in the NFC conference. The Vikings have won five of the past six games against Washington, and Minnesota will extend its dominance.
Result: Loss, 8-5 Week 15: at Giants, Sunday, Dec. 14
New York's vaunted pass rush — led by Dexter Lawrence, Brian Burns and Kayvon Thibodeaux — finished with five total sacks and 19 pressures in two games against Washington last year. The Commanders worked this offseason to provide better pass protection for Daniels with the addition of Laremy Tunsil via trade and the selection of Josh Conerly Jr. in the first round of the draft. Games like this one against the Giants will test if those were good moves for the Commanders.
Result: Loss, 8-6 Week 16: vs. Eagles, Saturday, Dec. 20
Saquon Barkley averaged 138 rushing yards a contest and scored seven touchdowns in three games against the Commanders last season. But Washington needs this win at home.
Result: Win, 9-6 Week 17: vs. Cowboys, Thursday, Dec. 25
The Commanders play their first-ever game on Christmas, hosting a marquee matchup against America's Team. How Washington matches up defensively with star receivers CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens will go a long way in determining who gets the last present under the tree.
Result: Win, 10-6 Week 18: at Eagles, Flex Game
These final three games will likely determine if the Eagles can become the first team to repeat as NFC East champs since Philly won the division in four consecutive seasons from 2001 to 2004. They could also determine which of the Eagles, Commanders and Cowboys will move on to the postseason. A lot of Washington's offseason moves were made with defeating the Eagles in mind. We'll find out if they were the right decisions at the end of the season.
Result: Loss
Final Record prediction: 10-7
Eric D. Williams has reported on the NFL for more than a decade, covering the Los Angeles Rams for Sports Illustrated, the Los Angeles Chargers for ESPN and the Seattle Seahawks for the Tacoma News Tribune. Follow him at @eric_d_williams .
Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account , and follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily!
recommended
Get more from National Football League Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
7 minutes ago
- Yahoo
WNBA Announces Big Mystics News After Fever Game
WNBA Announces Big Mystics News After Fever Game originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The Indiana Fever finally got a win on Tuesday night. After losing three in a row, the Caitlin Clark-less Fever secured an 85-76 victory against the Washington Mystics to improve to 3-4 in the season. Advertisement It was Kelsey Mitchell who led the charge for Indiana with a game-high 24 points, two rebounds, three assists, two steals and four triples in 32 minutes of action. The Mystics, on the other hand, got strong performances from their rookies, Kiki Iriafen (20 points, nine rebounds) and Sonia Citron (13 points, seven boards), but it still wasn't enough to carry Washington to victory. It was a noteworthy effort from the Mystics' rookies, though, which prompted an announcement from the WNBA shortly after the final buzzer. Following their strong performances against Indiana, Iriafen and Citron have now scored in double digits in their first eight WNBA games. "This rookie duo isn't lettin' up🔥Kiki Iriafen and Sonia Citron become the first rookies since A'ja Wilson (2018) to open their careers with 8+ straight double-digit scoring games," the league posted on Instagram. Advertisement View the original article to see embedded media. The fact that Iriafen and Citron have been mentioned in the same breath as three-time league MVP A'ja Wilson — by the WNBA, no less — is an incredible feat in itself. Wilson has reached unprecedented heights since winning Rookie of the Year in 2018, and it appears that both Iriafen and Citron are blazing a similar path. The Washington rookies have been very impressive so far this season. Entering Tuesday's contest against the Fever, Iriafen, the No. 4 overall pick of the 2025 WNBA Draft has averaged 13.9 points and 10.1 rebounds in 28.4 minutes of action. Washington Mystics forward Kiki Iriafen dribbles the ball upcourt against the Las Vegas Ward-Imagn Images Citron has been making waves as well. The third pick of the draft came into Tuesday's games with averages of 14.3 points, 4.0 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.7 triples in 30.9 minutes per contest. Advertisement The future is bright for Washington with these two at the helm. Related: Indiana Fever Get Good News Amid Caitlin Clark's Injury Absence Related: Aliyah Boston's Behavior Toward Caitlin Clark Before Fever Game is Turning Heads This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 4, 2025, where it first appeared.
USA Today
23 minutes ago
- USA Today
Retired Patriots WR believes he could return to NFL at new position
Retired Patriots WR believes he could return to NFL at new position If given the time to make the transition, former New England Patriots wide receiver Chris Hogan believes that he could make an NFL comeback as a punter. Hogan, 37, worked in as a backup punter in college. So he has the legitimate skill to play the position. But could he do it at the NFL level? He seems to believe so. 'I can kick the ball. To this day, I believe I could've lasted in this league as a punter," Hogan said on the Patriots Report with Price & Hogan. "I promise you I could've. My confidence level of my athletic ability is far beyond probably a lot of other people's are. I was a punter in college, I was a backup punter in college.' Patriots fans didn't know Hogan for his kicking skills as much as they knew him for his receiving abilities. The two-time Super Bowl champion racked up 107 receptions for 1,651 yards and 12 touchdowns in three seasons with New England. His best year came in 2016, when he caught 38 passes for 680 yards and four touchdowns. It would be quite the comeback if Hogan returned as a punter. One would have to imagine he has the connections to get a look if he's serious. It would be incredible to see the wide receiver come out of retirement. There's no doubt that he is a solid all-around athlete, and his past experiences would undoubtedly work to his benefit. Follow Patriots Wire on Twitter and Facebook.
