One analyst has interesting Commanders' game among best 11 2026 games

[ASFN Admin]

The 2026 NFL schedule was revealed last week. For the Washington Commanders, it's a tough way to begin the season, with back-to-back NFC East road games against the Philadelphia Eagles and Dallas Cowboys, respectively.

From there, the Commanders return home to host the Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks in Week 3, followed by an international game in London. Instead of a Week 5 bye, Washington is back at Northwest Stadium, hosting the New York Giants.

While it's a tough schedule, fans will know quickly whether the Commanders' rebuilt defense can make a difference in 2026. Washington's schedule also creates an opportunity. If the Commanders can come out of the first six weeks with a 3-3 record, the schedule softens up in the second half.

One of the most intriguing games on Washington's schedule is a Week 11 meeting against the Cincinnati Bengals. It's a rematch of the 2024 Monday night thriller in Cincinnati, where the Commanders shocked the Bengals, behind a perfect performance from then-rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels.

Kay Adams believes the Commanders vs. Bengals is one of the five best matchups for 2026.

Conor Orr of Sports Illustrated named his best 11 games for 2026. He included a Washington game, but not the one you'd think. Orr didn't pick Commanders vs. Bengals, or Washington against any of its NFC East rivals. Instead, Orr picked the Week 12 games against the Cardinals.

Why?

This is, on the surface, a Sonny Styles vs. Jeremiyah Love selection, but it also branches into some broader thoughts about the state of both franchises. Arizona’s schedule this season is, by all accounts, absolutely brutal. The Cardinals have one of the toughest preseason strengths of schedule, and there was almost no way for schedule-makers to shield them from weeks- and months-long hailstorms (this is what happens when three of the other teams in your division are Super Bowl contenders and you also face a division like the AFC West, in which three of those teams are Super Bowl contenders).

The Commanders were, on paper at least, one of the worst defenses in the NFL last year and enter the 2026 season as such (the Jets were also very bad, but we’ve put one Jets game too many on this list). So, I am marking this game on my own personal viewing calendar because I want to see how a versatile linebacker like Styles—who is billed as someone who makes the Commanders’ defense far less vulnerable against backs who can impact the passing game like Love—tips the scales against … Love himself. Love is billed (by me specifically) as one of the better short-yardage backs we’ve seen coming out of the draft in the past five years. One of his main draws is his ability to create yards in unfavorable circumstances, and the Cardinals are a team that desperately needs help in generating offense. Love was the choice with the No. 3 pick after a desperate period of attempting to trade down over several promising offensive line candidates.

A unique pick, indeed. So, Orr likes the potential matchup between two players considered by most to be among the five best players in the 2026 NFL Draft class.

The Cardinals have a brutal schedule. Washington's schedule is difficult, too. By that point in the season, many may not care about this matchup if neither team is in contention. Perhaps the most interesting aspect of this game is remembering that the Commanders were supposedly all-in on Love if he had been available at No. 7 overall. He wasn't. Washington gladly pivoted to Styles, considering it didn't expect him to be available either.

While this will be an intriguing game, we're not so sure anyone will have it on their most-anticipated list.

This article originally appeared on Commanders Wire: Washington Commanders: An interesting pick for one of NFL's best games

Continue reading...