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Daily Slop – 16 May 25 – Will we see Jayden Daniels representing the USA in flag football in 2028?

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A collection of articles, podcasts & tweets from around the web to keep you in touch with the Commanders, the NFC East, the NFL and sports in general, and a sprinkling of other stuff

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ESPN

Washington Commanders schedule 2025: Takeaways, predictions

Biggest takeaway

Call it the schedule Jayden Daniels built. His popularity is one big reason why Washington will play five prime-time games and 10 games in what’s considered a national window. The Commanders have seven national games in a row from Weeks 6-13, interrupted only by their bye — with three night games in four weeks. It ties the record for the most prime-time games in franchise history — they had five in 2013 and ‘17.

Circle this date

Dec. 20. The Commanders will face Philadelphia for the first time since losing the NFC Championship Game, 55-23. Numerous players were upset not just in losing the game but in the lopsided score. They clearly felt they could beat the Eagles. Washington spent the offseason trying to do what the Eagles have done for years — build strong lines on both sides of the ball. Their first meeting is so late in the season that the teams will be well-established. Has Washington closed the gap at all? This game will help answer that question.

How will the Commanders handle more prime-time games and national attention?

It’s quite a jump for the franchise. Washington did go 2-1 in prime-time regular-season games last season — and 2-0 in the postseason. The Commanders were a fresh team down the stretch last season and that helped them win seven consecutive games before losing to the Eagles in the NFC Championship Game. But this schedule — the night games combined with the 10th-most miles traveled — will test their endurance.

Commanders.com

5 takeaways from Commanders’ 2025 schedule

3. A busier travel schedule.

The Commanders had a favorable travel schedule in 2024, as they only had to travel across the country for one game. This year will be a bit more challenging in terms of sheer travel miles.

The Commanders won’t travel as far as the Los Angeles Chargers, who will lead the league with 37,086 miles, but they do rank just outside the top 10 with 21,363 miles. Much of that will come from the game played against the Dolphins in Spain, but they will also have to travel to SoFi Stadium to play the Chargers as well as Lambeau Field against the Green Bay Packers and U.S. Bank Stadium to play the Minnesota Vikings.

It’s not all bad for the Commanders, though. The games between the Packers (Week 2), Chargers (Week 5) and Vikings (Week 14) are all spread out, meaning there will not be a similar situation to last year, when they had to play the Arizona Cardinals on the road less than a week after traveling to play the Cincinnati Bengals. The Commanders will also play two western division teams (the Denver Broncos and Seattle Seahawks) at home.

Still, the Commanders will be moving around the country far more often in 2025.

Washington Post (paywall)

Rating every game on the Commanders’ 2025 schedule

A “Monday Night Football” showdown with the Chiefs and playoff rematches with the Lions and Eagles highlight Washington’s slate.

Week 4: Sunday, Sept. 28 at Atlanta (1 p.m.)

Last year, the Commanders had the NFL’s easiest schedule and feasted on teams that didn’t make the postseason, going 11-1 in those games. That included a playoff-clinching 30-24 overtime win against Michael Penix Jr. and the Falcons in Week 17. Expect Washington to be fired up for Dan Quinn’s return to Atlanta, where he coached for five-plus seasons.

Week 5: Sunday, Oct. 5 at Los Angeles Chargers (4:25 p.m.)

Washington hasn’t won a road game against the Chargers (in Los Angeles or San Diego) since 1986, when Gary Clark caught a late touchdown pass from Jay Schroeder in a 30-27 win. Quarterback Justin Herbert will provide a stiff test for defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr.’s unit.

Week 6: Monday, Oct. 13 vs. Chicago (8:15 p.m.)

The Bears come to Landover for a third straight year and the second showdown between the first two picks of the 2024 draft. Methinks Chicago cornerback Tyrique Stevenson, who was seen taunting the home crowd with his back to the line of scrimmage when Washington’s Hail Mary play began, will keep his focus on the field this time. The Commanders fan who was telling a Fox 5 sports reporter “I feel as though we won, for real” as the game-winning miracle was unfolding behind him would be an inspired choice for honorary captain.

Riggo’s Rag

Commanders could allow Jayden Daniels to participate in 2028 Olympics

According to Tom Pelissero from the NFL Network, owners will discuss a resolution at next week’s league meeting that would allow professional players to compete in the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles. This will include flag football for the first time, and no more than one player from each team, coupled with a designated international player, will be permitted to participate.

