In an off-season that included a name change and new colors, you get the feeling that the Washington Commanders will still be the same old dysfunctional and uninspired team that Washington fans have grown to abominate. Head Coach Ron Rivera will open the 2022 season with his seventh different quarterback since arriving in 2020 and the Commanders did everything this off-season to obtain that elusive franchise signal-caller. They aspired to trade for star QBs in the likes of Aaron Rodgers and Russell Wilson but their attempts remained fruitless. In the end, they did acquire a man behind center but it was clearly not their first choice.
It was actually a surprise that the Commanders even traded for Carson Wentz, a player that the Indianapolis Colts were ready to release in the summer. The Commanders gave up a slew of draft picks and took on his full contract including an enormous $28.3 million cap hit to lure the former Eagle and Colt. However, for all QB Taylor Heinicke’s gutsy play last year, Wentz should be considered an upgrade but the 29-year-old hasn’t been all that good since 2017 when he was an MVP frontrunner when he was in Philadelphia. The offense has key pieces with WR Terry McLaurin, who was held back by poor quarterback play, and some good running backs led by Antonio Gibson.
Washington’s offensive line, who struggled to protect its quarterback throughout the 2021 season, looked perilously thin following the departure of five-time pro bowl right guard Brandon Scherff and the rest of the unit could struggle protecting a quarterback with sometime poor decision-making abilities. In 2020, the Commanders had an elite defense but greatly declined last season due to injuries and sub-par play by DE Chase Young, who was the defensive rookie of the year the season before. Young is expected to return to action only until midseason while recuperating from a torn ACL. Overall, the defensive unit could be the Commanders’ Achilles’ heel.
The good news for the Commanders is that they have a relatively easy schedule. While they get to play the NY Giants twice this year, they also have winnable games against the Falcons, Texans, Lions and the Bears.
Washington Commanders Offseason Moves:
Notable Additions: QB Carson Wentz, WR Alex Erickson, G Andrew Norwell, G Trai Turner, DE Efe Obada
Notable Departures: QB Ryan Fitzpatrick, QB Kyle Allen, TE Ricky Seal-Jones, G Brandon Scherff, G Ereck Flowers, DT Matt Loannidis, S Landon Collins
1st and 2nd Draft Picks: WR Jahan Dotson (16), DT Phidarian Mathis (47)
2022-23 Washington Commanders NFL Futures Odds
- Odds to win the 2023 Super Bowl LVII: 70/1
- Odds to win the 2022-23 NFC Conference: 35/1
- Odds to win the 2022-23 NFC East +500
- 2022-23 Regular Season Win Total: Under 8 (-125)
- Odds to Make the Playoffs: Yes +150 | No -200
- Official website: commanders.com
- Twitter Account : @Commanders
The Bottom Line:
Ultimately, the success of the Commanders will be on quarterback play but trusting Wentz to guide his team into the playoffs is a long shot. Wentz was a turnover machine last season and with a suspect offensive line protecting him, don’t expect the North Dakota State product to turn things around in Washington
Last year’s record: 7-10
MY Prediction: 8-9
2022-23 Washington Commanders Stage of Elimination
- To Miss the Playoffs -185
- To Lose in Wildcard Round +250
- To Lose in Divisional Round +550
- To Lose in Conference Championship Game +1800
- To Lose in Super Bowl +4500
- To Win Super Bowl +7000
Odds According to Bovada as of August, 2022
2022-23 Washington Commanders Season Team Specials
WAS Commanders over 380.5 Reg Season Points Scored EVEN
Terry McLaurin, Curtis Samuel & Jahan Dotson Combined Over 2200.5 Receiving Yards +110
Terry McLaurin to have over 149.5 Receiving Yards in at least one Reg season game +200
Carson Wentz over 23.5 Passing TDs and Terry McLaurin Over 72.5 Reg Season Receptions +275
WAS Commanders to concede the least Points in NFC East Division +300
Antonio Gibson Over 850.5 Rushing Yards & WAS Commanders to be a Wild Card Seed +600
Terry McLaurin Over 999.5 Receiving Yards & Over 9.5 Receiving TDs +650
Carson Wentz over 3650.5 Passing Yards and WAS Commanders to Win NFC East Division +900
Terry McLaurin Over 9.5 Receiving TDs & Antonio Gibson over 8.5 Rushing TDs +1100
WAS Commanders to reach NFC Championship Game +1200
Aengus NFL Season Special Prediction on Commanders:
- Carson Wentz will not go over 4,000 yards
- Antonio Gibson will go over 1,000 yards
- Commanders will finish 3rd in the NFC East
- Terry McLaurin will go over 1,000 yards receiving
- Jonathan Allen will go over 9 sacks
- Commanders will go under 9 wins in 2022
Season Props According to Bovada as of August, 2022
Bet on the Washington Commanders 2022-23 Season Props at Bovada Sportsbook.
Washington Commanders 2022-23 Schedule
| PRESEASON | |||||
| W. | Date | Time | Opponent | Game site | TV |
| 1 | 13-Aug | 1:00 p.m. | Carolina Panthers | FedExField | WRC-TV |
| 2 | 20-Aug | 4:00 p.m. | at Kansas City Chiefs | Arrowhead Stadium | WRC-TV |
| 3 | 27-Aug | 7:00 p.m. | at Baltimore Ravens | M&T Bank Stadium | WRC-TV |
| REGULAR SEASON | |||||
| W. | Date | Time | Opponent | Game site | TV |
| 1 | 11-Sep | 1:00 p.m. | Jacksonville Jaguars | FedExField | CBS |
| 2 | 18-Sep | 1:00 p.m. | at Detroit Lions | Ford Field | Fox |
| 3 | 25-Sep | 1:00 p.m. | Philadelphia Eagles | FedExField | Fox |
| 4 | 2-Oct | 1:00 p.m. | at Dallas Cowboys | AT&T Stadium | Fox |
| 5 | 9-Oct | 1:00 p.m. | Tennessee Titans | FedExField | CBS |
| 6 | 13-Oct | 8:15 p.m. | at Chicago Bears | Soldier Field | Prime Video |
| 7 | 23-Oct | 1:00 p.m. | Green Bay Packers | FedExField | Fox |
| 8 | 30-Oct | 4:25 p.m. | at Indianapolis Colts | Lucas Oil Stadium | Fox |
| 9 | 6-Nov | 1:00 p.m. | Minnesota Vikings | FedExField | Fox |
| 10 | 14-Nov | 8:15 p.m. | at Philadelphia Eagles | Lincoln Financial Field | ESPN |
| 11 | 20-Nov | 1:00 p.m. | at Houston Texans | NRG Stadium | Fox |
| 12 | 27-Nov | 1:00 p.m. | Atlanta Falcons | FedExField | Fox |
| 13 | 4-Dec | 1:00 p.m. | at New York Giants | MetLife Stadium | Fox |
| 14 | Bye | ||||
| 15 | Dec 17/18 | TBD | New York Giants | FedExField | TBD |
| 16 | 24-Dec | 4:05 p.m. | at San Francisco 49ers | Levi’s Stadium | CBS |
| 17 | 1-Jan | 1:00 p.m. | Cleveland Browns | FedExField | Fox |
| 18 | Jan 7/8 | TBD | Dallas Cowboys | FedExField | TBD |
All Time EST
Bet on the Washington Commanders 2022-23 Season at Bovada Sportsbook.