USA Today
an hour ago
- USA Today
Christian Watson analysis: Electric upside, but injuries cloud future in Green Bay
Christian Watson analysis: Electric upside, but injuries cloud future in Green Bay Christian Watson is in an interesting and difficult situation entering the final year of his rookie deal in Green Bay, as he rehabs from an ACL injury which is expected to cost him at least part of the 2025 season, despite reportedly being ahead of schedule in his recovery. This leaves his future with the Packers somewhat up in the air. Finding a compromise on a contract to keep him on the team in 2026 and beyond projects to be difficult, and depends greatly on how quickly and effectively he can return to his pre-injury form. In terms of what Watson has brought to Green Bay in his three years so far, here is what the numbers say about his overall profile as a wide receiver: Strengths Watson's primary usage in his NFL career to date has been as a deep threat, where he is a constant threat to create an explosive play due to his electric speed and unique size. Among qualified NFL receivers, he ranks in the 92nd percentile in average depth of target (ADOT) since entering the league, and the 85th percentile for yards per reception (Y/REC), evidencing his ability to hurt teams deep. Whenever he has been on the field, Watson has been a very valuable receiver, ranking in the 72nd percentile for yards per route run (Y/RR), one of the more reliable statistics for analyzing the quality of receivers. His speed has also allowed him to be one of the better receivers in the league in creating yards after the catch, ranking in the 74th percentile in yards after catch per reception (YAC/REC). If Watson gets the ball in space, it is hard to run him down. Watson's stature has helped him to be strong in contested catch situations, not just deep, but in all areas of the field, as he is able to box out defenders. He ranks in the 72nd percentile in contested catch percentage (CTC%). With 14 touchdowns in three years, Watson has a knack for finding the end zone. This number may not seem overly impressive, but when taking account of how much time he has missed, it becomes more notable. Watson ranks in the 74th percentile for touchdowns per target. The intermediate part of the field is the portion where Watson has been the most efficient, ranking in the 70th percentile for both Y/REC and Y/RR. The lowest percentage of his dropped passes came in the 10-19 yard area, as he ranks in the 66th percentile for drop rate in this range. A particularly important element of Watson's game for this Packers team has been his ability to beat man coverage, an aspect many of his teammates have struggled with. Watson has been excellent against man, ranking in the 82nd percentile for Y/RR and the 68th for Y/REC. He has often been Green Bay's answer when presented with man coverage, and his absence was certainly felt when he missed time in 2024 in that regard. He is still effective against zone, ranking in the 86th percentile for Y/REC and the 61st for Y/REC, although his drop rate is much worse, ranking in the 27th percentile compared to 65th percentile versus man. Weaknesses The flashes are so bright with Watson, and the impact he can have on a game on just a few targets is special, but arguably the biggest problem is that he has simply not been able to have that impact regularly enough. A huge part of that is availability. Watson has missed a lot of time with injuries in his first three seasons. Combine that with the competitive receiver group he plays in, and Watson ranks in just the 28th percentile for targets since his rookie year. It feels a bit harsh to call this a weakness, but for one reason or another, Watson has not been able to become a high volume receiver, and his role has settled in as something of a boom/bust rather than a true "number one" receiver. Watson has battled drops throughout his NFL career so far, like many of his teammates, ranking in the 32nd percentile in drop rate since 2022. Despite his elite speed which helps him get yards after the catch, Watson is not elusive with the ball in his hands, ranking in the 35th percentile for missed tackles forced per reception. He is not a shifty, agile player in that sense. There are not many true weaknesses with Watson, with the injuries, which are not his fault, the biggest issue which have caused his NFL career to feel very stop/start. Trending up After an extremely tough rookie year in terms of drops, ranking in just the 3rd percentile, Watson has actually improved quite significantly since then, ranking in the 45th percentile in 2023 and the 46th last season. These numbers are still slightly below average, but nothing to worry about. Despite his size/speed profile, Watson was not an especially efficient deep target as a rookie, ranking in the 32nd percentile for Y/RR. Part of that may have been a lack of chemistry with Aaron Rodgers, and he has become a much more effective deep threat since Jordan Love took over, ranking in the 42nd percentile for Y/RR in 2023 and the 72nd in 2024. His Y/REC has also improved each year. Trending down Watson showed some ability to make defenders miss as a rookie, ranking in the 60th percentile in missed tackles forced per reception, but he dropped to the 30th percentile in 2023 and the 15th in 2024. It is likely at least partially due to his usage and not being put in positions to make things happen after the catch as often. Touchdown totals can be volatile and are somewhat circumstantial, and Watson ran colder in that regard in 2024, ranking in the 33rd percentile compared to the 98th and 91st in his first two years. While Watson has become a crucial part of Green Bay's ability to overcome man coverage, he has been a much lesser part of their offense against zone coverage, which makes sense given the Packers have plenty of other receivers who excel versus zone. After ranking in the 66th percentile in target percentage against zone as a rookie, he only ranked in the 32nd and 22nd percentile in the last two years respectively. Overall, Watson has a unique skill set and explosive potential, and on a snap to snap basis has arguably been Green Bay's best receiver in his three years with the team, but his regular impact has unfortunately been consistently hampered by injuries. The ACL tear has thrown another wrench into the equation on whether the Packers keep Watson long term, but if he can return earlier than expected and quickly regain his full abilities, he has a chance to show enough to convince Green Bay he is worth handing an extension to. Given how difficult it could be to find a number both sides are happy with though, and the depth the Packers now have at receiver, it seems it will be harder to thread the needle on the timeline that would have to occur in order for Watson to be a Packer in 2026.
