The Washington Commanders are reeling after a 38-14 loss to the Seattle Seahawks — their fourth straight defeat — dropping to 3-6 on the season. With rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels suffering a serious arm injury late in the game and multiple starters now sidelined, the Commanders’ season has taken a sharp downward turn heading into Week 10.
Across the league, analysts aren’t holding back. The latest power rankings from ESPN, Bleacher Report, Yahoo Sports, and others paint a grim picture for a team once seen as a fringe playoff contender.
ESPN, Bleacher Report & Yahoo Rank Commanders in the Bottom Tier
Just awful.
🙏🙏🙏
ESPN’s John Keim dropped Washington four spots this week to No. 24, noting that the Commanders “have lost four in a row, but three of those were to teams over .500.” He added that the defense remains the team’s biggest problem, and coach Dan Quinn’s decision not to make staff changes could soon backfire. “If the Commanders lose to 2-7 Miami — and look bad again on defense — it will signal a massive issue,” Keim wrote.
Bleacher Report placed Washington at No. 24 as well, down six spots from last week. Analyst Maurice Moton wrote that the Commanders “can forget about playoff aspirations” after being “dominated through four quarters.” He added that Daniels’ injury, coupled with wide receiver Terry McLaurin’s lingering quad issue, has left the offense lifeless. “The Commanders weren’t competitive before Daniels went down,” Moton wrote. “Don’t expect them to reemerge as a playoff contender without him.”
Yahoo Sports also slotted Washington at No. 24, echoing the same sentiment: “Jayden Daniels’ injury makes a bad season worse. The defense is very poor, and that’s something that needs to be addressed in the offseason. Washington had a really old roster this season. This won’t be the easiest fix.”
Sports Illustrated Grades the Washington at 24, Previews Lions Matchup
Sports Illustrated ranked Washington 24th as well, down three spots from last week’s No. 21 ranking. Writer Conor Orr defended Quinn for leaving Daniels in the game, saying, “I really don’t think you blame Dan Quinn for having Daniels in the game. This is exactly what we’ve come to expect out of the modern quarterback.”
Still, Orr pointed out that the Commanders’ issues go far beyond one injury. Washington also lost wide receiver Luke McCaffrey and cornerback Marshon Lattimore to injuries in the same game, further depleting an already struggling roster.
The Commanders will host the Detroit Lions on Sunday, November 9, as 8.5-point underdogs, according to DraftKings. Detroit is 5-3 this season and looking to rebound after a home loss to the Vikings. Meanwhile, Washington has gone 3-6 against the spread and continues to rank near the bottom of the league in both total defense and points allowed.
Running back Jahmyr Gibbs could be a major problem for the Commanders, who have given up over 124 rushing yards per game. If the Lions establish an early lead, it could spell another long afternoon for a Washington defense already under heavy scrutiny.
Commanders Slide in Week 10 Power Rankings After Jayden Daniels Injury