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The Washington Commanders put up a good fight against the Dallas Cowboys in Week 17, but they couldn't quite get the job done, losing 30-23.
This week, the Commanders head to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to face the Philadelphia Eagles and close their season out on the road. They'd love nothing more than to get a win as they close the door on 2025, and while it's not an impossible ask, it's a tough one. Despite the injuries and adversity thrown at them this season, the Commanders continue to grind and push forward.
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As we enter Week 18, here's a look at where the Commanders stand in a multitude of power rankings.
Nate Davis, USA TODAY: 28 (NC)
The season could wrap without a single of their players surpassing 900 yards from scrimmage.
Frank Schwab, Yahoo! Sports: 27 (-1)
Against the Cowboys, 2025 seventh-round draft pick Jacory Croskey-Merritt rushed for 105 yards and two touchdowns, and 2024 second-round pick Johnny Newton had three sacks. It came in yet another loss, but those are the breakout games the Commanders need to get late in the season. They have a surprisingly old roster and remaking it in the offseason won’t be easy. Having any young players to rely on for 2026 helps that process.
Diante Lee, The Ringer: 28 (-1)
After his defense gave up almost 500 yards to the Cowboys on Christmas Day, I don't want to hear about head coach Dan Quinn's reputation for buidling defenses ever again. This was the fifth game this season in which Washington allowed at least 30 points - and this unit has allowed more than 6,000 yards of total offense on the year. Until Quinn hires a new defensive coordinator who comes from outside his circle, I can't take this team seriously.
Vinnie Iyer, The Sporting News: 27 (-1)
The Commanders are fighting hard for Dan Quinn but there's not much to rely upon down to third-string QB play and a defense breaking down everywhere. They need a huge rebound season with a healthy Jayden Daniels.
Pete Prisco, CBS Sports: 26 (NC)
This is a team with a lot of issues heading into the offseason. Not having Jayden Daniels for a lot of the season killed them, but there are other big problems going forward.
Josh Kendall, The Athletic: 26 (NC)
Head coach check-in: Still safe
This is Dan Quinn’s eighth season as an NFL head coach — and his worst. The Commanders won’t top five wins, which would be the fewest of any Quinn-coached team in a full season. Thursday was Washington’s 10th loss in its last 11 games, but Jayden Daniels’ season-ending injury and all the leftover goodwill from 2024 mean Quinn is safe.
Walter Football: 29 (NC)
The old saying is, “Good teams win, great teams cover.” The Redskins were a great team on Christmas, covering against the Redskins via a back-door field goal with two minutes remaining.
NFL Nation, ESPN: 26 (NC)
What we learned this season: Their defense needs an overhaul, pronto.
In training camp, Washington's defense often outplayed an offense without wide receiver Terry McLaurin, among other players. The defense appeared to be sound. Turns out, that was a mirage. The Commanders' D enters the season finale ranked 31st in takeaways, 27th in points allowed, 29th in the red zone, 30th versus the run and 30th in yards allowed per play. Coach Dan Quinn took over playcalling duties from coordinator Joe Whitt Jr. in Week 11. The Commanders will need to settle the coordinator duties while seeking upgrades to every level of their defense.
This article originally appeared on Commanders Wire: Washington Commanders: NFL Week 18 power rankings roundup
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