CBS Sports has put out their predictions for the ceilings and floors of every NFL team for 2023, and as we kick off Week 1 in earnest on Tuesday, the Junkies took a look at what Washington’s bounds may be.
A 10-7 season and divisional round loss is the ceiling for the Commanders, but that’s…a little low?
“My ranges are far different, because I feel their ceiling, if Sam Howell is Brock Purdy-like and the defense is what they were in the past, could be 12 wins,” JP said.
“If everything went right, I’d say maybe 11,” EB chimed in, with Cakes agreeing “because of the division – they’re still the fourth-best team in the division.”
That led to a discussion of Dallas and the Giants and any improvements they may have from going 12-5 and 9-7-1, and to Bish, that idea barely if at all applies to the Commanders.
“I think their ceiling is nine wins; the schedule and division are very difficult, and teams never stay 100 percent healthy,” Bish said. “I don’t think they’re good enough on paper to get to 10, 11, 12 wins.”
As for the floor, 7-10 and missing the playoffs is where the Commanders are pegged, 1 ½ games worse than 2022.
“My floor is way lower – the Cards last season were 4-13, and the Bears were 3-14 with a lot of optimism with Justin Fields,” JP said. “If Sam Howell is a bust...we’ve seen it go spectacularly bad in the last season of a coach, and it could go south quick, so I think their floor is four wins.”
“Wow, that’s super low,” Cakes replied. “I think it’s six – I don’t think they’re Cardinals or 2022 Texans-level bad, but if the offense doesn’t see an uptick, I can see them winning only six games.”
Bish agreed with six because the defense can keep them in games, and EB, well, he knows “they should have a Top 10 defense at worst, unless injuries happen, so I’d be literally stunned if they win less than six.”
“Look, 6-11 is still a bad year,” Bish replied. “I think they have the talent to win six to nine games, which is a big gap in the NFL.”
Okay, all that said, how do the floor and ceiling affect Ron Rivera’s future?
“If Ron wins nine games, even if they don’t make the playoffs, he might have a prayer of lasting into the new regime,” Cakes said. “I think his fate is already sealed, but if he turns in a six-win dud, for sure, goodbye!”
Take a listen to the full conversation above!
