The Washington Commanders (4-8) look to snap a three-game losing skid on Sunday against the Miami Dolphins (8-3). Good luck.
The Commanders enter Sunday’s game with a new defensive coordinator [head coach Ron Rivera] and a new secondary coach [Cristian Garcia]. All that stands in front of Washington on Sunday is the NFL’s most explosive offense.
Another skid the Commanders are hoping to stop is their four-game losing streak at home. Washington hasn’t won at FedEx Field since Week 1. The Commanders announced their sixth home sellout of the season on Saturday.
Does Washington have a chance? Commanders Wire weighs in with our game picks for Week 13.
Bryan Manning
I don’t think the Commanders can beat the Dolphins on Sunday. In previous years, Rivera’s teams found ways to upset top teams, but this team is finished. I do believe the offense gives Washington a chance. Quarterback Sam Howell will have a strong performance on Sunday against one of the NFL’s best defensive coordinators, Vic Fangio. Ultimately, though, there is no way the Commanders can score with the Dolphins. Miami, Tua Tagovailoa and Tyreek Hill will have their way with Washington’s struggling defense.
Dolphins 38, Commanders 24
Ivan Lambert
The Commanders have surrendered more points than anyone else in the NFL. Making things more difficult for the struggling and disappointing Commanders defense is the fact they have to face the Dolphins on Sunday. Miami averages 30 points a game with such a balanced offense, averaging 285 passing yards (1st in the NFL) and 145 rushing yards (2nd in the NFL).
What a huge task for this Commanders defense that has struggled so often so severely, they have been embarrassing at times. Perhaps Sam Howell can have a good game passing Sunday. But it will come down to how much the defense can stop the Miami offense.
Miami 34, Washington 24
Sammy Mansfield
It was a rough Thanksgiving for Commanders fans last week as the team got demolished by the high-flying offense of the Dallas Cowboys in front of the entire country.
This week’s matchup with the Miami Dolphins may feel like déjà vu as the league’s second-highest-scoring offense comes to town. Second only to…you guessed it, the Dallas Cowboys. Few teams have been able to slow down All-World receiver Tyreek Hill as he continues his mission to become the first player in NFL history to record 2,000 receiving yards in a season.
This is a brutal matchup for Washington, considering the Commanders give up the third-most passing yards per game. Miami’s defense has been stingy this season but is allowing the tenth most points per game and just lost stud linebacker Jaelan Phillips to a season-ending injury.
If Sam Howell can play a clean game and go blow for blow with Miami’s offense, the Commanders might have a shot at the massive upset. Unfortunately, that’s not how I see it playing out today.
Dolphins 34, Commanders 21
