The Washington Commanders finally came away with their second win of the season on Sunday night when they defeated the Philadelphia Eagles 27-10.
Coming off their bye week, the Commanders started slow and struggled in the first quarter. They allowed the Eagles to score 10 points in that quarter, but then didn't allow another point for the rest of the game. So, while the early portions of the game were frustrating to watch, they eventually kicked it into gear and got the win.
However, the offense still has plenty to work on. Pre-snap penalties are a problem, the play calling leaves a lot to be desired at times, and the execution of those plays isn't always pretty. Against a depleted Eagles team, Washington managed to win in spite of those problems.
Against an elite NFL team that’s firing on all cylinders? We shall see.
As we enter Week 9, here’s where the Commanders rank across multiple power rankings.
Nate Davis, USA TODAY: 21 (25)
Despite their multitudinous mistakes this season, no team has turned the ball over fewer times (3) − which is exactly why the Commanders (still) have a legit shot to win the NFC East.
Frank Schwab, Yahoo! Sports: 23 (24)
Biggest need: Receiver help
Like everyone else in the NFC South and NFC East, other than the Eagles, the Commanders should feel like they have a shot to be division champions. The Commanders are flawed, without question, but sit just two games behind the Giants in the division. It's not like New York is a lock to run away with it.
The biggest problem for the Commanders is the loss of receiver Terry McLaurin for the season. It leaves them thin at receiver, and the good news is there are a lot of veterans available at the deadline at various price points. The Commanders should be interested. They also should be interested in improving a secondary that ranks 27th in passing yards allowed.
Ralph Vacchiano, FOX Sports: 25 (27)
Super Bowl odds: +12000 (22nd)
The Commanders scored 27 unanswered points to beat a division rival on Sunday night, and ordinarily that would be cause for celebration. But the team they beat is the ghost of the Philadelphia Eagles, and it’s not like the Commanders needed much of an effort to do it. It certainly was a much-needed win for Dan Quinn, who miraculously managed to survive the bye week. He’ll need a lot more of those and a lot more from star QB Jayden Daniels, however, to keep his job after the season. And there are too many injuries and holes in the Commanders’ lineup to expect that.
Next game: vs. Rams (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)
Stat To Know: Washington’s win over Philadelphia on Sunday was Jayden Daniels’ first win as the Commanders' starter since Oct. 5, 2025.
Pete Prisco, CBS Sports: 27 (29)
Jayden Daniels won for the first time in a long time. They rallied to beat the Eagles as the offense showed life and the defense was better. Now here come the Rams.
Connor Orr, Sports Illustrated: 22 (27)
Last week’s ranking: No. 27Last week’s result: beat Eagles, 27–10This week: vs. Rams
At this point in the race, Washington is my favorite to wind up winning the NFC East. Last night, the breadcrumbs shown between Jayden Daniels and Antonio Williams leads me to believe there’s just enough of a spark left in this offense to generate a run.
Chad Graff and Josh Kendall, The Athletic: 25 (27)
Last week: 27
Sunday: Beat Eagles 27-10
Reality check: Jayden Daniels is getting beat up
The Commanders quarterback took a big hit from Nolan Smith on Sunday night that just added to what already has been a black-and-blue season. Daniels has only rushed for 33 yards (all on scrambles) in the last two weeks. If he’s not dynamic on the ground, he’s not the player Washington thought he was as a rookie, but that style of play is taking a toll.
Up next: vs. Rams, Sunday, 1 p.m. ET
theScore: 26 (NC)
Previous rank: 26
Improve the trenches: The Commanders should be deadline sellers, but GM Adam Peters and coach Dan Quinn are on the hot seat and can only save their own jobs by improving the team. The offensive and defensive lines have been a mess, so that's a good place to start looking for upgrades.
Bleacher Report: 25 (27)
Last Week: 27
Week 8 Result: Won vs. Philadelphia 27-10
The Washington Commanders got out of the NFC East basement with Sunday night's win over the Philadelphia Eagles. At 2-4-1, the Commanders still have a lot of ground to make up. However, they've found reasons for hope over the last few weeks.
Despite losing receiver Terry McLaurin to a season-ending injury in Week 6, Washington seemed to find some fight in its close loss to the San Francisco 49ers. They regained that intensity after a slow start on Sunday and rattled off 27 unanswered points to get win No. 2.
Washington can now think about climbing back into the playoff picture, but it'll need to start stacking complete performances like Sunday's. Next week will bring a good test, as the Commanders will host a talented, if underachieving, Los Angeles Rams team.
Walter Football: 17 (19)
It's hard to believe that Jayden Daniels just won his first game of the year. I know he was out for a while, but it still feels like he probably should have won a game by now. However, that apparently hadn't happened. The win over Philadelphia was Washington's first victory since Week 3 against Seattle, which feels like a million years ago.
NFL Nation, ESPN: 25 (29)
Week 8 result: Beat the Eagles 27-10Week 8 ranking: 29
Best in-season trade acquisition ever: WR Calvin Muhammad in 1984
This really is based on one season, as Muhammad played only two years for Washington. The franchise needed help after Art Monk was injured and traded a fourth-round pick to Oakland for the speedy Muhammad. In his 10 games with Washington in 1984, Muhammad caught 42 passes for 729 yards and four touchdowns. He was a key reason why, even without Monk, Washington's offense remained among the best in the NFL, ranking third in points and ninth in yards. A year later, with a healthy receiving group, Muhammad caught only nine passes and was released before the 1986 season.
This article originally appeared on Commanders Wire: NFL 2026 Power Rankings Roundup: How Commanders fare entering Week 9
