The Washington Commanders are off to a red-hot start this season, picking up another victory to improve to 3-1. This marks their second consecutive win, following a dominant 42-14 performance against the Arizona Cardinals. The Cardinals, a team that has been inconsistent this season, had just put up 41 points against the Rams two weeks ago but looked like a completely different team against the Commanders. Today, they were thoroughly outmatched by a Washington squad led by rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels.
Who would have expected them to be in first place in the NFC East at this point in the season? Certainly not many, me included. But here they are, defying expectations.
A key to their success is the solid leadership they’ve found in both their quarterback and head coach. Once a team finds its quarterback and coach, everything else falls into place. The Commanders have Dan Quinn at the helm, a coach with Super Bowl experience, although he’s perhaps best known for the infamous 28-3 collapse against the New England Patriots in the Super Bowl. After that defeat, Quinn’s Atlanta Falcons struggled to return to their former glory, leading to his eventual firing. He then joined the Dallas Cowboys as a defensive coordinator, where he built some highly respected defenses, which eventually opened the door for his current role in Washington.
Quinn made a key decision by hiring Kliff Kingsbury, the former Cardinals head coach and USC assistant, as his offensive coordinator. The move has paid off, as the team is currently looking strong. For a defensive-minded head coach like Quinn, finding a quality offensive coordinator is critical to building a balanced and effective team.
We’ve seen what Dan Quinn is capable of when he has the right offensive mind alongside him. During his time with the Atlanta Falcons, Quinn had Kyle Shanahan as his offensive coordinator, and together they led the team to a Super Bowl appearance. Under Shanahan’s guidance, Matt Ryan won the MVP that season, and even after Shanahan’s departure, Ryan continued to post impressive numbers. However, the team never returned to that level of success, missing the playoffs and falling short of another Super Bowl run.
Many point to Shanahan’s departure for the Falcons’ downfall, as he left to become the head coach of the San Francisco 49ers. This experience seems to have taught Quinn an important lesson: especially for a defensive-minded head coach, finding the right play-caller to pair with your quarterback is essential for sustained success.
It appears that Quinn has learned from those years in Atlanta. The chemistry between Jayden Daniels and Kingsbury is clear, and Daniels is thriving under Kingsbury’s guidance, playing at a high level and demonstrating growth each week. The pairing of these two has given the Commanders the offensive edge they need to compete.
Daniels has shown impressive growth in his pocket awareness, no longer relying solely on his athleticism to make plays. He’s staying in the pocket, delivering accurate throws, and getting his receivers involved. The balance on offense has been key, particularly with the running game stepping up, allowing Daniels to avoid unnecessary scrambles and keep the offense moving efficiently. A solid running attack takes the pressure off the quarterback to constantly make plays with his legs, creating a more well-rounded offense.
The Commanders are starting to look like a well-coached, well-oiled machine. Brian Robinson has been instrumental in the team’s success, and Terry McLaurin has returned to form as a dominant receiver. Olamide Zaccheaus had a standout performance today with six receptions for 85 yards, while Robinson, the former Alabama running back, added 101 rushing yards and a touchdown on 21 carries. They dominated the Arizona Cardinals from start to finish.
Last week’s game against the Cincinnati Bengals felt like a breakout moment for Daniels. On the big stage of Monday Night Football, he went head-to-head with Joe Burrow, a former LSU quarterback and No. 1 overall pick. Daniels didn’t just hold his own—he won that game convincingly. Going into the matchup, with the Bengals struggling, it seemed like it would be their “get-right” game against the Commanders. But Washington proved otherwise, and Sunday’s matchup against the Carolina Panthers became the Bengals’ recovery game.
Overall, the Commanders looked strong and composed. They’re building momentum, and with their performances against the Bengals and Cardinals, this team is on the rise.
I was initially hesitant about Jayden Daniels joining this team, largely due to the lingering reputation from the Dan Snyder era. I doubted whether the team had truly moved on from that chapter. But now, I’m glad to see the Commanders in a much better place. They’ve got plenty of cap space to build around Daniels in the future, and the foundation looks solid.
That said, there’s still a lot of football left to be played. Nothing is set in stone just yet, but the Commanders are in a promising position. They’re currently in first place in the NFC East, even though Dallas remains a threat. The Cowboys have been hit hard by injuries, losing key defensive players like Micah Parsons and DeMarcus Lawrence, making them less formidable than in previous seasons.
Philadelphia is also struggling, missing key offensive weapons like A.J. Brown and Devonta Smith, contributing to their recent loss to Tampa Bay. So, the Commanders find themselves in an excellent spot to capitalize on their rivals’ misfortunes.
Washington’s next five games are against the Browns, Ravens, Panthers, Bears, and Giants. This stretch presents a strong opportunity for the team to continue their hot streak. Realistically, they could go 4-1 in this span, leaving them at 7-2 on the season. That record puts them in a great position to make a deep playoff run and solidify their status in the NFC hierarchy. The Commanders could be serious contenders this year if they maintain this momentum.
If the Commanders can navigate this upcoming five-game stretch and come out well above .500, they’ll be in great shape. Cleveland is certainly a beatable team, while Baltimore presents more of a challenge, given that it’s a local rivalry in the DMV area. I believe they can handle the Carolina Panthers, and although the game against the Bears could go either way, the Commanders appear to be the better team right now.
As for the Giants, it’s clear they’re struggling, so that should be another winnable game for Washington. If they can go 4-1 during this stretch, they’ll sit comfortably atop the NFC East. Of course, barring any significant injuries, things are looking very positive for the Commanders, with Jayden Daniels leading the charge.
They hold a 3-1 record and sit at the top of the NFC East, but there’s still a lot of football left to play. This upcoming slate of games—against the Browns, Ravens, Panthers, Bears, and Giants—offers them a great chance to position themselves as one of the NFC’s top teams.
Right now, the landscape of the NFC is still taking shape, and we’re trying to determine who the real contenders are. But if Washington continues this pace, they’ll undoubtedly be in that conversation. All eyes will be on the Commanders as we move through the season, but it’s been a strong start for this promising team.
