The Washington Commanders (8-5) return to action in Week 15 after some much-needed time off. After a 42-19 win over the Tennessee Titans two weeks ago, the Commanders finally had a bye.
The Commanders are on the road in New Orleans, where they’ll face the 5-8 Saints. While New Orleans doesn’t have the greatest record, it has won three of the last four games since firing head coach Dennis Allen and replacing him with Darren Rizzi.
Washington enters this weekend’s slate of games in an excellent position in the NFC playoff picture. The Commanders continue to hold the No. 7 seed and are only one game out of the No. 6 spot. However, keep an eye on the red-hot Los Angeles Rams. After Thursday’s win over the 49ers, Los Angeles improved to 8-6 and is only a half-game behind the Commanders for the seventh and final NFC playoff spot.
Here’s a current look at the NFC playoff field:
- Detroit Lions
- Philadelphia Eagles
- Seattle Seahawks
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Minnesota Vikings
- Green Bay Packers
- Washington Commanders
We recently explained why the Commanders may want to avoid the No. 7 seed. Whoever becomes the seventh seed must travel to Detroit or Philadelphia in January. The Lions and Eagles look like the NFC’s clear frontrunners ahead of the rest of the pack. Washington and Philadelphia have met once, with the Eagles winning a competitive game back in Week 11. The two NFC East rivals meet again in Week 16.
So, how do the Commanders avoid a trip to Detroit or Philly in January? By moving up to the No. 6 seed. The Packers currently hold the sixth seed and are one game ahead of Washington.
While the Commanders remain alive in the NFC East race, their chances of winning the division are become slimmer by the week.
Which teams should Washington fans be rooting for in Week 15?
49ers over Rams
This game was played on Thursday, and, unfortunately for Washington, the Rams held off the Niners and are now just a half-game behind the Commanders. L.A. looks like a serious contender to overtake Seattle for the NFC West.
Steelers over Eagles
A Pittsburgh win and a Washington win would put the Commanders only two games behind the Eagles ahead of their Week 16 showdown in Landover. Plus, Washington fans will always root for the Eagles to lose.
Patriots over Cardinals
The Commanders hold the tie-breaker advantage over Arizona and are currently two games ahead of them for the final spot. A New England win over the Cardinals would widen the gap for the Commanders.
Seahawks over Packers
The Seahawks are in a battle for the NFC West with the Rams. They must keep winning, or they’ll take LA’s spot behind Washington. So, while Seattle could be a potential threat to the Commanders, Washington badly needs the Seahawks to win here. A Commanders’ win and a Packers’ loss mean things would mean they’d both be 9-5 with three games remaining.
Bears over Vikings
The Commanders are three games behind the Vikings for the No. 5 seed in the NFC. However, if Washington keeps winning, it’s still mathematically possible to catch them. So, as long as this possibility exists, fans should want to see the Vikings lose.
Raiders over Falcons
The Falcons are sliding badly. At 6-7, another loss would severely damage their Wild Card hopes, meaning they’d need to win the division. The Commanders should hope that every team close to them loses. Washington and Atlanta meet in two weeks.
