The NFL released the 2023 schedule Thursday night to much fanfare. While some aren’t fans of the schedule release because everyone already knows each team’s opponents for the upcoming season, others are excited about making travel plans and tailgates for the home schedule.
The Washington Commanders have another difficult schedule in 2023. Of course, as we know, the schedule in May will look a lot different in October. If you’re looking at Washington’s 2023 schedule now and thinking, “Look at all of those playoffs,” remember, not every team ranked in the top 10 of the offseason power rankings will be a playoff contender next season.
On the flip side, there will be teams some consider “weak” that will actually be in the playoff hunt.
The Commanders could be one of the ladder teams in 2023.
John Breech of CBS Sports recently went through every NFL team’s 2023 schedule and found one good thing — and one bad thing — from all 32 schedules.
What was the good thing Breech found for the Commanders?
One good thing for the Commanders: The Commanders get to open the season against two teams (Cardinals, Broncos) that finished a combined 9-25 last season, which makes it feel like a 2-0 start is definitely a possibility.
The Broncos, on the road in Week 2 will be a difficult game for the Commanders or anyone else. Remember, Sean Payton is Denver’s new head coach, and playing in the Mile High City is never easy.
As for the bad:
One bad thing for the Commanders: Starting in Week 6, the Commanders play four road games in five weeks, and their only home game in that span is against the Eagles. If they can’t handle that stretch, it could be a long season for them.
This is a brutal stretch, for sure. But we should come out of this stretch knowing what the Commanders have in quarterback Sam Howell and if they can be a playoff contender in 2023.