Washington Commanders' 2025 NFL schedule analysis

The 2025 NFL regular season schedule has been released. The Washington Commanders have the eighth-toughest schedule per NFL research, but the easiest slate among NFC East teams. 

Here’s what stands out about the schedule.

Toughest stretch | Weeks 16 through 18

Division games are always tough, but the schedule makers did the Commanders no favors with two late games against the defending Super Bowl champions toward the end of the regular season. 

Philadelphia handed Washington its fourth loss of the 2024 regular season before the Commanders overcame a 13-point, fourth quarter deficit to beat the Eagles in Week 16. Their last meeting came in the NFC Championship Game, where Washington allowed a record 55 points and lost by 32 points.

Tucked between Eagles games is a home matchup against the Cowboys in Week 17. Like Philadelphia, Dallas won their first matchup against the Commanders but lost the rematch in last year’s regular season finale.

Of course, Washington quarterback Jayden Daniels didn’t play in what turned out to be a meaningless game for both sides while Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott missed both games with a hamstring injury.

A healthy Prescott could make all the difference this time around as he’ll look to get the Cowboys back to something that resembles the 12-5 unit that won the NFC East in 2023.

Easiest stretch | Weeks 13 through 15

Following their Week 12 bye, the Commanders welcome the Broncos and second-year quarterback Bo Nix to Northwest Stadium. Nix led Denver to a 10-7 record and a playoff berth last season but went 2-8 against teams with a winning record.

Next, Washington travels to Minnesota to face J.J. McCarthy’s Vikings in Week 14. McCarthy joined the league as the 10th overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft but missed the entire season after tearing his meniscus in Minnesota’s first preseason game.

Quarterback Sam Darnold led the team to the playoffs with a 14-3 record in his place but signed a three-year, $100M contract with the Seahawks in the offseason. At 22-years-old, McCarthy has a lot to learn and could struggle in what will be his 13th NFL start.

After that, the Commanders travel to face the Giants, which went 3-14 last season, for a game that could include former Ole Miss quarterback Jaxson Dart. After signing veteran quarterback Russell Wilson to a one-year, $10.5M contract in the offseason, the team traded back into the first round of this year’s draft to take Dart 25th overall. 

Given the state of New York’s roster and the timing of the game, Washington should expect to face the rookie in this late-season matchup.

Daniels-Williams Part II |  Week 6

Washington’s first appearance on Monday Night Football will once again feature Bears quarterback Caleb Williams, the first overall pick in last year’s draft against Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels, the second pick in the draft.

The two met last year in a Week 8 matchup in which Daniels used a 52-yard Hail Mary to beat Chicago 18-15 as time expired. The Bears would go on to lose their next nine games and fire head coach Matt Eberflus.

They replaced him with former Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson, whose team fell to Washington 45-31 in last year's playoffs. Rest assured,  Johnson will have his team ready when it welcomes the Commanders to Soldier Field in Week 6.