Scott Allen, who of course does the D.C. Sports Bog for the Washington Post, and on Twitter/X this week, he noted that this is the first time in the Ron Rivera era that the Commanders are at least a touchdown favorite, currently minus-7 for Week 1 against Arizona.
Indeed a new era, and even in the preseason, he could feel the buzz – calling Sunday’s game “the most anticipated since the 2004 home opener” that marked Joe Gibbs’ return to DC.
“I do feel the buzz,” Allen told the Junkies on Wednesday. “I was at the Ravens preseason game, and it’s really hard to judge excitement at a preseason game, especially with the Ravens in town, but I felt the vibe inside the stadium. It really feels like a cloud has lifted. There’s not much to get excited about in this matchup, because they should pummel the Cardinals, but a few days out I am feeling it already.”
Allen also had five bold predictions for the Commanders in his latest offering, one of which being that he believes the team’s NFL record 509 consecutive regular season games (since Sept. 1991 against the Eagles) without a defensive shutout will end this year – and it will happen right away against the Cards!
“It’s one of the ridiculous stats about this franchise; they had three shutouts in the first five weeks of that season, but none since,” Allen laughed. “FOX has been putting this graphic on the screen for years now when they get to the second half with a shutout intact, but they have a good chance at it this week.”
But, if everyone expects the team to win and something goes wrong?
“They have to win, but the scenario does set up for an ultimate letdown after a summer of celebration and a honeymoon period people think will last for a while,” Allen said. “You go into Sunday, in front of the first legitimate sellout in years, all rooting for you, and you somehow lose to this team? Ultimate letdown. I don’t see it happening – I think the Cardinals will have the NFL’s worst record this year – but it’s on Ron Rivera to get his team going and control their emotions.”
Take a listen to Allen’s entire call-in above, which also included talk on his other preposterous predictions!
