The Washington Commanders have made the playoffs only once over the last six seasons, and started the 2022-23 season facing fairly long odds to go all the way.
The Commanders have Carson Wentz as starting quarterback, and he was among the league leaders in passing yards during the first few weeks of the season. They also have an excellent backfield with Antonio Gibson and Brian Robinson. The Commanders have playmakers in the passing game like Jahan Dotson, Curtis Samuel, Terry McLaurin, and tight end Logan Thomas.
On defense, Washington have Montez Sweat and Chase Young up front, while Kendall Fuller leads their secondary. Joey Slye is their placekicker, Tress Way is their punter, and Dax Milne is their return specialist on special teams.
While the Commanders undoubtedly have talented players on their roster, it’s still not likely enough to snag a playoff berth in the 2022-23 season. The NFC East alone is a tough battle, and it would be hard to recommend picking the team to win many games in NFL betting, where fans may be better off focusing on in-play bets, totals or points spreads.
The Commanders won seven games each in 2020 and 2021. Their win total two seasons ago was enough to earn them a postseason berth, however they lost that Wild Card Round game to eventual Super Bowl LV champions the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Before that game, the Commanders made the playoffs sporadically during the 2000s and 2010s.
Washington won their first matchup of the 2022 season against the Jacksonville Jaguars, before a four game losing streak to round out their first five games. Their second victory of the season came in a Thursday Night Football game against the Chicago Bears.
The Commanders were established in 1932 and played their first season in the same year. They were initially known as the Boston Braves during their first season and changed their moniker to the Redskins the year after.
In 1937, the team moved to Washington, D.C., and became the Washington Redskins. However, constant pressure from the football community finally saw them changing their name to Washington Football Team in 2020. They embraced the Commanders name in 2022.
The Commanders won two NFL championships before the 1970 merger and three Super Bowls (XVII, XXII, and XXVI). They have five conference championships, 15 division titles, and 25 playoff appearances. The team has been owned by Dan and Tanya Snyder since 1999 and has a $5.6 billion valuation as of August 2022.
The Commanders play their home games at FedEx Field, originally known as Jack Kent Cooke Stadium. It is located in Summerfield, Maryland, and was opened in 1997. The stadium can accommodate up to 67,717 spectators. Given its geographical location, the Commanders attract fans from nearby states, especially those that do not have an NFL franchise.
The Commanders have ongoing rivalries with other teams in the NFC East. The Dallas Cowboys lead their all-time series, 76-47-2, but the Commanders won their two postseason meetings. However, the Cowboys won their last three meetings.
Meanwhile, Washington has a slim 88-83-6 edge in their all-time series with the Philadelphia Eagles. On the flip side, the Eagles won their last three faceoffs and have been more successful in recent times after winning Super Bowl LII. Finally, the Commanders trail the New York Giants in their record, 105-70-4. However, the Commanders won their last two games.
