NFL Power Rankings Week 8: The Washington Commanders go streaking in the wrong direction

SB Nation

The Washington Commanders entered Week 7 with a 3-3 record, and a chance to go 2-0 in the NFC East with a road win over the Dallas Cowboys. This was a huge game for both teams, with second place, and not

leaving with a losing record, on the line. The Commanders continued their negative trend of getting down early in games, turning the ball over, committing too many penalties, and allowing big plays on defense. Dallas rolled to a 44-22 victory, and easily passed Washington in the division.

The other trend the Commanders can’t seem to shake is new injuries every week, and a new player added to injured reserve almost as often. DE Dorance Armstrong(knee) is the latest player to go down for the season, but the list keeps growing. Jayden Daniels also exited the game with a new hamstring injury, which was described by head coach Dan Quinn as “not significant or long-term”. Washington was also missing their top three WRs, limiting their offense, and holding down their run game.

This season started with high expectations after the Commanders made it to the NFC Championship game last season. The team now had a 3-4 record, and is in 3rd place in the NFC East. They’re desperate for a win, and entering the hardest non-division stretch of their schedule with the Chiefs(MNF), Seahawks(SNF), and Lions on deck, before traveling to Spain to face the Dolphins. A winning streak needs to start with a…win. Some changes, along with some good fortune, will be needed with the way the team is playing now. Will Terry McLaurin’s potential return this week be the spark they need, or will their losing streak continue until a potential get-right game next month when it’s too late?

Winning the Super Bowl odds: +3000 —-> +6000
Winning the NFC Odds: +1600 —-> +3000
Winning the NFC East Odds: +230 —-> +550
To Make the Playoffs: +148 —-> +360
Washington Commanders Win Total O/U: Over 9.5(+165 —-> +400), Under 9.5(-195 —-> -550)

High: 13

Low: 23

Average: 15.7 —-> 19.25

#13

Sharp Football Analysis(Mauro)

Jayden Daniels sustained a hamstring injury early in the second half, leaving Marcus Mariota to finish out the game. This competition had already started to get away from Washington as they trailed by 12 heading into the half, but their lack of offense (Mariota going 4/10 with a pick-six to Daron Bland) stifled any hope of a comeback. This loss dropped the Commanders down to a 3-4 record, with their Week 2 win over the Giants being the only thing standing between them and the NFC East’s floor. Daniels’ injury is not expected to keep him out for next Week’s Monday Night matchup with the Chiefs, but his return doesn’t make this brutal three-week stretch any easier (Kansas City, Seattle, Detroit). Last week: 11

#14

Team Rankings

Last week: 10

#15

For the Numbers(Kelley)

The injuries might be too much for the Commanders. There’s a world where Monday features Marcus Mariota throwing to Luke McCaffrey and Zach Ertz against the Chiefs. Last week: 10

Washington Post(Greenberg)

Last week: 10

#16

NFL.com(Edholm)

That’s two straight losses after the big win in L.A., and the Commanders suddenly find themselves in tough shape physically. They were already down their top three receivers heading into the loss to Dallas, and Jayden Daniels exited the game early in the third quarter with a hamstring injury. Up next are matchups against the Chiefs, Seahawks and Lions, followed by a game in Madrid, so it’s clear that this is a dangerous time for Washington. The defense hasn’t given us any reason to believe it will suddenly start making big plays; when it’s not getting sacks, this unit is struggling. The Commanders have forced just three turnovers all season and have suffered from major coverage lapses and poor tackling. Last week: 12

Bleacher Report

Last year was a dream season for the Washington Commanders. A lot of things had to go right to get the team all the way to the NFC Championship, including a stellar first season from quarterback Jayden Daniels.

That dream season increased expectations in 2025, but things are on the brink of becoming a nightmare.

The Commanders were already decimated at wide receiver—Terry McLaurin, Deebo Samuel and Noah Brown all missed Sunday’s loss to Dallas. But Daniels also left the game with a hamstring injury, and if he misses any real time, the Washington offense will be in tatters.

Add in a defense that sits outside the top 25 in points allowed, and any chances Washington had of another deep playoff run get slimmer by the week. Last week: 16

#17

The Ringer(Lee)

First off: I am summarily dismissing any parallels between second year quarterback Jayden Daniels and former Washington starter Robert Griffin III. Daniels is a better player than Griffin was, and he hasn’t suffered any major injuries like Griffin did early in his career. But you can’t fault Commanders fans for getting nervous right now. Daniels left Sunday’s game after tweaking his hamstring, and he missed a couple of games earlier this year with a knee sprain.

