The Washington Commanders are set to take on the Dallas Cowboys on Christmas Day this Thursday. Here are three keys to them winning their final home game of the season.
1. Lean on the younger players.
The Commanders have a few things to balance in the final two games. They want to remain competitive — that isn’t going to change in the final two weeks — but they also need to see what pieces they have to build around for 2026.
Luckily, there are a few candidates on both sides of the ball with plenty to prove. On offense, Ben Sinnott has been one of the more interesting prospects now that Zach Ertz is on Injured Reserve. Sinnott has shown potential as a pass-catcher and has 11 catches on 12 targets for his career. He only has four targets in the last three games, but it should be noted that the offense struggled in that span.
Treylon Burks is another player who has earned more playing time thanks to his work ethic and willingness to learn. His athleticism has flashed in the second half of the season and had two catches for 30 yards on Saturday against the Philadelphia Eagles. While he doesn’t create much separation from defensive backs, he knows how to use his size and strength to make contested catches.
On defense, Jordan Magee’s speed has continued to become more obvious in recent weeks. He hawked DeVonta Smith down for a one-yard loss in the first half of the Eagles game and also kept up with Jalen Hurts to take him down for just a three-yard gain in the first quarter. Johnny Newton, who cleared the concussion protocol on Sunday, could also get more time as the Commanders try to figure out their defensive line depth for next season.
Although winning on the scoreboard is the ultimate goal, there are more ways to win on Christmas Day. It would be a win for the future if the Commanders could get stronger answers on their younger players’ development.