The Washington Commanders schedule was just released. We’re going to break it down and take an early look at their future matchups.
Week 1: Washington Commanders vs. Jacksonville Jaguars, Sep. 11th @1pm EST on FOX
Washington will play it’s first game as the Commanders at home against second year quarterback Trevor Lawrence and the Jacksonville Jaguars. This will also be a return for former Washington All-Pro guard, Brandon Scherff, who signed with Jacksonville this off-season. This is an interesting game because Washington has the opportunity to start out their 2022 campaign in a positive direction. More interesting though is the fact that it was the final game last season against the Jacksonville Jaguars that former Indianapolis Colts, now Commanders quarterback Carson Wentz folded with a chance to take Indianapolis to the playoffs. This has the potential to be one of many revenge games for Wentz this upcoming season.
Week 2: Washington Commanders @ Detroit Lions, Sep. 18th @1pm EST on FOX
I’m not sure what it is, but Washington can’t seem to catch a break against the Detroit Lions. Washington seems to struggle every time they face them. Detroit has won five of their last six against Washington. The Lions have reloaded on both sides of the ball, adding what seemed to be the consensus best player in the draft in Michigan DE Aidan Hutchinson and the top wide receiver from Alabama, Jamison Williams. Whether you like Jared Goff or not, he’s found success in this league and has been to more playoff games and Super Bowls than Washington has in over 25 years. Don’t count this on your calendar as an easy win just because it’s Detroit.
Week 3: Washington Commanders vs. Philadelphia Eagles, Sep. 25th @1pm EST on FOX
I’m a little disappointed that the first of the Eagles games is at home. I wanted to see the pressure be put on Wentz early, but I digress. Washington did not have much luck against the Eagles last season. Heinicke had a chance to take the lead late in the fourth quarter and keep Washington’s slim playoff hopes alive, but he threw a back-breaking, game-ending, season-ending interception. In what’s to be a very important division matchup, these two teams will be desperate to gain the upper hand in the East. This will be a chance for Carson Wentz to stick it to his haters and to his old team on his new home turf.
Week 4: Washington Commanders @ Dallas Cowboys, Oct. 2nd @1pm EST on FOX
Last year’s Monday Night matchup at Jerry World against the Cowboys was nothing short of an embarrassing beat down. Heinicke played awful (a QBR of 3) for the second time against Dallas and was benched for Kyle Allen. Dak Prescott destroyed Washington’s secondary. The entire team played awful. Tensions were so high on Washington’s sideline that it caused a scuffle between teammates; defensive tackles Jonathan Allen and Daron Payne. The biggest question heading into this game? Who’s benches will Washington be sitting on?
Week 5: Washington Commanders vs. Tennessee Titans, Oct. 9 @1pm EST on CBS
The Titans were a juggernaut last season. Derrick Henry ran rampant again, finishing top 10 in the league in rushing with 937 yards…in only 8 games. Tennessee traded wide receiver A.J. Brown to Commander’s rival, the Philadelphia Eagles and drafted Arkansas wide receiver Treylon Burks in this year’s draft as Brown’s replacement. Could we possibly see a Malik Willis appearance if Ryan Tannehill struggles early in the season? Wentz has had yet to win a game against the Titans. Could he get his first here at FedEx?
Week 6: Washington Commanders @ Chicago Bears PRIME TIME TNF, Oct. 13th @8:15 EST on Amazon Prime Video
Washington gets their only Thursday night game against Chicago. They’ll get their first taste of Bear’s second year quarterback Justin Fields in Primetime. Fields was sacked 36 times in 12 games (11.8% sack rate) his rookie season. If there’s a game where you’re hoping to see a good performance from Washington’s touted defensive front, circle this game.
Week 7: Washington Commanders vs. Green Bay Packers, Oct. 23rd @1pm EST on FOX
Another rematch from last season, Washington will look to flip last year’s outcome against the Packers into a win this season. There was a feeling that while the Packers only scored 24 points in last year’s game, Aaron Rodgers and the Packers offense was toying with Washington’s defense. They could’ve scored a lot more if they kept their foot on the gas. Not much on the defensive side of the ball has changed for Washington; all starters are expected to be generally the same as last year’s unit. Heinicke struggled, let’s see what Wentz can do.
Week 8: Washington Commanders @ Indianapolis Colts, Oct. 30th @4:25 EST on FOX
Revenge game time. Just like against the Eagles, this is Carson Wentz’s time to prove the Indianapolis Colts’ front office wrong, and prove Commanders head coach Ron Rivera and GM Martin Mayhew right after having traded for Wentz from the Colts. Indy added Matt Ryan to take over at quarterback. Ryan had a field day against Washington’s defense last season when he was on the Falcons. With a better team around him now in Indy, it’ll be a tough test for Washington to contain the Colts attack.
Week 9: Washington Commanders vs. Minnesota Vikings, Nov. 6th @1pm EST on FOX
Anyone that’s been a Washington football fan for more than 5 years has been awaiting anxiously for this game. No matter the outcome of the game, no matter how the former Washington quarterback Kirk (or Kurt) Cousins performs, hundreds of thousands of Washington fan’s and media member’s opinions will be reinforced. Those fans will never let the outcome of the game or Cousins’s performance in this game down and they will hold it over the oppositions head for the rest of eternity, saying “I told you so!” (or “You like that?!”). The game will be sold out; and I think for the first time in a long time, it will primarily be Washington fans in the stands.