With how much Washington needs Daniels’s running to make offense this work, it’s fair to wonder if these relatively minor injuries will add up to become a big deal over the course of the season. Last week: 12

Clutch Points(Finnegan)

The Commanders laid another egg on Sunday against the Cowboys, and then Jayden Daniels went down with a hamstring injury in the second half. Washington can still run the ball pretty well, but you felt the absence of Terry McLaurin in the passing game. Star receivers can still hurt a Washington secondary that is at a talent disadvantage, and CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens feasted on Sunday. Last week: 16

#18

Sports Illustrated(Orr)

Jayden Daniels is so good. I know this isn’t what anyone wants to hear, but putting him in bubble wrap for the next week or two is better for him and the universe. Last week: 16

Windy City Gridiron(Leming)

Two weeks ago, it felt like the Commanders were about to round into form after their impressive 27-10 victory against the Chargers on the road. Since that point, they’ve lost two straight, including an embarrassing 44-22 loss to the Cowboys. Even more concerning, all those concerns about Jayden Daniels’ longevity are starting to come to fruition. He left Sunday’s game with a hamstring injury after already missing two games earlier in the season. Washington’s roster age and lack of depth have shown up so far this year. Last week: 16

#19

ESPN

Unsung nonstarter/role player: TE John Bates

Bates does start some games, but he is more of a role player with 25.4 snaps per game this season. He’s not a pass catcher (he has only two receptions), yet Washington made him a priority to re-sign over the offseason because he is one of the best run-blocking tight ends, particularly when aligned on the line of scrimmage. “He’s just able to dominate guys at the point of attack,” fellow Washington tight end Zach Ertz said earlier this season. Bates also is a key member of the special teams unit, averaging 11.4 snaps. — John Keim Last week: 17

CBS Sports(Prisco)

If Jayden Daniels is out for any length of time, they have major problems. The defense is awful right now, which compounds the problem. Last week: 19

USA Today(Davis)

They could well have a heckuva time throwing for 160 net passing yards given the cascading injuries to QB Jayden Daniels and seemingly all of his wide receivers. Last week: 15

Sportsnaut(Johnson)

There’s nothing left to make this passing game function. We might only be a week away from Terry McLaurin and Deebo Samuel rejoining this Washington Commanders offense, but now Jayden Daniels (hamstring) could miss Week 8. If that’s not bad enough for Washington, its defense has fallen apart in the last two games before facing Patrick Mahomes and a Chiefs’ offense that looks unstoppable. Last season’s success seems so far away right now, especially since this year is going to get even more painful. Last week: 15

#20

Yahoo Sports(Schwab)

The Commanders have a ton of injuries and that matters, even if head coach Dan Quinn said that wasn’t a factor in Sunday’s loss. That’s obviously not true. But the schedule won’t stop for them to get healthy, and their next game is on the road vs. the Chiefs. Not good. Last week: 18

#21

The Athletic(Graff/Kendall)

Reality check: Jayden Daniels should rest up

As our David Aldridge wrote, the Commanders’ No. 1 priority is Daniels, and it’s clear this team isn’t good enough to win big. So after Daniels suffered a hamstring injury Sunday, it’d be wise for Washington to sit him until he’s totally healthy. There’s no sense in rushing him back. Last week: 19

Fox Sports(Vacchiano)

Two straight losses now, and the Commanders’ schedule is about to get really hard with games at Kansas City and home against Seattle and Detroit. Also, is it alarming anyone that Jayden Daniels’ 233 passing yards and 68 rushing yards on Opening Day were his season highs? Last week: 18

For the Win(D’Andrea/Zeglinski)

Jayden Daniels left Week 7 with a leg injury, which feels like the exact kind of injury to put the Commanders’ new leadership to the test. Will they bring him back slowly, understanding the value of having him at full strength as a runner and working in the service of preventing a more serious injury? Or will a 3-4 team get desperate after fruitless Marcus Mariota appearances (a win over the Raiders barely counts) and rush him back to the lineup? Either way, a still-shaky defense could derail even an All-Pro showing from whomever is slinging passes. Last week: 12

The Score(Wilkins)

Be flexible. Washington had its sights set on competing, but things change. Now 3-4 and with Jayden Daniels nursing a hamstring injury ahead of a challenging three-game stretch, the Commanders might have to be prepared to accept this isn’t their year. Given the club has the NFL’s oldest roster, selling at the deadline has to be an option. Last week: 16

New York Post(Dunleavy)

Last week: 18

DraftKings Network(Tucker)

Last week: 17

#22

Sporting News(Iyer)

The Commanders need to be really worried about Jayden Daniels having a long-term injury after already missing him badly for a few games. They’re not good enough to pick up the pieces when their top wide receivers are hurt. Last week: 19

Pro Football Talk(Florio)

Expectations may have been too high. Last week: 19

AZ Central(Cluff)

Injuries are starting to pile up for Washington, with Jayden Daniels’ health paramount for the Commanders. Last week: 19

AtlantaFalcons.com(McElhaney)

Things have gone from bad to worse for the Commanders. Not having Daniels healthy continues to plague them. Last week: 20

#23

Walter Football

I get the Redskins struggling offensively because Jayden Daniels has been in and out of the lineup, but what’s up with the defense? It was so much better last year, but it can’t stop a nose bleed this season. Last week: 9