NFL Record Projections: Commanders '.500 at Best' in 2023?
After undergoing wholesale both on and off the field, the Washington Commanders will now set their sights on training camp and preparing to make the playoffs for the first time since 2020.
With training camp just a mere days away, record predictions for all 32 NFL teams will soon be flooding the internet. Bleacher Report set an over/under and predicted how each team would fare, and for the Washington, they set the line at 6.5 wins. Bleacher Report took the over, though they don't think the Commanders will surpass that total by much.
"The defense will win Washington some games and the offense isn't void of talent, but there are some glaring holes and big questions, especially at quarterback. The Commanders again look like a .500 team at best," Bleacher Report writes.
Bleacher Report predicted the over for the Dallas Cowboys and Philadelphia Eagles with each team winning over 12 games. The over/under for the New York Giants was 7.5, and Bleacher Report projected them to win less than seven games because of their lack of trust in quarterback Daniel Jones and running back Saquon Barkely.
Dallas and Philadelphia only trailed the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC in projected win total. Bleacher Report predicted the 49ers would win over 13 games.
While it's tough to finish .500 with a 17-game schedule again like Washington did last season, that's the range the Commanders have been around for the last three seasons. Given all of the changes and questions surrounding the Commanders offense, it's fair to project them to finish in that range once again.
The last time Washington won more than eight games was in 2015, when they finished 9-7 and won the NFC East.
Washington winning more than eight games will rely heavily on quarterback Sam Howell. If Howell and offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy can find a consistent rhythm and even be a middle-of-the-pack offense, that may be enough if the defense can continue to play at a high level.
The Commanders' defense allowed an average of 20.2 points per game in 2022, while the offense was 24th, scoring an average of 18.9 PPG.
Everything will have to break right for Washington if they're going to compete in a loaded NFC East. But if the Commanders offense can improve compared to previous years, finishing over .500 and competing for a wild card spot is more than realistic.
However, if the questions surrounding Washington's offense prove to be valid and they miss the playoffs for a third straight year, wholesale changes may be on the horizon once again.
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