WASHINGTON COMMANDERS
2024 Record - 12-5-0
Head Coach - Dan Quinn
2024 Offensive Rank - (7th overall) - 370 YPG; Passing - 216 YPG (17th), Rushing - 154 YPG (3rd); SCORING - 28.5 PPG (5th)
2024 Defensive Rank - (13th overall) - 327 YPG; Passing - 190 YPG (3rd), Rushing - 137 YPG (30th); SCORING - 23.0 PPG (18th)
Key Additions for 2025 - Deebo Samuel (WR), Will Harris (DB), Von Miller (DL), Eddie Goldman (DL), Javon Kinlaw (DL), Jonathan Jones (DB), Laremy Tunsil (OT)
Key Losses for 2025 - Jonathan Allen (DL), Jeremy Chinn (DB), Dante Fowler, Jr. (DL), Jamison Crowder (WR), Benjamin St-Juste (DB), Olamide Zaccheaus (WR)
OFFENSE - Quarterback Jayden Daniels enters his second season after a huge debut in 2024 when he passed for 3,568 yards with 25 touchdowns and nine interceptions and also led the Commanders in rushing with 891 yards (6.0 YPC) and had six rushing touchdowns. Brian Robinson, Jr. (799 rush yards, 4.3 YPC, eight TD) was traded (8/22/2025) to the San Francisco 49ers, leaving Austin Ekeler (367, 4.8 YPC, four TD), Chris Rodriguez, Jr. and rookie Jacory Croskey-Merritt (Arizona) as the primary running backs. The wide receiving corps is led by Terry McLaurin (82 receptions, 1,096 yards, 13 TD), but he is in a contract dispute in training camp and has even requested a trade. The other wideouts for Washington include Deebo Samuel, who had 51 receptions for 670 yards and three scores (with the 49ers last year), Noah Brown (35, 453, one TD), Michael Gallup and K.J. Osborn. The tight end is Zach Ertz, who had 66 grabs for 654 yards and seven touchdowns last year.
DEFENSE - Washington has defensive linemen Clelin Ferrell, Jer'Zhan Newton, Dorrance Armstrong (five sacks), Von Miller (six sacks with Buffalo) and Darron Payne up front while 14-year veteran Bobby Wagner (team high 132 tackles) and Frankie Luvu (99 tackles, eight sacks) lead the linebackers. The secondary features corners Marshon Lattimore and Mike Sainristil (two interceptions) along with safeties Will Harris and Quan Martin. Noah Igbinoghene and Jonathan Jones provide depth to a secondary which helped the Commanders finish third in the league against the pass a year ago as the team had seven interceptions and 43 sacks.
OUTLOOK - Head Coach Dan Quinn always brings energy with him and it apparently rubbed off on the team a year ago as they came out of nowhere to make the playoffs with rookie QB Jayden Daniels taking the NFL by storm all the way to the NFC Championship game. As long as Daniels does his thing again, the Commanders should continue to be be a force on offense. What can this team do for an encore in the 2025 season? Beating out the Philadelphia Eagles for the NFC East crown is possible, but the defense must improve at stopping the run and forcing more turnovers.
The Commanders were fifth in the league in scoring, but gave up too many big plays on defense, especially in their blowout loss to the Eagles in the NFC title game. Eight new players arrive this season in D.C. to help the defense. The team needs to come to terms with (wide receiver) Terry McLaurin so the offense doesn't take a step back as he is their big play maker in the passing attack and Deebo Samuel should help out the offense with his talents after some good years in San Francisco. The Commanders will not be sneaking up on any teams this year, so taking advantage of a favorable first half schedule (on paper) would be a big benefit if this team wants to get back to the playoffs and perhaps take the next step in January.
2025 SCHEDULE
Week One - vs. N.Y. Giants
Week Two - at Green Bay
Week Three - vs. Las Vegas
Week Four - at Atlanta
Week Five - at L.A. Chargers
Week Six - vs. Chicago
Week Seven - at Dallas
Week Eight - at Kansas City
Week Nine - vs. Seattle
Week Ten - vs. Detroit
Week Eleven - vs. Miami (Madrid, Spain)
Week Twelve - BYE
Week Thirteen - vs. Denver
Week Fourteen - at Minnesota
Week Fifteen - at N.Y. Giants
Week Sixteen - vs. Philadelphia
Week Seventeen - vs. Dallas
Week Eighteen - at Philadelphia
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