The Washington Commanders are eight games into their 2025 National Football League (NFL) season and sit at a 3-5 record. After a magical run to the National Football Conference (NFC) Championship last season, things have taken a turn for the worse as the Commanders are third in the NFC East division. Throughout the first half of the season, the Commanders have been plagued by injuries, and the team has struggled on defense. The Commanders had luck and fortune on their side in their remarkable 2024 season, but this year, it has been misfortune as they have not had it their way in a rough first eight games.
Washington’s defense this year has been its Achilles’ heel and a significant point of weakness for the team. They have been bullied by opposing offenses and have given up the sixth-most yards per game (ypg), a measly 372.8 ypg. They have the second-oldest defensive unit in the NFL, led by veterans such as Bobby Wagner and Von Miller. The defense looks slow and has been lackluster across the entire field. Not only is Washington struggling to get off the field on defense, but they have also had a tough time acquiring takeaways, such as interceptions or fumbles. They have the fourth fewest takeaways, and in part, this has led to a negative four turnover differential. There have not been enough big plays from the defense, and they have not done a good enough job of getting the ball in the hands of the Commanders’ explosive offense. For the Commanders to go on a second-half-of-the-season winning streak, the defense has to contribute significantly more.
On the offensive side of the Commanders, performance has not been the most significant issue; however, injuries have plagued the unit. Quarterback (QB) Jayden Daniels, wide receiver (WR) Terry McLaurin, and guard Sam Cosmi have all missed multiple games in addition to running back (RB) Austin Ekeler’s season-ending injury and WR Deebo Samuel Sr.’s one-game injury. These players are the stars of the offense, and the Commanders have been unable to replicate the magic of last season due to injuries. The offense this season is averaging 23.4 points per game, compared to 28.5 points per game last season. This is a massive drop-off and is one of the key reasons why the Commanders are 3-5. Injuries are the primary reason this offense has not performed up to expectations, and it is not an issue of play-calling. Offensive Coordinator (OC) Kliff Kingsbury has done the best he can given the circumstances. From what was seen on Monday Night against the Kansas City Chiefs, he designed plays to give backup QB Marcus Mariota the best chance possible to succeed in a challenging primetime environment. He called smart plays that got the ball out quickly from the hands of Mariota to set up short-yardage second, third, or fourth downs that were easier to convert than a third-and-long. Once the team is fully healthy, they will be more productive, which will help them get back on a winning track.
Only half the season has passed, so there is still plenty of time for Head Coach (HC) Dan Quinn’s team to turn it around. However, currently, the Commanders have an 8% chance of making the playoffs. There is still optimism among fans and the organization, but if Washington does not win one of its next two games against the Seattle Seahawks and the Detroit Lions, the outlook could become bleak. The NFC is an extremely tight and competitive division, so towards the end of the season, a 9-8 record is unlikely to secure a playoff spot. The Commanders are 3-5 after eight weeks, and they will likely have to win seven of their next nine games in the regular season. The NFC West and the NFC North both have multiple five-win teams, and it will take only a miraculous winning streak by the Commanders to turn their season around. They need to start scoring more points and giving up fewer because neither the offense nor the defense has been up to standard. Washington’s young phenom QB, Jayden Daniels, has not looked the same as he did last year, and they need the same level of “clutchness” that he displayed last year to sneak back into the playoffs for a second consecutive year.
Washington D.C. fell in love with this team last year after their outstanding 2024 campaign, and they are craving another playoff run this time around. An iconic 2024 season characterized by the wondrous Hail Mary gave energy to the Commanders, and this year, they will need to produce some more bits of magic to give belief back to everyone that a playoff berth is possible. Will the Washington Commanders be able to flip the script and inject hope back into the organization, or is it too late for Jayden Daniels to change their 2025 fate?
