The Washington Commanders may get new owners this fall, but not a fresh start. The NFL schedule always wins.
Playing seven of 10 games on the road around midseason, without an offsetting long homestand, is a big problem. Indeed, the Commanders don’t even have consecutive home games. Sure, they open and close the season at FedEx Field, but such a heavy travel schedule when the team typically plays its best under coach Ron Rivera doesn’t lend much hope for him to stay in 2024.
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Washington is 8-9 . . . at best.
Welcome to the NFL, Josh Harris and Co. The NFL loves roughing up newbies and you’re about to be initiated.
Ironically, Washington may open 2-0, which the Commanders have never done under Rivera. Arizona at Washington on Sept. 10 is a gift. Lose that one and the angry mob forms outside the coach’s office. It’s a long season when that happens. Ask Jim Zorn.
The Commanders can then win at the Denver Broncos. It’s as soft a start as Washington could get.
But now comes the gut punches with brass knuckles. Buffalo comes to Washington for a victory. Washington then gets beat at Philadelphia. Suddenly, the Commanders are 2-2, but a quick Thursday win against Chicago temporarily stops the crisis from escalating. Following with a win at Atlanta has Rivera saying 4-2 is looking good.
But here comes the cruelest stretch. Four straight losses to the New York Giants, Philadelphia, New England and Seattle leaves everyone checking train departures in January.
The Commanders can rebound with a win over the Giants, but then comes Thanksgiving at Dallas. That doesn’t go well most years. Now Washington gets 10 days to think about 5-7 before beating Miami. With a Dec. 10 bye, 6-7 provides a gleam of hope and some freshening before the final month.
The road beckons again, this time to the Los Angeles Rams and New York Jets. Figure a loss to the Rams and a win over the Jets since the Commanders have beaten Aaron Rodgers before. Washington follows by defeating San Francisco to reach 8-8.
Maybe a victory over Dallas in the finale, which wasn’t even given a date, might mean a Wild Card. Who knows, maybe the Cowboys won’t need to win and rest starters.
Yeah, about that. When over recent years has Washington won a finale that mattered? OK, 2020. Name another. It’s a loss and a flurry of pink slips.
It’s all so clear four months before the opener. It gets more confusing once games begin. But, not many pundits are thinking even eight wins. And, the schedule is the NFL’s eighth hardest.
It’s another meh season ahead.
Follow Rick Snider on Twitter: @Snide_Remarks
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