2026 Washington Commanders season prediction thread!

[ThomasTomasz]

Okay, just curious. Looks like Ken Norton Jr is your LB coach, he may be able to help him a little adust to being a DC. Norton Jr was a DC with the Raiders and Seahawks from 2025-2021.

We have Norton and John Pagano as former DCs, and Eric Henderson was the USC co-DC the last two seasons and played a role in the Rams DL around the time of their Super Bowl run. The coaching staff has some juice. Daronte Jones just has one year at LSU as a DC, but so far, the beat reporters are saying he’s going to be as aggressive as Flores, and including some exotic plays/packages as well.

My problem is that, for as much as they said the defense did well, if the offense wasn’t performing and was showing up like they did in the pre-season, then I can’t really consider the defense coming out ahead. It’ a good thing two of our first three games will be coming against brand new OCs.

 

[ThomasTomasz]

@dcrising
@ThomasTomasz
@Sharkinva
@Rowdy
@tlance
@Skin'EmAll

Come on good people! We need your takes!

What is the 2026 record!!!!

I think 8-10 wins is probably the right answer.

There are a wider spread of outcomes that could lower or raise that as well.

 

[ThomasTomasz]

I enjoy your optimism Sty. It always seems like this team is playing "catchup", or "Behind the 8 ball", so to speak. Understanding Blough has been here with JD5 the past few years doesn't mean his play calling duties will be full fledge in sync by week 1.
After all, it is all about health and our talent has improved enough across the board that if healthy, we should be able to compete week in and week out.

It’s a big jump going from Assistant QB Coach to Offensive Coordinator, especially calling plays. The good news for Blough is that it also seems that at least the Lions were also interested in him for the same role. Interview requests are different from hiring- perhaps they were looking to interview him, and then maybe bring him in as a Passing Game Coordinator option. Obviously, we won’t know, because we hired him.

I look at Daronte Jones and Blough however, and it seems Jones is set up much better to succeed. Jones has two former DCs in Norton and Pagano on staff, and got to bring in a hand-picked number 2 in Eric Henderson. Meanwhile, Blough really only has help from Anthony Lynn as a former HC/OC, and I imagine he also has some duties assisting Quinn, and I don’t think he was able to bring in that strong #2 option to help him as a coach either unless you say that’s David Raih’s promotion. Blough also has to navigate not having a TE coach this year.

It’s certainly a big risk going with two brand new rookie playcallers.

 

[skinz2winz]

Very important…also understand who it is written to. Was it written to Jew or gentile? Was it written to a specific church and what were their predominate beliefs within the culture. Also, if you can, try and understand the meaning within the language…such as Thou shall not kill (actually murder).

Absolutely and thank you for the insight. So much more to learn than just reading scripture.

 

[gkekoa]

Absolutely and thank you for the insight. So much more to learn than just reading scripture.

I love the fact you are diving deep. I don’t have all the answers but I love looking them up, so if you have questions or want to discuss it, message me.

 

[kbso83432]

No prediction from me, but I might join in the fun before we get rolling.

Anyway, ChatGPT spat this out when I asked it to predict the SB.

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[PDay8810]

two NFC East teams start the season with two division games.

 

[Skin'EmAll]

Im pressed for time, but i love everyone's predictions. I believe we won't sweep anyone in our division and we will get a surprise win against JAX getting us to 9 wins.
The offensive line really concerns me but Rachaad White and Diggs give me optimism a winning record is possible

 

[kbso83432]

The players picked Bryce Young 99 in the top 100 and left Jayden off the list completely and I love it.

 

[blastfromthepast]

The players picked Bryce Young 99 in the top 100 and left Jayden off the list completely and I love it.

Hmm, I don't like that one bit actually.

Why would players say that? What do they know that we don't know?

Something seems off.

To me, JD5 is a top 5 QB and has potentially to be a top 3 QB in the league. Maybe I am a homer and a Polly Anna.

However, I take the word of players over random pundits on Bleacher Report. Perhaps they don't think he is healthy.

 

[kbso83432]

Hmm, I don't like that one bit actually.

Why would players say that? What do they know that we don't know?

Something seems off.

To me, JD5 is a top 5 QB and has potentially to be a top 3 QB in the league. Maybe I am a homer and a Polly Anna.

However, I take the word of players over random pundits on Bleacher Report. Perhaps they don't think he is healthy.

What have you done for me lately mixed in with a little bit of hate.

This, the LSU fiasco, and the fact that most of the national media has us as one of the worst teams in the league leads me to believe he's going to play with a huge chip on his shoulder.

With Wagner gone, I'm expecting him to take a hold of the locker room and re-establish himself as an elite QB.

 

[skinsdad62]

I think being injured has mostly to do with it

 

[PDay8810]

I think being injured has mostly to do with it

yes but this a huge year for JD5.
The natives are restless.

 

[blastfromthepast]

What have you done for me lately mixed in with a little bit of hate.

This, the LSU fiasco, and the fact that most of the national media has us as one of the worst teams in the league leads me to believe he's going to play with a huge chip on his shoulder.

With Wagner gone, I'm expecting him to take a hold of the locker room and re-establish himself as an elite QB.

JD5 must do a few things to prove the doubter wrong:


Stay healthy
Don't play wreckless
Pick up Blough's offense
Lead the team

If he does those things, the doubters can go pound sand. I think Daniels CAN do these things but I cannot tell you he WILL do those things.

I am hoping Blough and Daniels can read each others minds. I ultimately think it comes down to OL play.

To amend James Carville's famous words, "It's the O Line stupid".

 

[kbso83432]

JD5 must do a few things to prove the doubter wrong:


Stay healthy
Don't play wreckless
Pick up Blough's offense
Lead the team

If he does those things, the doubters can go pound sand. I think Daniels CAN do these things but I cannot tell you he WILL do those things.

I am hoping Blough and Daniels can read each others minds. I ultimately think it comes down to OL play.

To amend James Carville's famous words, "It's the O Line stupid".

Two biggest concerns for me are being able to stay healthy and making teams pay for zero blitz.

 

[Tdog05Skins]

I’ll give the Eagles the the upper hand over us simply because they are at home and their defense is supposed to be the strength, us on the other hand we have two inexperienced coordinators who have never called plays so we don’t even remotely know anything about them

To me a lot this season will depend on the Oline and weather or not we can run the ball effectively and weather or not Jayden Daniels can stay healthy

 

[Stymietee]

The players picked Bryce Young 99 in the top 100 and left Jayden off the list completely and I love it.

So do I.

 

[Stymietee]

yes but this a huge year for JD5.
The natives are restless.

The natives have been restless for 30 years. Patience died with the 30 mins or less generation!

 

[Stymietee]

My biggest concern remains unchanged since they drafted #5, and that's having him drag average to subpar teams through entire seasons. He did that in 2024 with an absolutely poor supporting cast. It cost him in 2025, and now armed with the "best" (in this case...an average) supporting cast of his short career, he's being asked to do it again! It is because he's being asked to do so much with so little that voters must take that into consideration when voting for individual awards.

 

[chillerdab]

No prediction from me, but I might join in the fun before we get rolling.

Anyway, ChatGPT spat this out when I asked it to predict the SB.

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FWIW: ChatGPT has 3 AFC teams in its final four - bills, texans, ravens.