Commanders Schedule: 3 Games We Wish Washington Had

The Washington Commanders won't play these intriguing teams unless it comes in the playoffs.

Tim Kelly | May 18, 2023

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Washington Commanders

The Washington Commanders learned their full 2023 schedule last week, a slate that, in addition to the three other NFC East teams, will feature matchups with the Buffalo Bills, Miami Dolphins, New York Jets and San Francisco 49ers.

Still, there are some other intriguing teams that we would have liked to see the Commanders play during the regular season. Here's three ...

Carolina Panthers

Given that Ron Rivera spent parts of nine seasons as the head coach of the Panthers, it will always be interesting to see him face the team he once guided to a Super Bowl appearance. It also would have been interesting to see how No. 1 overall pick Bryce Young looks against a Commanders defensive line littered with talent.

Jacksonville Jaguars

For as dysfunctional as the Commanders franchise has been under soon-departing owner Daniel Snyder, they've never bottomed out quite enough on the field to have the No. 1 pick during his reign as owner. The Jaguars are an interesting contrast, as they had the top overall selection in both the 2021 and 2022 NFL Drafts, landing quarterback Trevor Lawrence and defensive end Travon Walker. Also, five-time Pro Bowler Brandon Scherff is entering his second year as a Jaguar, after spending the first seven campaigns of his career in Washington.

Houston Texans

There's some thought that outcome of the Week 1 game between the Commanders and Arizona Cardinals could ultimately determine who has the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. Well, had the Texans played the Commanders, that could have determined even more the order of the top five. (The Texans' original first-round pick also belongs to the Cardinals, who acquired it in the Will Anderson trade.)

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Published May 18, 2023

TIM KELLY

Tim Kelly is a contributor to SI's team sites. Additionally, Kelly covers the Philadelphia Phillies as the Editorial Director for PhilliesNation.com. Previously, Kelly has been a producer at SportsRadio 94 WIP and a content producer for Audacy Sports, with written content syndicated to WIP, WFAN, WEEI and some of the biggest sports radio stations in the country. Kelly also has previously written for SportsTalkPhilly.com and Section 215, FanSided's Philadelphia affiliate. Kelly is a 2018 graduate of Bloomsburg University, with a major in Mass Communications and a minor in political science.