NFL Predictions: Commanders Have Worst Offense?

Will all of the changes to the Washington Commanders' offense make them better or worse?

Few things would represent the worst-case scenario for the Washington Commanders this season. 

Having the worst offense in the NFL would fit that description to a T. 

ESPN gave its projections for the upcoming season. Among them was Washington having the lowest-scoring offense in 2023. 

"Washington has finished bottom-10 in scoring each of the past five seasons and will now turn to Sam Howell -- a 2022 fifth-round pick who attempted 19 passes as a rookie -- as its starting quarterback," ESPN writes. "Perhaps the Commanders have found a diamond in the rough (Howell has looked good during the preseason), but he's obviously an unknown, and the team's fallback plan is journeyman Jacoby Brissett. Also shaky along the line, this offense will hope to be bailed out by its terrific WR trio in Terry McLaurin, Jahan Dotson and Curtis Samuel (though McLaurin could miss some time to open the season while dealing with an injury)."

Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports

Washington having the NFL's worst offense would be surprising and would indicate a few things. One, the Sam Howell experiment either fell flat on its face, or he suffered an injury that had him out for most of the season. It could also mean Terry McLaurin missed time or was never the same after recovering from his toe injury. 

Other potential reasons for the Commanders' offensive struggles would be offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy's system didn't work, or the offensive line never gelled and improved. 

Above all, the offense struggling to the point of being the league's worst likely means Washington didn't make the playoffs for a third straight year, and it could potentially spell the end of Ron Rivera's tenure as the franchise's head coach.

The Commanders were 24th in points per game last year, averaging 18.9. ESPN projected Washington to score 310 points this season, which would be an average of 18.24 points per game. 

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Carolina Panthers were just behind Washington in ESPN's projections.

Washington not improving with Howell at quarterback and Bieniemy as the offensive coordinator would be a surprise. Not to say they'll light opposing defenses on fire, but getting worse after seemingly improving in those two areas and on the offensive line would be a surprise. 

And to be blunt, Washington and multiple teams being worse offensively than the Arizona Cardinals, who are in the midst of a rebuild and will be without quarterback Kyler Murray for most of the season, may be the biggest shock among the projections. 

The Commanders will get their first glimpse at Howell and the offense in a regular season game on Sunday, when they play the Cardinals at FedEx Field at 1 p.m.