The Washington Commanders already got their loss out of the way against the Dallas Cowboys, and now fans can watch the rest of the Week 17 slate without a single worry.
Going into the weekend, the Commanders sit at 4-12, and currently hold the No. 7 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. There are plenty of matchups that will shift the NFL playoff picture, but more importantly, impact the Commanders’ order in the draft.
Here’s a look at who the Commanders can jump, and which games help their strength of schedule for any tiebreakers as well.
Teams the Commanders can jump in the 2026 NFL Draft order
Cleveland Browns: The Browns are at home against the Pittsburgh Steelers, who are still fighting for a playoff position, but they will also be without DK Metcalf. There’s actually a chance the Browns win this game with their defense giving fits all season, and the Steelers’ shaky defense without TJ Watt still. The Browns do have the tiebreaker with a lower SOS at only .492 vs the Commanders’ SOS at .504, so Washington would need other outcomes to go their way.
New York Jets: The Jets have the New England Patriots at home, and this is a long shot with Garrett Wilson done for the year, no quarterback for the Jets, and the Patriots playing for playoff positioning. The Commanders would jump the Jets if they won, though, with a lower SOS.
Tennessee Titans: The Titans are at home against the New Orleans Saints, and this one could go the Commanders’ way. Tennessee is still playing hard to see what Cam Ward has, but the Saints are playing tough, too. Washington would jump the Titans and still be ahead of the Saints, who have five wins.
Arizona Cardinals: The Cardinals barely have enough players to play right now, but they’re taking on a bad Cincinnati Bengals team that’s looking for a positive anywhere they can get one. You never know the outcome with how bad the Bengals’ defense is, but this one isn’t looking good.
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The Commanders have the tiebreaker over every team ahead of them except for the Browns, and the only way for that to improve depends on the outcomes of some other games in Week 17.
Matchups that impact the Commanders’ strength of schedule for tiebreakers
Philadelphia Eagles @ Buffalo Bills: This game is the biggest impact for the Commanders’ SOS of the weekend, with the Eagles being on their schedule twice and not playing the Bills this season. Of course, everyone wants to see the Eagles lose regardless, so this will be a true hate watch on Sunday afternoon with the Bills needing to win to drop the Commanders’ SOS by a lot.
Houston Texans @ Los Angeles Chargers: The Commanders beat the Chargers earlier in the season, so they need the Texans to get a win on the road Saturday afternoon. This is one of the better games of the weekend, so it’s actually watchable with a Texans win benefiting the Commanders’ SOS the most.
Baltimore Ravens @ Green Bay Packers: The Packers beat down the Commanders in Week 2, which started the nightmare season, and the Commanders need the Ravens to get a win on the road Saturday night. Lamar Jackson and Jordan Love will likely both be out, so this could be a fun one. We have no idea how this game could turn out, especially at Green Bay.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers @ Miami Dolphins: The Commanders somehow lost to the Dolphins in Madrid, Spain, and it might actually be a blessing in disguise once the season ends. The Dolphins can give the Commanders one last gift by losing to the Bucs, who have been one of the most disappointing teams in the league with a rough stretch over the last two months.
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Seattle Seahawks @ Carolina Panthers: Luckily, this game is in Carolina, and the Commanders need the Panthers to get a statement win against a really good Seahawks team that embarrassed the Commanders weeks ago. The Panthers are capable of beating any team on any Sunday, so maybe they’ll do it again.
New York Giants @ Las Vegas Raiders: This is the battle for the No. 1 overall pick in the draft, and both teams have done everything possible to tank. There’s a long list of players who were shut down for the season, including Maxx Crosby, who wasn’t happy about it. The Commanders obviously had the Giants on the schedule twice, so they need the Raiders to get the win, even though they played them once early in the season.
Chicago Bears @ San Francisco 49ers: The Bears have been a surprise team this season, and they’re in the playoffs. They also got their revenge on the Commanders and rode that momentum the rest of the year. The Commanders need the 49ers to win to improve their SOS, and it’ll be a close game worth watching.
Los Angeles Rams @ Atlanta Falcons: The Commanders lost to the Falcons before both of their seasons went downhill. The Commanders need the Rams to get the win on the road, and this should be an easy one and a lock for the Commanders’ SOS.
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This story was originally published by A to Z Sports on Dec 27, 2025, where it first appeared in the NFL section. Add A to Z Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.