Washington Commanders 2026 schedule: Revamped team faces a brutal opening stretch

The Athletic has live coverage of the 2026 NFL schedule release.

Forget the strength-of-schedule rankings. Forget the fact that Washington won only five games last season. Forget any reason why the Commanders might have received a softer schedule in 2026. Because the NFL did them zero favors this year.

After cruising to a 12-5 record with an NFC Championship Game appearance in 2024, the Commanders fell apart, physically and otherwise, in 2025. Young quarterback Jayden Daniels missed more games than he played because of injuries, the wide receiving corps was decimated for much of the season and the defense was a sieve.

The franchise that suddenly came alive again in ‘24 was quickly grounded in ‘25 and now faces a daunting slate with many unknowns.

The Commanders used the offseason to change systems and coordinators, turning to a pair of first-time NFL play callers in David Blough (offense) and Daronte Jones (defense). The roster changed, too, with most of the alterations on the defensive side to try to improve the pass rush and overhaul the linebacking corps, and with first-round draft pick Sonny Styles now serving as the new quarterback of the group.

Signs of whether the Commanders did enough this offseason will start to show in training camp and the preseason. But the real test awaits on Sept. 13, when they face the Eagles in Philadelphia in Week 1 and begin a gauntlet of a season.

Week 1 keys to victory

Stop the run. That’s been the key for Washington when facing the Eagles over the previous two seasons. In his past four games against the Commanders (including the NFC Championship in January, 2025), Eagles running back Saquon Barkley amassed 546 rushing yards and eight total touchdowns. That’s an average of 136.5 rushing yards a game. The Commanders haven’t had a player top 136 rushing yards in a game in five years (Antonio Gibson had 146 in Week 18 of the 2021 season).

The Commanders’ revised their defense and will now operate in Jones’ system, which could look quite similar to Brian Flores’ defense in Minnesota. But using a similar system doesn’t guarantee similar results. Washington revamped its front seven significantly to build up its pass rush and get younger (and faster) at the second level. That means Week 1 at the Linc will be a heck of a welcome-to-the-NFL moment for Styles, who figures to play the “mike,” or middle linebacker spot. It will also be a good gauge of the team’s tackling overall; Barkley forced six missed tackles and racked up 109 yards after contact in his lone meeting with the Commanders last season, according to Pro Football Focus.

Must-watch game: vs. Cincinnati Bengals, Week 11

Daniels’ career breakout game was a Monday Night Football win over the Bengals two years ago, when he completed 21 of 23 pass attempts for 254 yards and accounted for three total touchdowns — one of which was a go-ahead 27-yard beauty to Terry McLaurin in the final three minutes. This game may not carry the same weight, depending on the records of both teams going in, but the intrigue will almost certainly be there.

Toughest stretch: Weeks 1-6

The Commanders have typically been hit hardest in the middle or latter parts of the seasons. Not this year. The roughest stretch appears to be the opening few weeks, with two divisional road games, in Philadelphia and then Dallas, followed by a home game against the reigning Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks. The fun continues with a trip to London, where the Commanders will take on the Colts at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. But instead of following their jaunt abroad with a bye, as the Commanders did last year after going to Madrid, they’ll instead come home to host their third divisional opponent, the Giants. And then? Another long trip out west to the take on the 49ers in Santa Clara.

At least they’ll get their United miles.

One game the Commanders can’t afford to lose: Any between Weeks 10 and 13

Let’s say the Commanders come out of the first six weeks 3-3, which could very well happen given the opponents and travel. That Week 10-13 stretch will be critical for any potential playoff push, and all four games come with unique challenges.

The stretch starts with Washington’s fifth divisional game of the season, a Thursday road game against the Giants. Washington swept New York last year, but this year’s team should look significantly different with John Harbaugh running the show, making a needed divisional win harder to achieve.

The Commanders follow with their Monday night game against the Bengals and a pair of road trips to face the Cardinals and Titans, teams that both finished 3-14 last season. Losing any of those in a tight playoff race would be brutal.

Two years ago, this was the time the Commanders’ revived their season after a string of losses. They defeated the Titans in Week 13, then won their next six games to make it to the NFC Championship Game.

Best offense the Commanders will face: Rams, Week 9

The Rams led the league in scoring, total yards, passing yards and yards per play last season. Matthew Stafford, at 37, looked like a player improving, not one showing signs of aging, and he won his first MVP award.

Last year was especially interesting because it showed the Rams’ success when pivoting to heavier personnel. Coach Sean McVay basically lives in 11 personnel, with one running back, one tight end and three wide receivers. But when Puka Nacua went down, McVay shifted to a heavier offense with three tight ends. It’s not uncommon, but the Rams’ success in 13 personnel showed the team’s versatility and adaptability.

With Stafford, possibly the NFL’s top receiving corps and one of its best offensive lines, the Rams are projected to have a +6.3 expected margin of victory, according to The Athletic’s Austin Mock.

Best defense the Commanders will face: Seahawks, Week 3

It appears that this season will offer a sizable challenge for the Commanders’ offense. They face the Eagles twice, per usual, but also get the Super Bowl champs, the Texans and the Vikings, with their potentially improved interior defensive line. Those three teams all ranked in the top seven in points against and yards against last season.

Not exactly a soft entrance to play calling for Blough.

Predicted record: 8-9

I’m going to get creamed for my prediction again, but so be it. I like almost all of the roster moves the Commanders made in the offseason, and I applaud coach Dan Quinn for taking a gamble on Blough and Jones (though Jones seems like less of a risk, given his play calling experience at LSU and his overall time coaching). But it’s a gamble, nonetheless, and if it goes south, it would not be a surprise if Washington embarks on yet another head-coaching search in the offseason.

My biggest concerns with the roster are at receiver and in the secondary. The Commanders still don’t have a complement to McLaurin, and even if they were to add Brandon Aiyuk or Stefon Diggs, it’s no guarantee that either could be that player.

On defense, while I think Washington’s pass rush has the potential to be improved, its secondary still lacks a lockdown corner. Trey Amos may develop into that, but it’s too early to know for sure what he’ll be, and it’s unclear how things will shake out between Mike Sainristil and Amik Robertson.

So there you go: 8-9. Be nice.

Predicted NFC East finish: Third

This season will be a repeat of last season in the NFC East standings: The Eagles, with the most complete team, will finish first. The Cowboys, with a prolific offense and a young defensive star in first-round safety Caleb Downs, will finish a close second. The Commanders will slot in at third, with a roster that doesn’t have as many holes as the Giants’, but enough to make Commanders an unknown, especially with two first-year coordinators.