SNIDER: Are the Commanders for real?
Forgive Washington Commanders fans for being skeptical over the team’s 3-1 start. They’ve seen smoke and broken mirrors before.
In 1996, Washington opened 7-1 and finished 9-7 to miss the playoffs. In 2008, new coach Jim Zorn started 6-2 while talking of skinning wolves and creating Z-screens. He then went 2-6 to end that year, and 4-12 the next season. Why, even two three-game winning streaks in 2022 saw the team reach 7-5 with postseason hopes. They finished 8-8-1.
But this is a pinch-me moment for fans after Washington beat Arizona handily on Sunday for its third straight victory, including road wins against Cincinnati and Arizona squads that were perceived playoff contenders. And not just wins, but butt-kickings, as the offense scored in 20 of 22 possessions aside kneel downs.
The Commanders' offense looks unstoppable under rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels and offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury, who’s a one-year rental if this continues. Opponents scoffed at a “college offense” by Kingsbury. Well, Steve Spurrier brought a college offense from Florida in 2002 and went 12-20 before resigning from a golf course pay phone.
Daniels is performing a rope-a-dope on defenders in faking passes and finding lanes for first downs. Forget past Washington first-rounders like Heath Shuler, Patrick Ramsey and Dwayne Haskins; Daniels becoming Washington’s best passer since Joe Theismann 40 years ago.
But there are plenty of unsung heroes on this offense, starting with the line, which has been a total reversal of last year. Brandon Coleman – while splitting snaps with Cornelius Lucas – is balling at left tackle, which means the Commanders can spend their 2025 first-rounder on a cornerback, pass rusher or receiver. Andrew Wylie is no longer a penalty machine at right tackle, and the interior line is winning blitzing battles.
Brian Robinson has finally received a Larry Brown workload in his third season and barrels away. That Washington didn’t miss injured Austin Ekeler by plugging in Jeremy McNichols was a real win for general manager Adam Peters, who found the seventh-year free agent who hadn’t run the ball since 2021. Yet, McNichols gained 68 yards on eight carries with two touchdowns, which gives him three for his career.
Yes, the new pieces sprinkled heavily throughout the offense are coming together. Yet, it might have been in vain if not for the defense finally finding a pulse. The unit held together late to preserve the Cincinnati win, then managed four sacks and enough pass pressure to silence Kyler Murray and the Cardinals.
Still, it’s hard to buy in to Washington’s sudden success despite an easier schedule through midseason. The Commanders play three of their next four at home against Cleveland, Carolina and Chicago, plus a short road trip to Baltimore, before finishing the season’s first half at the New York Giants, whom they’ve already beaten - so 6-3 is a real possibility.
Whether Washington withstands a stiffer second-half schedule against Philadelphia and Dallas each twice, plus Pittsburgh, Tennessee, New Orleans, and Atlanta is questionable. Maybe the Commanders swoon late like in past times. Perhaps they punch through given this new roster has no ties to the past.
Meanwhile, Victory Monday has given a dormant fan base a chance to celebrate. A well-deserved celebration no matter the future. After all, the future is now.
