Commanders dodge a major bullet that had fans holding their breath

"The Commanders will play an international game next season in London, for only the second time in franchise history and the first since 2016. That was the Dustin Hopkins missed chip-shot game that resulted in a tie against the Cincinnati Bengals. Traveling overseas is never easy, and it can throw a team's rhythm off for multiple weeks. Fortunately, Washington only has to do it once."

"There was concern that the Commanders might have to play multiple times in the United Kingdom, with a potential matchup against London's adopted "home" team, the Jacksonville Jaguars, on the table. NBC Sports insider JP Finlay even discussed the possibility on 106.7 The Fan. New leaks indicate the Commanders might be playing the Jaguars in London this year."

"Internet sleuths deduced that Washington could be facing Jacksonville on October 11, in addition to playing at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium the prior Sunday. However, it turns out that the Jaguars will be "hosting" the Philadelphia Eagles on that date instead. The Commanders will play in London in Week 4, against the Indianapolis Colts. This will count as a home game for Washington, leaving the team with eight true home contests and eight road matchups."

"This is the only leaked Commanders matchup of the 2026 season thus far, but the entire schedule is set to be released on Thursday. It's a safe bet that Washington will not have as many nationally televised games as it did a year ago, for starters, when the team went 10 weeks without a 1 p.m. Eastern Time window contest. The Commanders can likely expect a few prime-time s"

The Washington Commanders’ 2026 playoff hopes depend on multiple factors, including their schedule. The team will play an international game in London next season for only the second time in franchise history, and the first time since 2016. That 2016 trip involved a missed chip-shot by Dustin Hopkins and ended in a tie against the Cincinnati Bengals. Washington will travel overseas only once, avoiding concerns about multiple United Kingdom games. A feared scenario of playing the Jaguars in London did not occur, because Jacksonville will host the Philadelphia Eagles on the relevant date. Washington will play in London in Week 4 against the Indianapolis Colts, counting as a home game for Washington, resulting in eight true home contests and eight road matchups.

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