NFL Schedule: 5 Takeaways from Commanders Regular Season Schedule Reveal
The Washington Commanders' path to the 2023 NFL Playoffs is official and it turns out a good amount of the leaks that came out prior to Thursday night's reveal were accurate.
With the Commanders' slate of games set, let's take a look at five things that stand out from the regular season schedule.
1. Thanksgiving in Dallas
Washington hasn't fared well in their last five trips to face the Dallas Cowboys on Thanksgiving, but one of the last two times they won it was due to a first-year starter at quarterback's incredibly strong performance.
Can Sam Howell replicate Robert Griffin III's great debut in Dallas?
We don't know, but it'll be fun to find out.
2. Week 14 Bye Week
The NFL schedule gurus smiled on the Commanders here, giving the team their bye in the last possible week.
While the 13-game gauntlet leading up to that bye is going to be tough to get through, the late week off will give the team a much-needed and often more effective break to rest and get a little healthier.
And it all runs into the final four games of the regular season where playoff spots are often won and/or lost.
3. Home Stretch
Washington ends the season with two of its last four home games at home including a Week 18 contest against the Dallas Cowboys.
Of course, that single contest could be more crucial than the others depending on the playoff picture, but we know every game matters.
Having half of the final four coming out of the bye week at home is big, and having a home game before the off week is even bigger.
4. Cooking Up Revenge
Do the Commanders hold a grudge against Denver Broncos quarterback Russell Wilson for turning them down last offseason? Probably not.
But it doesn't mean that won't be one of the storylines coming into this game, and if Washington can get a mile-high win then the shade thrown at Wilson for choosing the Broncos over coming home will be stacked similarly.
5. The Bounce-Back Bowl
They say it's not how you start, but how you finish, and Howell finished his rookie season with fireworks.
Because of it, he's getting the opportunity to lead this Washington team into training camp with the objective being the starting quarterback in Week 1 at home against the Arizona Cardinals.
To go from first-round projection to fifth-round pick to starting NFL quarterback in just two years would be a crazy roller coaster ride.
And it would be similar to the ride Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray has been on.
One of these quarterbacks is going to start their year off with a win, and if it's Howell leading Washington to victory then a lot of people are going to start asking themselves again how this guy fell to Day 3 of the NFL Draft.
Find David Harrison on the Locked On Commanders podcast or text him directly at (202) 760-2188.
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