#washington-commanders

#washington-commanders

"My routine stays the same," said Mariota, who re-signed with Washington in the offseason. "It just kind of creates that normal procedure for me and it allows me just to go out there and play and not have to worry about, OK, I got to do this extra, I got to do that. I just kind stick to my process and allow that process to work."

The Washington Commanders began their 2025 campaign with legitimate Super Bowl aspirations after winning 12 games and making the NFC Championship game last season. After handily beating the New York Giants in Week 1, the Commanders fell to the Green Bay Packers in an ugly Thursday Night Football showingthat was never as close as the final score. Everybody knew there would be some growing pains with the higher expectations, and this was a necessary reality check.

Sinnott was allocated just three offensive snaps despite Bates going out of the game after nine. He did bring in his only target for seven receiving yards, but this lack of involvement is a damning indictment of how his development is being perceived by those in power. If they had any trust in Sinnott whatsoever, they would have slotted him in as Bates' replacement immediately.

Defensively, it was a mess. Matt LaFleur's strategy gave Joe Whitt Jr. endless problems. He exposed the Commanders' soft zone scheme, and the coordinator's decision to send four players to generate pressure became an ongoing frustration. There was almost no dynamism in the secondary. This allowed quarterback Jordan Love to get the football downfield with minimal fuss and running back Josh Jacobs to pound his way to another profitable evening.

Washington was never in any real danger. They controlled proceedings throughout, showcasing major improvements on defense to make things extremely uncomfortable for Giants quarterback Russell Wilson. It was disjointed at times from an offensive standpoint, but Jayden Daniels made the plays needed to succeed behind a stout rushing attack. This was a solid enough platform from which to build. However, bigger challenges are upcoming for the Commanders.

McCaffrey got plenty of reps last season, but targets were at a premium. There were flashes of promise over training camp, but his almost anonymous contribution throughout Washington's preseason slate raised alarm bells. The No. 100 overall selection in the 2024 NFL Draft made the 53-man roster, but Week 1 proved just how far down the pecking order he is.