How many games will the Washington Commanders win in 2026? Well, it depends on who you ask.
When the Commanders signed wide receiver Stefon Diggs last month, there was genuine excitement about the upcoming season. Then, right after, star left tackle Laremy Tunsil tore his triceps, and reports of Washington’s struggles in training camp to protect quarterback Jayden Daniels led some to think the Commanders would be terrible in 2026.
In recent weeks, several analysts have predicted doom for Washington in 2026. It’s apparently the new popular take among NFL analysts who don’t follow the team closely.
CBS Sports recently predicted whether the Commanders will finish over or under 7.5 wins. DraftKings Sportsbook set the 7.5-win line for 2026.
CBS’ Zach
Pereles went with the under.
Pereles: Under 7.5 (-125). Things were looking up for a potential bounce-back year before Laremy Tunsil and others got hurt, and the lack of top-end talent and depth got exposed. Jayden Daniels should thrive in David Blough's new system, and Washington is hoping both Blough's and defensive coordinator Daronte Jones' schemes make the sum greater than the parts. But Washington faces a brutal schedule and simply has too many holes at crucial positions, such as offensive line and cornerback.
Nothing Pereles said here was egregiously wrong. The Tunsil injury hurt. Fortunately, Washington has Brandon Coleman, who manned the position as a rookie two seasons ago. No one is Tunsil, but Coleman played well there as a rookie, and should only be better now. The problem for Washington’s offensive line is at center. Can Nick Allegretti reward GM Adam Peters’ faith in him? And if he does, can he stay healthy? He missed almost all of training camp, exposing the Commanders’ scary lack of depth on the interior.
There is a lot to like about Washington. You have Daniels, the best collection of offensive weapons he’s had since entering the NFL—and a faster and improved defense. If the Commanders can remain relatively healthy, the defense will be better. Yes, there are still concerns at corner, but Daronte Jones’ scheme is built on pressure that should help the secondary.
But yes, the first part of Washington’s schedule is brutal. If the Commanders can somehow go 3-3 in their first six games, then they’ll have a good shot at returning to the playoffs. However, if they win fewer than three of those games, it could be a long season.
The Commanders may be the NFL’s most mysterious team heading into Week 1.
This article originally appeared on Commanders Wire: Do the Washington Commanders have a path to 8-plus wins in 2026?
