The Washington Commanders begin their 2026 regular season on Sunday, September 13, at 4:25 p.m. EDT when they face the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
A lot has happened with this organization since the end of the 2025 season. New coordinators. New faces on the roster. Injuries. Naysayers. Questions. The Commanders are in a complex situation right now, and since we didn't really get to see much during the preseason, there are still more questions than answers. We'll see how well things are really coming together when they hit the field on Sunday, and if the moves they've made were effective.
As we enter Week 1, here's a look at where the Commanders place in a multitude of power rankings.
Nate Davis, USATODAY: 25
First-time
NFL coordinators on both sides of the ball, wholesale personnel changes on defense and major questions on the offensive line after LT Laremy Tunsil tore his triceps last month? Does any team enter Week 1 with more uncertainty than this one?
Frank Schwab, Yahoo! Sports: 22
No preseason injury was more damaging than the Commanders losing left tackle Laremy Tunsil for all or most of the season. That will affect the entire offense, which didn't add much in the offseason. This is not how Jayden Daniels wanted to start his third season.
Diante Lee, The Ringer: 28
Whatever optimistic interest I had in Washington’s new-look offense vanished the moment left tackle Laremy Tunsil suffered a torn triceps that will cost him most—if not all—of this season. Quarterback Jayden Daniels’s best offensive lineman is now guard Sam Cosmi, and we saw what happened to Daniels and this offense without reliable offensive line play last year. Daniels’s scrambling ability will always be an issue for defenses, but he can’t use it to punish them nearly as often if he’s constantly under pressure or doesn’t have the help of an early-down rushing attack.
New offensive coordinator David Blough will be under the most pressure to change this offense’s trajectory after a rough 2025 season—and he has the poor fortune of matching up against the Eagles and Seahawks defenses in the first month of the season. I can’t imagine this offense will move the ball on the ground against either, so I’ll be watching to see whether he can draw up a good enough passing game to make either match interesting.
Ralph Vacchiano, FOX Sports: 26
Super Bowl odds: +6000
They are putting absolutely everything on QB Jayden Daniels and the hope that he’ll recapture his rookie magic. The problem, though, is the offensive line may not be able to properly protect him.
Pete Prisco, CBS Sports: 26
Jayden Daniels is back, but the offensive line is a mess. This is a big year for coach Dan Quinn after changing both coordinators.
Pete Martuneac, Sports Illustrated: 27
Even if I wasn't convinced that quarterback Jayden Daniels' electric rookie season was mostly a fluke, I would still put the Commanders right around this spot. Their offensive line is a disaster, and their defense isn't much better than last year.
Chad Graff and Josh Kendall, The Athletic: 23
First game: at Eagles, Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET
Mock’s projected win total: 7.6
The loss of Laremy Tunsil is big, especially for protecting an injury-prone quarterback. And a joint practice against the Ravens went terribly for the Commanders’ O-line and the offense in general. They signed D.J. Humphries and Stefon Diggs in August, but this team will go as far as Jayden Daniels takes it. And after training camp, it doesn’t seem like it’s going very far.
Walter Football: 24
The Redskins appeared to improve their defense by drafting Sonny Styles and adding a couple of other pieces, including Odafe Oweh, Leo Chenal, and Amik Robertson. Styles, however, has been brutal in training camp and the preseason. Nevertheless, the important thing is Jayden Daniels' health. If Daniels can remain on the field for most of 2026, the Redskins will have a good chance of making a playoff run, but that might be a tough task considering that several offensive linemen are dealing with injuries, including left tackle Laremy Tunsil.
NFL Nation, ESPN: 20
Milestone to watch: Quarterback Jayden Daniels setting a franchise record for single-season TD passes.
The only time a Washington quarterback threw for more than 30 touchdowns was Sonny Jurgensen in 1969 (31). Daniels threw for 25 in his rookie season, and the Commanders have a stronger receiving corps than last season with Terry McLaurin, Stefon Diggs and promising rookie Antonio Williams. Daniels also has looked ultra-sharp in David Blough's new offense in practices. If Daniels stays healthy -- and the offensive line without Laremy Tunsil can protect him -- he can top Jurgensen.
This article originally appeared on Commanders Wire: NFL Power Rankings Roundup: Where do Commanders sit entering Week 1?
