Just how good can the Commanders be?

The Commanders’ Week 5 shellacking of the Cleveland Browns wasn’t even as close as the 34-13 final score indicated, and the most inspiring part was that the defense was just as strong as Daniels and the offense. Washington sacked Deshaun Watson seven times, nearly doubling its season total (eight) from the first four weeks.

At this point, the question must be asked about how good this team can be. What seemed like it was set to be a rebuilding season now looks like, at the bare minimum, one that will contend to win the NFC East. The Philadelphia Eagles (2-2) and Dallas Cowboys (3-2) are still strong units with high-end potential despite underwhelming starts, but Washington might be right there with them, if not a step above. That said, let’s not raise the banner just yet.

It is worth noting that the Commanders have yet to beat a team with a winning record. Their victories have come against teams that are a combined 6-14 on the season, while their lone loss was a lopsided 37-20 defeat to the 3-2 Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 1. Washington has, of course, improved since that loss, but by just how much will be tested when they travel across the Beltway to face the high-flying Baltimore Ravens (3-2, winners of three straight) this Sunday.

Even if the Commanders can win that game, their true litmus test might not come until Week 11, when they travel to Philadelphia for a prime-time Thursday night duel. That will be their first matchup against a formidable divisional foe, and it will be followed by playing host to Dallas the next week. Four of Washington’s final seven games will be against the Eagles or Cowboys.

By that point in the season, teams will have adequate samples of game film to prepare against one another, and there will be nowhere to hide. Daniels will eventually be forced to carry the load in late-game, come-from-behind situations, something else we’ve yet to see. The only true nailbiter Washington has played this season was in Week 2 against the Giants when Austin Siebert’s seven field goals made the biggest difference.

The Commanders have proved that they can win in multiple different ways this season — with offense, with defense and with special teams. That will make them a tough draw for any opponent and should give them a solid floor of about eight or nine wins, assuming they don’t take any losses to teams they have no business losing to. Even if Washington stumbles down the stretch in the crucial divisional games, the worst that can be said is they have plenty to build from in a year that had no expectations. 

However, if Washington continues to improve, answering their rivals’ adjustments while Daniels gains experience going toe-to-toe with well-oiled machines, this season could become truly special. We might be discussing an NFC East crown and a potential deep playoff run.