Washington Commanders’ 2022 schedule: Strong start is a must

ASHBURN, Va. — The Washington Commanders’ 2022 schedule was launched together with the remainder of the NFL slate Thursday.

The 2022 NFL season will kick off on Thursday, Sept. 8 with the Los Angeles Rams internet hosting the Buffalo Payments at SoFi Stadium. ESPN opens its schedule with Monday Evening Soccer on Sept. 12 that includes the Denver Broncos on the Seattle Seahawks.

The NFL expanded to 17 regular-season video games final season. The ultimate regular-season video games for the 2022 season will probably be performed Jan. 8, 2023. The playoffs start Jan. 14 and proceed by Tremendous Bowl LVII on Feb. 12 in Glendale, Arizona.

Here is what’s in retailer for the Commanders:

Schedule

Sept. 11: vs. Jacksonville

Sept. 18: at Detroit

Sept. 25: vs. Philadelphia

Oct. 2: at Dallas

Oct. 9: vs Tennessee

Oct. 13: at Chicago (TNF)

Oct. 23: vs. Inexperienced Bay

Oct. 30: at Indianapolis

Nov. 6: vs. Minnesota

Nov. 14: at Philadelphia (MNF)

Nov. 20: at Houston

Nov. 27: vs. Atlanta

Dec. 4: at N.Y. Giants

Dec. 11: BYE

Dec. 17/18: vs. N.Y. Giants

Dec. 24: at San Francisco

Jan. 1: vs. Cleveland

Jan. 7/8: vs. Dallas

Energy of schedule: T-Thirty second, .462

Greatest takeaway

There are some powerful spots early within the season for the Washington Commanders with consecutive video games in opposition to the Philadelphia Eagles, Dallas Cowboys and Tennessee Titans, and late within the yr after they play the San Francisco 49ers, Cleveland Browns and Dallas. All ought to be robust playoff contenders. If the Indianapolis Colts and Minnesota Vikings are improved, that can lead to one other troublesome stretch, coming off a sport in opposition to the Inexperienced Bay Packers. Nevertheless, it is a favorable schedule and will assist set them up nicely in Ron Rivera’s third season. There are unknowns — how good will San Francisco quarterback Trey Lance be? Or Jacksonville Jaguars QB Trevor Lawrence?

However they need to begin robust. They should win at dwelling in opposition to Jacksonville — their first sport underneath the identify Commanders — and they should at the very least cut up their video games in opposition to Philadelphia and Dallas. If they will begin 3-1, they’ve a shot to win the NFC East.

Revenge sport

Straightforward: Quarterback Carson Wentz going again to Philadelphia to play a Monday evening sport on Nov. 14. After all, it is also Wentz taking part in at Indianapolis two weeks prior. Each groups have traded Wentz prior to now two offseasons. However the Eagles drafted him second total in 2016, and as lately because the 2020 season he appeared destined for an extended profession in Philadelphia. He was changed by Jalen Hurts late in 2020 and traded within the offseason. Now he’ll compete in opposition to Hurts. Enjoying on the Colts will probably be a tune-up for Wentz because the Eagles’ sport can have an even bigger (and extra vociferous) stage.

What the oddsmakers assume

The oddsmakers have the Commanders’ win whole at 7.5. That might imply only a half win higher than 2021 when accidents and COVID-19 derailed their season. They’ve upgraded at quarterback and will have a significantly better offense total. Defensively, they do not face close to the caliber of quarterbacks they did final season.

Daring prediction

Washington wins 10 video games and makes the playoffs. The Commanders bolstered their offense with Wentz and first-round receiver Jahan Dotson. Defensively, this may matter: In 2021, they confronted six quarterbacks who completed within the high 10 in whole QBR and 9 of the highest 14. This season they face two who have been within the high 10 and solely 5 within the high 14.