Washington Commanders Announce 2026 Schedule Opponents
The Washington Commanders 2026 schedule has officially been posted, revealing opponents for the upcoming season
While we have a couple of months until the week-by-week schedule is announced, the Commanders list of opponents for the upcoming season was made available this afternoon. Based off the names listed below, the Commanders have a difficult schedule ahead against several teams outside of their division that made to the playoffs this past season.
Home Opponents
In 2026, the Commanders will host nine regular-season games with three of those against their NFC East division rivals.
Outside of the NFC East, the Commanders will play both teams that made the NFC Championship in 2025.
Seattle Seahawks
Los Angeles Rams
They will have two interconference games, with one of the two teams making the playoffs in 2025.
Rounding out the list of opponents at home are two matchups that have been determined by the league’s standings formula:
Cincinnati Bengals
Atlanta Falcons
Road Opponents
The Commanders will then be on the road to face their three NFC East division rivals.
The Commanders will also have tough road games ahead, traveling to the West Coast to play these NFC West teams.
San Francisco 49ers
Arizona Cardinals
Interconference road trips will include visits to:
Jacksonville Jaguars
Tennessee Titans
The final road matchup comes against:
What It Means
The 2026 schedule for the Commanders could prove to be exceedingly difficult. Seven of their seventeen games are against teams that have made the playoffs. Those teams consist of the Philadelphia Eagles, San Francisco 49ers, Los Angeles Rams, Houston Texans, Jacksonville Jaguars, and the Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks. Outside of that, they will be playing a few teams who narrowly missed the playoffs, like the Minnesota Vikings and the Indianapolis Colts. Combined that with a healthy Joe Burrow and Cincinnati, the Commanders are not set up to have an easy 2026.
Importance of Division Games
Whether or not the Commanders see any postseason games hinges upon how they perform in their division. The NFC East is always unpredictable, and just splitting games with opponents is usually considered a win. With the expectation that they will go 0-2 against the Eagles, they need to win out against Dallas and New York, considering all the other tough matchups they have ahead.
Key Matchups Could Turn Into Wins
While there are several tough games ahead, there are also very winnable games. Although it is on the road, Arizona historically has not fared well against the Commanders. Playing the Falcons at home with their quarterback uncertainty should give Washington the edge. Despite it being a road game, the Tennessee Titans are in a state of disarray, and things are not exactly looking up for them.
Path to the Playoffs Set for 2026
Once the 2026 schedule is released by the NFL, dates, kickoff times, and prime time selections will be announced. Additionally, it should give us a clearer picture of short-week challenges and, of course, the potential for late-season playoff implications.
With their opponents now determined, Washington knows their path ahead to the postseason is. While it is certainly set to be a difficult season, it will be a good test of Washington’s rebuild on defense and how its free agency acquisitions will help improve the team.
Main Photo Credit: Peter Casey-Imagn Images