Time for some quick observations of the Commanders’ 2023 schedule that was released in full Thursday night.
Another home opener for Ron Rivera
The NFL has given the Commanders a gift to begin their first season without longtime owner Daniel Snyder. The schedule makers are allowing Washington to begin the season with a home game, hoping to get off to a good start and perhaps win their first game in the post-Daniel Snyder era.
This is somewhat surprising to me because frankly the Burgundy and Gold had already started their last three consecutive seasons at home. It means in Ron Rivera’s fourth season as head coach of Washington; he is permitted to start each of the four seasons with a home game (2020 Eagles, 2021 Chargers, 2022 Jaguars, 2023 Cardinals).
The team has three long road trips
Thankfully the NFL did a good job of spacing out these long road trips which will take the Commanders to Denver (Week 2), Seattle (Week 10) and Los Angeles (Week 17). I was fearful they may have some of these long road trips bunched too closely together in some fashion.
The final three games
The final three games on paper could be very difficult. Week 16 the team travels to face the Jets, who have been known to have a good roster, but very much lacking at quarterback. Now, they have added future HOF QB Aaron Rodgers.
Then Nick Bosa, Deebo Samuel and Christian McCaffrey lead the 49ers to FedEx Field in Week 17. The 49ers were such a physical team in 2022 that no team, after playing the 49ers, was able to win the following game.
With that in mind, Week 18 will mean the Commanders must be ready for three consecutive tough games as Micah Parsons and the Cowboys come to FedEx Field. The NFL has yet to determine the date and time of the game and will look to optimize this last week of the schedule in whatever fashion is best for the ratings. The Cowboys no doubt will not forget the Commanders easy 26-6 win in the 2022 season finale.
