The Washington Commanders are sliding at the wrong time. After a 28-7 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 8, the Commanders fell to 3-5 and are now facing serious questions about their playoff chances. Injuries have piled up, the offense has struggled to find consistency, and even the defense — once seen as a strength — has faltered in key moments.
Commanders’ Week 9 Power Rankings Paint a Tough Picture
Washington will host the Seattle Seahawks in Week 9, but they enter the matchup as 3.5-point home underdogs. Quarterback Jayden Daniels, who missed his third game of the season with a hamstring injury, is expected to return to practice this week, according to head coach Dan Quinn. Wide receivers Terry McLaurin and Deebo Samuel both returned to the field against Kansas City, though both appeared limited. Left tackle Laremy Tunsil also left the game twice with a hamstring issue that continues to linger.
After keeping things close early and going into halftime tied 7-7, the Commanders were outscored 21-0 in the second half. Despite forcing two Patrick Mahomes interceptions, Washington failed to capitalize.
The Commanders have now lost three straight games, and analysts across major outlets agree: the team’s playoff hopes are fading fast.
Analysts Say Commanders ‘Don’t Look Anything Like a Playoff Team’
ESPN’s John Keim ranked Washington at No. 20, praising the play of left tackle Laremy Tunsil but warning that the team needs to stabilize soon. “Tunsil is credited with allowing three sacks,” Keim wrote, “but he has provided the Commanders with their best tackle play since Trent Williams in 2018.”
NFL.com’s Eric Edholm placed Washington at No. 18, noting that the team’s injury issues and lack of consistency are holding them back. “The compromised Commanders battled early and had their chances against the Chiefs but couldn’t stop the second-half avalanche defensively,” Edholm said. “Washington’s grip on this season is starting to slip.”
Yahoo Sports’ Frank Schwab was more blunt in his assessment, ranking the Commanders at No. 20 and writing, “We’re seeing how much a healthy Jayden Daniels means to the Commanders. He covers up a lot of flaws. Even when Daniels returns, this doesn’t look anything like a playoff team.”
Sports Illustrated’s Connor Orr echoed those concerns, highlighting the team’s tackling problems. “The Commanders came into Monday night’s game second in missed tackles, which may say just as much about the team’s current predicament as how long they’ll be without Jayden Daniels,” Orr wrote.
Across the board, the consensus is clear: Washington’s talent isn’t translating into wins, and injuries are compounding their struggles.
Washington’s Outlook Heading Into Week 9
At 3-5, the Commanders now sit 13th in the NFC — only two games behind the San Francisco 49ers for the final Wild Card spot, but trending in the wrong direction. USA Today’s Nate Davis summarized it best: “The return of Jayden Daniels will obviously help, but this offense also has a lot of other issues to address.”
The Commanders will try to stop their three-game skid when they face the Seahawks on Thursday Night Football. A loss would push them further down the NFC standings and likely force Quinn’s squad to start thinking about the trade deadline — and the future.
Kickoff between the Commanders and Seahawks is set for Thursday, November 6, at 8:15 p.m. ET on Amazon Prime Video.
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