Washington Commanders schedule: Games, dates, TV channels, predictions for 2026 season

The Washington Commanders entered the 2025 with high expectations after making it to the NFC championship game the previous season. They failed to live up to them.

The Commanders went just 5-12, seven fewer wins than they logged during the first season of the Dan Quinn and Jayden Daniels partnership. Washington struggled to stay healthy throughout the season, with Daniels being limited to just seven starts due to a litany of injuries and key players like Terry McLaurin, Sam Cosmi and Dorance Armstrong also missing time.

Even so, the Commanders decided to make significant changes to their coaching staff during the offseason. Washington fired defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr. after it ranked 31st in defensive EPA per play, according to the NFL's Next Gen Stats, and also "mutually parted" with offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury.

The Commanders will now be hoping new defensive coordinator Daronte Jones – along with an infusion of young defensive talent headlined by edge rusher Odafe Oweh, safety Nick Cross and first-round linebacker Sonny Styles – can turn around the team's defense.

Meanwhile, David Blough will get a crack at being the team's offensive coordinator. The biggest key to his success will be having Daniels available and finding a No. 2 receiver across from McLaurin, whether that's third-round rookie Antonio Williams or a down-the-road addition like Brandon Aiyuk or Stefon Diggs.

Here's what to know about the Commanders' schedule for the 2026 NFL season.

Washington Commanders schedule 2026

• Week 1 – Sept. 13: Philadelphia Eagles vs. Washington Commanders, 4:25 p.m. ET, Fox
• Week 2 – Sept. 20: Dallas Cowboys vs. Washington Commanders, 4:25 p.m. ET, Fox
• Week 3 – Sept. 27: Washington Commanders vs. Seattle Seahawks, 1 p.m. ET, Fox
• Week 4 – Oct. 4: Washington Commanders vs. Indianapolis Colts, 9:30 a.m. ET, NFL Network (London game)
• Week 5 – Oct. 11: Washington Commanders vs. New York Giants, 1 p.m. ET, Fox
• Week 6 – Oct. 19: San Francisco 49ers vs. Washington Commanders, 8:15 p.m. ET, ESPN ("Monday Night Football")
• Week 7: BYE
• Week 8 – Nov. 1: Washington Commanders vs. Philadelphia Eagles, 8:20 p.m. ET, NBC ("Sunday Night Football")
• Week 9 – Nov. 8: Washington Commanders vs. Los Angeles Rams, 1 p.m. ET, Fox
• Week 10 – Nov. 12: New York Giants vs. Washington Commanders, 8:15 p.m. ET, Prime Video ("Thursday Night Football")
• Week 11 – Nov. 23: Washington Commanders vs. Cincinnati Bengals, 8:15 p.m. ET, ESPN ("Monday Night Football")
• Week 12 – Nov. 29: Arizona Cardinals vs. Washington Commanders, 4:25 p.m. ET, Fox
• Week 13 – Dec. 6: Tennessee Titans vs. Washington Commanders, 1 p.m. ET, CBS
• Week 14 – Dec. 13: Washington Commanders vs. Houston Texans, 1 p.m. ET, CBS
• Week 15 – Dec. 20: Washington Commanders vs. Atlanta Falcons, 1 p.m. ET, Fox
• Week 16 – TBD: Minnesota Vikings vs. Washington Commanders, TBD, TBD
• Week 17 – TBD: Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Washington Commanders, TBD, TBD
• Week 18 – TBD: Washington Commanders vs. Dallas Cowboys, TBD, TBD

Commanders record prediction 2026

Record prediction: 8-9

The Commanders made significant progress in upgrading their roster, and particularly their defense, during the 2026 NFL offseason. Will it be enough to make them a playoff contender again?

It's certainly possible, especially if Daniels can return to the form he displayed during his elite rookie season. At the same time, Washington is facing what projects to be the NFL's eighth-hardest schedule for the 2026 season, per Sharp Football Analysis. They are facing the AFC South and NFC West as part of their rotating schedule – the latter of which projects to be one of the NFL's toughest divisions.

Add in the solid state of the NFC East and that the Commanders are placing a third-place schedule after the Giants finished last in the division in 2026 and Washington won't get many easy wins. That – plus the team's holes at receiver, center and running back – could prevent the Commanders from making it back to the postseason.

Commanders home opponents 2026

• Dallas Cowboys
• New York Giants
• Philadelphia Eagles
• Atlanta Falcons
• Cincinnati Bengals
• Houston Texans
• Indianapolis Colts
• Los Angeles Rams
• Seattle Seahawks

Commanders away opponents 2026

• Dallas Cowboys
• New York Giants
• Philadelphia Eagles
• Arizona Cardinals
• Jacksonville Jaguars
• Minnesota Vikings
• San Francisco 49ers
• Tennessee Titans

Super Bowl 61 odds