Top 5 Commanders Games to Watch this season

The Washington Commanders will look significantly different from the previous season. On February 3rd, Former Dallas Cowboys Defensive Coordinator Dan Quinn was hired as the Commanders' Head Coach.

 Quinn hired former Cardinals Head Coach Kliff Kingsbury as the Offensive Coordinator, while Quinn hired former Cowboys Defensive back Coach Joe Whit Jr. as the Defensive Coordinator. The Commanders drafted the 2023 Heisman Trophy winner Jayden Daniels with the 2nd overall pick in the NFL Draft. 

The Commanders released their 2024-2025 Schedule a few weeks ago, and here are my Top five Games to watch this season. 

(All times are Eastern Standard Time)  

Honorable mention : 

Bears @ Commanders (Week 8| Sunday October 27th 1 PM)

• The showdown between the #1 Overall Pick (Caleb Williams) and the #2 Overall Pick (Jayden Daniels) promises to be a battle that will set these two teams apart as we enter the middle part of the season. The Commanders also seek redemption for their 40-20 loss to the Bears on TNF last season. 

5) Eagles @Commanders (Week 16 | Sunday December 22nd 1 PM) 

• The Eagles come into town in a possible pivotal NFC EAST showdown that can have playoff implications for both teams. This matchup will be the second to the last home game for the Commanders. The last time the Eagles went to Commanders Field, A.J Brown torched the Commanders (131 Yards, 2 TDs) to set the NFL record for most consecutive games with 125 receiving yards or more. 

4) Commanders @Ravens (Week 6 | Sunday October 13th 1PM) 

• The Commanders will take the 29-mile trip to face their Beltway brethren, the Baltimore Ravens. The Ravens are coming off a heartbreaking defeat in the AFC Championship vs. the Kansas City Chiefs. Despite falling short, the Ravens are poised to be contenders. This will be a massive test for the Commanders, as they have been looking for their first win in Baltimore since October 9th, 2016. 

3) Commanders @Bengals (Week 3 | Monday September 23rd 8:15) 

•  Commanders head to Cincinnati under the lights for an MNF matchup, arguably their toughest matchup of the season thus far. This matchup will see the last two Heisman Trophy winners who hailed from LSU (Joe Burrow vs Jayden Daniels). Cincinnati will be poised as contenders as Joe Burrow returns from an injury-plagued 2023. The Commanders will seek their 1st win in Cincinnati since September 22, 1991. 

2)  Commanders Pre-Thanksgiving Stretch (Week 11 | @Eagles November 14th 8:15 , Week 12 | November 24th 1:00) 

• I put these two games together because these are the most pivotal games of the season, and these matchups are against the last two NFC EAST Champions. Heading into week 11, if the Commanders are above .500 or slightly under .500, this 10-day stretch will be season-defining. The Commanders head to Philly following a short week (Commanders face the Steelers in Week 10), which has been a house of horrors as the Commanders have lost 3 out of 5 matchups in Philly. Following the Eagles Matchup, the Commanders return home to face the Dallas Cowboys. This will be the 1st time the Cowboys will face their former Defensive Coordinator, Dan Quinn, and Defensive Backs Coach, Joe Whitt Jr. 

1) Commanders @Cowboys (Week 18 | Sunday January 5th 1:00) 

• The major storyline heading into this matchup will be the return of Dan Quin, but huge playoff implications can come into play for Dallas and Washington in this matchup. Washington has lost 7 out of 8 last games at Dallas. I can see this game flexing to the SNF window with a Playoff Berth or NFC East  Championship Berth at stake. 

Check out the Full Schedule here:

(Image Source: Washington Commanders X Page)

Battlehawks thrash Defenders to capture 4th straight win

IMAGE SOURCE: Darrell Lee Owens Sr., LegacyMaker Sports

(Washington, DC) A crowd of 16,058 witnessed the DC Defenders suffer their first home loss in franchise history on Sunday afternoon, falling 45-12 to the St. Louis Battlehawks. The Battlehawks captured their fourth consecutive win on Sunday. Quarterback A.J. McCarron led the Battlehawks, going 14-24 for 213 yards and two touchdowns. 

In the Battlehawks' opening possession, AJ McCarron was sacked by Defenders defensive lineman Malik Fisher, who forced a fumble at the Defenders' 14-yard line. Following the turnover, Defenders Quarterback Jordan Ta’amu threw an interception to cornerback Brandon Sebastian at the Defenders' 44-yard line. On the next possession, the Battlehawks would capitalize, as AJ McCarron connected with Hakeem Butler for a 13-yard touchdown to cap a 7-play, 44-yard drive to put the Battlehawks up 6-0 with 8:07 remaining in the first quarter. McCarron connected with Marcell Ateman on the 2-point conversion attempt to put the Battlehawks up 8-0. Andre Szmty connected on 2 field goals (37 and 51 yards ) to put the Battlehawks up 14-0 at the end of the 1st quarter.

