Washington Commanders’ 2025 NFL schedule evaluation

The 2025 NFL common season schedule has been launched. The Washington Commanders have the eighth-toughest schedule per NFL analysis, however the best slate amongst NFC East groups.
Right here’s what stands out concerning the schedule.
Hardest stretch | Weeks 16 by way of 18
Division video games are all the time powerful, however the schedule makers did the Commanders no favors with two late video games towards the defending Tremendous Bowl champions towards the top of the common season.
Philadelphia handed Washington its fourth lack of the 2024 common season earlier than the Commanders overcame a 13-point, fourth quarter deficit to beat the Eagles in Week 16. Their final assembly got here within the NFC Championship Recreation, the place Washington allowed a file 55 factors and misplaced by 32 factors.
Tucked between Eagles video games is a house matchup towards the Cowboys in Week 17. Like Philadelphia, Dallas gained their first matchup towards the Commanders however misplaced the rematch in final 12 months’s common season finale.
In fact, Washington quarterback Jayden Daniels didn’t play in what turned out to be a meaningless sport for either side whereas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott missed each video games with a hamstring harm.
A wholesome Prescott may make all of the distinction this time round as he’ll look to get the Cowboys again to one thing that resembles the 12-5 unit that gained the NFC East in 2023.
Best stretch | Weeks 13 by way of 15
Following their Week 12 bye, the Commanders welcome the Broncos and second-year quarterback Bo Nix to Northwest Stadium. Nix led Denver to a 10-7 file and a playoff berth final season however went 2-8 towards groups with a profitable file.
Subsequent, Washington travels to Minnesota to face J.J. McCarthy’s Vikings in Week 14. McCarthy joined the league because the tenth total decide within the 2024 NFL Draft however missed your entire season after tearing his meniscus in Minnesota’s first preseason sport.
Quarterback Sam Darnold led the staff to the playoffs with a 14-3 file in his place however signed a three-year, $100M contract with the Seahawks within the offseason. At 22-years-old, McCarthy has so much to be taught and will battle in what might be his thirteenth NFL begin.
After that, the Commanders journey to face the Giants, which went 3-14 final season, for a sport that would embrace former Ole Miss quarterback Jaxson Dart. After signing veteran quarterback Russell Wilson to a one-year, $10.5M contract within the offseason, the staff traded again into the primary spherical of this 12 months’s draft to take Dart twenty fifth total.
Given the state of New York’s roster and the timing of the sport, Washington ought to count on to face the rookie on this late-season matchup.
Daniels-Williams Half II | Week 6
Washington’s first look on Monday Night time Soccer will as soon as once more characteristic Bears quarterback Caleb Williams, the primary total decide in final 12 months’s draft towards Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels, the second decide within the draft.
The 2 met final 12 months in a Week 8 matchup through which Daniels used a 52-yard Hail Mary to beat Chicago 18-15 as time expired. The Bears would go on to lose their subsequent 9 video games and hearth head coach Matt Eberflus.
They changed him with former Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson, whose staff fell to Washington 45-31 in final 12 months’s playoffs. Relaxation assured, Johnson can have his staff prepared when it welcomes the Commanders to Soldier Discipline in Week 6.