Dec 25, 2025; Landover, Maryland, USA; Washington Commanders head coach Dan Quinn speaks to his players in the second half against the Dallas Cowboys at Northwest Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Amber Searls-Imagn Images Amber Searls-Imagn Images

One bizarre stat sums up the Commanders struggles

Originally posted on Washington Commanders on SI
By Darius Hayes | Last updated Dec 26, 2025 7:46 PM ET

The Washington Commanders had plenty of opportunities to change the narrative in primetime this season, but none of them ended in a win.

The Commanders played eight standalone games in 2025 and lost every single one.

Washington somehow managed to go winless under the bright lights, creating one of the strangest and most frustrating stats of the season.

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Primetime Became a Problem All Season Long

Primetime games are supposed to be opportunities. More preparation, more attention, and a chance to make a statement in front of a national audience. Instead, those moments consistently highlighted Washington’s struggles. The Commanders went 0 and 8 in standalone games across Thursday night, Monday night, Sunday night, Saturday, Christmas Day, and even an international stage.

It became a pattern as the season wore on. Whether it was slow starts, late breakdowns, or missed chances in key moments, Washington never looked comfortable when the spotlight was brightest. What made it more frustrating was that several of these games were winnable. The issue was not always talent. It was execution and composure when it mattered most.

Eight Chances and Eight Losses

The primetime trouble started early in Week 2 with a Thursday night loss to the Green Bay Packers. From there, the losses kept stacking up. A one point Monday night defeat against the Chicago Bears in Week 6 felt like a gut punch, followed by a blowout loss to the Kansas City Chiefs on Monday night in Week 8.

Things did not improve on Sunday night, as Washington was handled by the Seattle Seahawks in Week 9. Even the unique setting in Madrid could not change the outcome, with a 16 to 13 loss to the Miami Dolphins in Week 11. Another one point defeat followed in Week 13 against the Denver Broncos.

Late in the season, the Commanders dropped a Saturday game to the Philadelphia Eagles before closing the standalone slate with a Christmas Day loss to the Dallas Cowboys.

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What This Means Moving Forward

Going winless in primetime says a lot about where Washington is right now. Good teams find ways to rise in big moments. Young or inconsistent teams often struggle to do so.

The silver lining is that this is not a permanent label. Learning how to win under pressure is part of growth. For a team still building its identity, these losses can serve as lessons rather than lasting scars.

The Washington Commanders will get more primetime chances in the future. Turning this bizarre stat into motivation is now part of the next step forward in 2026.