The Battlehawks extended their lead to 17 as Andre Szmty connected on a 22-yard field goal with 8:13 remaining in the second quarter. Cam' Ron Harris's 1-yard rushing touchdown with 2:16 remaining in the second quarter put the Defenders on the board, cutting the Battlehawks' lead to 11 (17-6 Battlehawks). The Defenders failed to convert on the 2-point conversion attempt. Jordan  Ta’amu connected with Kelvin Harmon to cap a 6-play 53-yard drive (2-point conversion attempt failed) with 18 seconds remaining in the 2nd quarter to cut the Battlehawks lead to 5 (17-12) entering halftime.

With 1:25 remaining in the third quarter, Andre Szmty connected on a 48-yard field goal to extend the Battlehawks' lead to 8 (Battlehawks 20-12). The defender's last hope of gaining control of the game failed as Jordan Ta'amu was sacked by Pita Tamumoepenu, who forced a fumble that Battlehawks linebacker Willie Harvey recovered at the Defender's 37-yard line. Following the Defender's turnover, the Battlehawks scored 25 points in the 4th quarter, including a Wayne Gallman II rushing TD (2-point conversion failed), Jacob Saylors rushing TD (converted on1-point conversion), AJ McCarron's pass to Hakeem Butler, leading to an 80-yard reception for a touchdown (the longest play in UFL History, 2 point conversion failed ) & a rushing touchdown by quarterback Manny Wilkins (conversion failed) to give the Battlehawks their 4th straight win of the season.

The Defenders (2-3) continue their three-game homestand. They will face the San Antonio Brahmas on Sunday, May 5th. Kickoff is scheduled for 4 p.m. EST.

4th quarter comeback propels Defenders 1st win of the season

Image Source: DC Defenders Twitter/X Page

( Washington, DC ) Following last weekend’s loss to the San Antonio Brahmas, the DC Defenders won their 1st game of the season Sunday afternoon with a crowd of 15,052  as they defeated the Houston Roughnecks 23-18. The Defenders offense amassed 285 yards ( 203 Passing, 82 rushing).

Houston’s opening possession was a 3 and out, which led to a punt. Hunter Niswander’s punt was blocked by Deandre Baker, who put the Defenders 11 yards short of the endzone. The Defenders' 1st play on offense was  Jordan Ta’amu, who handed the ball to Cam’Ron Harris for a 2-yard loss. Following the loss of yards, Jordan Ta’amu dropped back and attempted a pass that was intercepted by former Washington Comanders cornerback Corn Elder, who returned the interception for 98 yards to put the Roughnecks up 6-0. The Roughnecks failed on the two-point conversion. 

The Defenders roared back. Darius Hagans ran for a 1-yard touchdown to cap an 11-play 60-yard drive, tying the game 6-6 with 1:26 remaining in the first quarter. The Defenders failed on the two-point conversion attempt. At the end of the first quarter, the Roughnecks and Defenders were tied 6-6. 

JJ Molson connected on a 51-yard field goal to put the Roughnecks up 9-6 with 1:55 remaining in the second quarter. The Defenders struck quickly, as Jordan Ta’amu connected with Tight end  Briley Moore-Mckinney to put the Defenders up 12-9 with 37 seconds remaining until halftime (Two-point conversion failed). With seconds left in the second quarter, JJ Molson nailed a 43-yard field goal as the Roughnecks tied the game at 12 heading into halftime. 

In the third quarter, the Roughnecks offense went to work early. Reed Sinnett, who replaced starting quarterback Jarrett Guarantano, who left in the second quarter due to a back contusion, connected with KeKe Chism for 34 yards as the Roughnecks took the 18-12 lead (the Two-point conversion failed).  

Entering the 4th quarter, the Defenders were down by 6 points (18-12) stuck early as Matthew McCrane connected on a 43-yard field goal to cut the Roughnecks lead to 3 (18-15) with 13:00 left in the 4th quarter. The Defender's offense capitalized on a 9-play 83-yard drive capped by Jordan Ta’amu connecting with wide receiver Ty Scott to put the Defenders up 21-18. Jordan Ta’amu connected with Tight-end Alex Ellis on the Two-point conversion to put the Defenders up 23-18 with 6:04 remaining in the 4th quarter. The Defenders' defense held the Roughnecks in the final minutes to give them their 1st win of the season. 

The Defenders (1-1) will head on the road next week to face the Arlington Renegades (0-2) on Saturday, April 13th. Kickoff is scheduled for Noon EST.

At the Podium

Following the Defenders' 23-18 win, I spoke with Head Coach Reggie Barlow and Quarterback Jordan Ta'amu.