This brings excitement and trepidation in equal measure. Players would no doubt relish the prospect of representing their country at such a prestigious event. For the clubs that invest millions into their stars, there will be nervousness.

The last thing the Commanders, or anyone around the league, wants is for their franchise player to get hurt doing something that isn’t team-related. Considering Daniels might have a barrier-breaking extension sewn up by the time 2028 rolls around, there is a lot potentially at stake.

Commanders.com

Top 5 plays from Trey Amos’ 2024 season

Amos breaks up game-tying touchdown against LSU

Amos knows how to make big plays in clutch situations. Just look at what he did against LSU.

The Rebels had a 17-10 lead against the Tigers, who were looking to tie the score with 17 seconds left before halftime. With the ball at Ole Miss’ 28-yard line, Tigers quarterback Garrett Nussmeier dropped back and flung a pass to tight end Mason Taylor, who was in the end zone with Amos in coverage.

Taylor is usually a reliable pass-catcher, but that was not the case working against Amos. The cornerback batted the ball away just before Taylor could get his hands on it, and LSU had to settle for a field goal.

Riggo’s Rag

Commanders could get Brian Daboll fired by the Giants after Week 15

Their investment in quarterback Daniel Jones failed spectacularly. To make matters worse, running back Saquon Barkley thrived with the Eagles en route to hoisting the Vince Lombardi trophy. This came after the Giants didn’t believe he was worth another financial commitment.

Speculation inevitably rose regarding the futures of general manager Joe Schoen and head coach Brian Daboll. Both came under fire last season, but owner John Mara gave them another shot to prove themselves. The margin for error is almost non-existent, and he won’t be as leniant next time around if the same trend continues.

The NFL schedule makers handed the Commanders a golden opportunity to put Daboll out of his misery. They’ll get the chance to turn up the heat immediately when the Giants come to Northwest Stadium in Week 1. If improvements haven’t been made by the time Washington’s voyage to MetLife Stadium in Week 15 rolls around, another crippling defeat to a division rival might be enough for Mara to pull the plug.

Podcasts & videos

Commanders Poised For A BIG Leap? | NFC East Offseason Breakdown

Photos


Commanders.com

The best of Trey Amos

Check out the top photos of Commanders cornerback Trey Amos during his college career.




NFC East links

NFL.com

NFL schedule: Each NFC team’s win total projection for 2025 season

Wins – 11.0

Philadelphia Eagles

NFC EAST CHAMPIONS

Week 1’s win percentage represents Philly’s highest forecasted odds of beating Dallas in their first matchup of the season (in any week) in at least 10 seasons. You’re welcome, Eagles fans. Over the next three weeks, the defending champs visit the Chiefs, host the Rams, then travel to the Bucs — with each game presenting a much tougher task than the opener. It’s worth noting that the Eagles and Commanders don’t have their first matchup until Week 16 in Washington (with the follow-up set for Week 18 in Philly).

Wins – 10.2

Washington Commanders

WILD CARD

Through Week 7, the Commanders are forecasted to be atop the NFC East. At that point, they will reach what could be a major turning point for their season: a Monday Night Football game in Kansas City in Week 8, followed by back-to-back home contests against the Seahawks and Lions. Washington can secure its best chance of outlasting the Eagles in the division by winning at least two of those three games. In other words, the Commanders can really set themselves up well ahead of their Week 11 game against Miami in Madrid, Spain.

Wins – 7.2

Dallas Cowboys

Here’s the Cowboys’ toughest three-game stretch: In Week 12, they host the Eagles, welcome the Chiefs on Thanksgiving Day in Week 13 and then head to Detroit for a Thursday Night Football clash in Week 14. It’s important to remember that if Dak Prescott and Micah Parsons, who each missed time in 2024, are available all season, Dallas’ ceiling increases, especially if rookie right guard Tyler Booker is able to get acclimated. The first-round pick had the highest floor and was my highest-rated lineman at his position in this year’s draft.

Wins – 5.4

New York Giants

Trying to win at Washington (in Week 1) and hosting Kansas City (on Sunday Night Football in Week 3) in the first three weeks of the season is tough in itself. That becomes a much tougher ask if rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart ends up being the team’s starter. The Giants’ schedule is punishing overall and especially so midway through the campaign, with back-to-back road games in Denver (Week 7) and Philadelphia (Week 8) and home games against San Francisco (Week 9) and Green Bay (Week 11) sandwiched around a trip to Chicago. The difficult sequence finally ends in Detroit in Week 12.

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