Week 10: Washington Commanders @ Philadelphia Eagles PRIMETIME MNF, Nov. 14th @8:15 EST on ESPN
Maybe the most marquee game on the Commanders schedule. This is what seems to be a long awaited rematch against Carson Wentz’s former team at Lincoln Financial Field. The crowd will be packed full of Eagles fans booing Wentz. There will be many images and videos circulating before the game of Eagles fans burning Wentz jerseys. This is the biggest revenge opportunity for Wentz. This is also Carson Wentz’s one and only chance to prove the Philadelphia Eagles front office wrong (and Indianapolis too) with a strong performance in his old home stadium.
Week 11: Washington Commanders @ Houston Texans, Nov. 20th @1pm EST on FOX
What should be a break in the schedule for the Commanders is the exact opposite. Washington is going to have to travel to Houston after their Monday night game against Philly, a tough turnaround. I’m really not 100% sure of what to think of this game. I liked Davis Mills when he was coming out of Stanford and wouldn’t have minded Washington drafting him a year ago. He’s capable of having a good season and taking the next steps as a young quarterback. I just don’t know about the rest of the team. You can’t count any game on the schedule as an easy win, especially on the road on a short week. If Washington doesn’t win this one, then, Houston, we have a problem.
Week 12: Washington Commanders vs. Atlanta Falcons, Nov. 27th @1pm EST on FOX
Another rematch from last season for the Commanders; this time hoping they can repeat the outcome of their game last year. Heinicke led another game-winning drive in the fourth quarter for Washington. He pulled yet another rabbit out of his helmet with a cross-field pass to running back J.D. McKissic, who then proceeded to sprint down the sideline and dive for the pylon and just got in for the game winning score. Wentz and the offense will look to repeat a strong performance against a defense that was 26th in opponent passer rating.
Week 13: Washington Commanders @ New York Giants, Dec. 4th @1pm EST on FOX
Giants quarterback Daniel Jones seems to have a pension for playing like a top 10 quarterback when he plays Washington. In five games against Washington, he has completed 68.3% of his passes, thrown 9 touchdowns to 3 interceptions, and has averaged a 100.4 quarterback rating. Washington finished out the year on a high note at the Meadowlands. Carson Wentz’s record against the Giants is 7-2. Ron Rivera is gonna hope that record improves to 8-2 in a potentially pivotal division bout before their bye.
Week 14: Bye Week
Week 14 is very late for a bye. It might come at a good time to get healthy for the final four games down the stretch. There is a chance though, that the team is going to get worn out with 13 straight weeks. I just wish it was a couple weeks earlier because that short MNF turnaround at Philly to then travel to Houston for a Sunday afternoon game is going to be tough.
Week 15: Washington Commanders vs. New York Giants, Dec. 17/18 TBD (Flex game)
Last year’s home game against the Giants was a trademark performance for Commanders backup quarterback Taylor Heinicke. He threw for 336 yards, 2 touchdowns, and drove Washington down the field late in the fourth quarter for a controversial game winning field goal. The Commanders and Carson Wentz are going to look to continue their recent success against the Giants. This will be a very a game that could have a large effect on the NFC East standings this late in the season.
Week 16: Washington Commanders @ San Francisco 49ers, Dec. 24th @4:05pm on CBS
Merry Christmas (Eve) everyone! Is Santa going to bring Washington Jimmy G or Trey Lance for this Christmas Eve showdown? I’m not sure. I don’t think Niners head coach Kyle Shannahan or GM John Lynch know either. Either way, the 49ers are going to be a tough out, especially if they can avoid the injury bug. The Deebo drama is a little concerning for them, but I have a feeling they’ll work it out and he’ll be back in a big way (and will have cemented an All-Pro spot by this point in the season).
Week 17: Washington Commanders vs. Cleveland Browns, Jan. 1 @1pm EST on FOX
The Commanders should make their New Year’s resolution playing meaningful games in the month of January. Cleveland has replaced quarterback Baker Mayfield, trading for Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson, a controversial move to say the least. The Browns have not traded or released Mayfield yet. Could that be due to a potential suspension looming over Watson’s head? Baker Mayfield would be great insurance if that were the case. The Browns also added Amari Cooper this off-season, a receiver Commander fans are familiar with from his recent stint in Dallas. Will we see Watson throwing to Cooper when the Browns come to Washington? Only time will tell, but I’m sure Commanders fans are hoping that they don’t.
Week 18: Washington Commanders vs. Dallas Cowboys, Jan. 7/8 TBD (Flex game)
The Commanders will wrap up their first season under their new name with their old arch rival. The second go ’round this season could have major playoff implications (hence why it’s in a flex position). Washington’s home matchup against the Cowboys will hopefully have a different outcome than last years. Heinicke and the offense stalled for the majority of the game. It wasn’t until the Kyle Allen came in and gave the offense the spark it needed. Cole Holcomb picked off Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott and took it to the house late in the fourth quarter. However, it was all too little, too late. The hope is that with better QB play from Carson Wentz that the Commanders can protect their home field against their arch rivals. Maybe, just maybe, even secure a playoff spot, something Wentz could not due in his final game last season.
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