The scouting combine is ancient history. The NFL Draft is long gone. Minicamps and OTAs happened another lifetime ago. Training camp has come and gone. Three preseason appetizers were either devoured voraciously or ignored entirely. Either way, they too are in life's rearview mirror. Week 1 of the 2024 NFL season is upon us. Real football is here.
And with that preamble done with, The Sports Junkies gathered to make their official – and final! – predictions for the Washington Commanders 2024 campaign – a big one for rookie starting quarterback Jayden Daniels and new head coach Dan Quinn.
Week 1: Commanders at Buccaneers
Cakes, Flaim and Bish all have Washington taking a loss at Tampa. EB, the most bullish of the bunch, has the Commanders beating a playoff team from a year ago and, in his mind a team with only one Super Bowl trophy, because the one Tom Brady won doesn't count.
Week 2: Giants vs. Commanders
Everyone is picking them against Big Blue – a team the foursome do not think highly of.
Week 3: Commaners at Bengals
Going on the road against one of the favorites in the AFC, everyone has this matchup – even if Ja'marr Chase's situation isn't resolved – is a loss.
Week 4: Commanders at Cardinals
Flaim and Bish are picking Arizona in this one, while Cakes and Eric "I can think of few franchises worse than the Arizona Cardinals" Bickel is going with the home team.
Week 5: Browns vs. Commanders
Cakes has "no faith in Deshaun Watson" and likes Washington to get to 3-2 and is joined by the rest of the crew. "You got them at 4-1, this town would be on fire," Flaim says about Bickel's picks.
Week 6: Commanders at Ravens
Nobody is picking Washington in this one, despite Washington having a couple of wins over Baltimore when playing in Landover in recent years.
Week 7: Panthers vs. Commanders
"This has to be a winner," Cakes said, with EB adding that while pregame stuff doesn't impact games – Darrell Green's jersey retirement ceremony – can't hurt Washington.
Week 8: Bears vs. Commanders
In a matchup – that people hope will be between Daniels and Caleb Williams – Flaim goes with Chicago, and Cakes and Bish went with the home team. EB, shockingly, went with the Bears.
Week 9: Commanders at Giants
Cakes gives Washington an L because of bad memories of the Medowlands, with everyone else going with a win – that means Bish has Washington a three game winning streak. "I don't have any regard for them, I don't think they're that good," EB said, "gimmie a Dub."
Week 10: Steelers vs. Commanders
In another game in which nobody can even predict who will be Pittsburgh's starting quarterback for this one. Cakes has no fiath in Russell Wilson and goes with Washington. Flaim thinks Pittsburgh's defense beats them, and is joined by Bishop. And EB, with reference to the Steelers franchise, goes with a loss for Washington: "That game could go either way."
Week 11: Commanders at Ealges
With this one being a Thursday night game on the road, everyone sees this as a defeat for Washington.
Week 12: Cowboys vs. Commanders
Cakes sees Dallas as "a house of cards" that could eventually fall apart and that led him to pick Washington to get to 7-5. In the Dan Quinn revenge game, Flaim and EB goes with a W. Only Bishop takes the visitors.
Week 13: Titans vs. Commanders
Everyone sees Washington beating Tennessee coming to D.C. and taking a loss. "The Titans suck, they're the Titans," EB said.
Week 15: Commanders at Saints
Coming off the bye, the rested Washington go to the Big Easy and taking on Chase Young ("he sucks, he's irrellevant," EB said), with all but Bishop picking the Commanders. "I have no regard for their quarterback," EB added about New Orleans.
Week 16: Eagles vs. Commanders
At the business end of the season, all four are taking Philly – in the second Jahan Dotson revenge game.
Week 17: Flacons vs. Commanders
In the Kirk Cousins revenge game, Cakes and Flaim take Washington winning their final home game of the year. EB – out of respect for Cousins and senseing a late-season swoon – takes Atlanta. Bish sees the Falcons as a much-improved team, but doesn't feel great about taking the Commanders.
Week 18: Commanders at Cowboys
Without knowing what the game might mean for Dallas – if they are resting starters – all four go with the Cowboys.
Final Record Predictions:
Cakes: 10-7
Bishop: 7-10
Flaim: 7-10
EB: 9-8