What a difference a week makes for the Washington Commanders. Last week, the Commanders, despite a loss to the Philadelphia Eagles, moved up in some of the various NFL power rankings.
Washington took the defending NFC champions to the limit before falling in overtime, yet were impressive in defeat.
Buy Commanders TicketsThe Commanders had a short week, facing the Chicago Bears at home. The Bears were winless heading into Thursday and hadn’t won in almost a full calendar year. Chicago jumped on Washington early, going into halftime with a 27-3 lead. Despite a second-half rally, it was too much to overcome for the Commanders.
Does any team’s performance fluctuate week-to-week like the Commanders under Ron Rivera?
Here is the latest roundup from the various NFL power rankings.
NFL.com
Last week: No. 22
Winnable games lie ahead, but there are some really concerning trends that must end before harboring those thoughts. The high-profile defense is being gashed by big plays. Sam Howell is taking way too many hits. And the rookie class has provided little help, with first-round CB Emmanuel Forbes Jr. suffering through another tough outing last week. Arguably the most fixable of the issues is the defensive front. Dominating more and playing with more discipline on the D-line would help alleviate the secondary concerns. The Commanders’ celebrated group of QB hunters is racking up pressures and sacks, but it hasn’t taken over games enough. That unit is at least part of why Washington’s defense has taken a step backward.
ESPN
Last week: No. 16
McLaurin remains a very good receiver; the opportunities have changed, however. He’s averaging career lows in targets per game (6.5), yards per catch (10.4), yards after the catch (2.52) and also in percentage of catches for 20-plus yards (12). He is catching five passes per game, second best in his career, but McLaurin has now gone nine consecutive games without a 100-yard game, dating to last season. He averaged 13.5 fantasy points last season and that has fallen to 12.6, ranking 27th at receiver. One big game could change this direction, but Washington needs to get him more involved downfield to create big plays as he’s done in the past.
The Athletic
Last week: No. 21
With the season starting to go south, new Washington owner Josh Harris surely is starting to think about cleaning house in the Commanders football offices. Coach Ron Rivera entered the season on shaky ground, and the 2023 draft class isn’t doing general manager Martin Mayhew any favors. First-round cornerback Emmanuel Forbes was benched Thursday night after being torched by DJ Moore, and no one else in the class has made much impact.
Pro Football Talk
Last week: No. 20
The always-smiling Magic Johnson suddenly isn’t.
Yahoo Sports
Last week: No. 13
It felt like Thursday night’s loss was the end of the Ron Rivera era, not in a literal sense but practically speaking. The Commanders looked unprepared and the 0-4 Bears wrecked them. New ownership didn’t hire Rivera and have no reason to keep him around if the season doesn’t get better. At the very least, it seems Rivera is coaching for his job the rest of the season.
CBS Sports
Last week: No. 21
That was a terrible showing against the Bears. What is wrong with that defense? It’s hard to believe that unit is that bad.
Bleacher Report
Last week: No. 15
If Washington Commanders head coach Ron Rivera knows any real estate agents, he might want to give them a call.
Because after Thursday’s debacle in the nation’s capital, Rivera may be on the move soon.
There’s no way to sugarcoat what happened—the Commanders were pasted by a winless Bears team that hadn’t won a game in almost a calendar year. Washington’s defense was embarrassed, allowing big play after big play through the air. The offense was rendered one-dimensional by a 27-3 halftime deficit.
Five games into the 2023 season, the Commanders are allowing over 31 points per game, and Rivera told reporters that unit has been a disappointment.
“Well, I’m a little disappointed, more so than I am surprised,” Rivera said. “I just think that some of the things that we have to do is we have to play with a little bit more discipline. We’re going to stop trying to do more than we need to and do our jobs. Probably the basic thing that goes to it, and as I said, we’re taking a look at some of the things that we’re doing with them. Are we truly putting them in the best position to make plays? That’s the thing that we have to look at and go through the next day.”
“It’s not all Rivera’s fault that the Commanders laid an egg against Chicago,” Davenport said. “Or even mostly his fault. But getting humiliated at home by one of the worst teams in the league is not something that endears a coach to a new owner. Unless Washington turns things around in a hurry, it’s hard to imagine Rivera lasting past 2023—if he makes it through the season.”
Sharp Football Analysis
Last week: No. 26
FOX Sports
Last week: No. 17
Dallas turned in the most embarrassing performance of Week 5, but don’t forget about the Commanders. Thursday Night Football, at home, against a winless Bears team. Washington was a six-point favorite. And they got absolutely crushed. Not a great look for Ron Rivera, a defensive guru, to allow Justin Fields to play the game of his career.
USA TODAY Sports
Last week: No. 15
Only Denver has surrendered more points than Washington’s 160. Only Minnesota has turned it over more times than Washington’s 10. Lethal combo.
