The Fight Isn't Gone

Why the Washington Commanders can still be dangerous in the second half of the season

There is no point pretending that the first half of the 2026 season has gone exactly as Washington hoped. At 3-5-1, the Commanders have left themselves with plenty of work to do, and a number of performances have been frustrating for supporters who expected this team to build on the promise of previous seasons. There have been missed opportunities, costly mistakes and too many occasions when a promising position has slipped away.

But the victory over the New York Giants on Thursday night offered something more valuable than simply another win. It provided a reminder that this team still has fight, that Jayden Daniels can still produce decisive moments and that some of the new pieces are beginning to make an impact. It also came at a useful point in the schedule, with an extended break before the next game giving Washington time to recover, review and prepare.

Perhaps the question for the second half of the season is not whether the Commanders can suddenly become a finished product. They clearly are not. It is whether this new-look group is beginning to understand what it can be, and whether growing confidence can turn some of the encouraging signs into more consistent performances.

Jayden Daniels is back – and that changes the possibilities

The most significant development for Washington is having Jayden Daniels week on week back on the field.

Daniels' return, albeit with the brace, gives the Commanders back their most dynamic offensive player. His ability to threaten a defence with his arm and his legs forces opponents to account for an extra dimension, and that can create opportunities for the players around him.

The Giants game was a reminder of what he can bring. Daniels completed 23 of 33 passes for 249 yards and three touchdowns, adding 28 rushing yards. His three scoring passes went to Ben Sinnott, Antonio Williams and Stefon Diggs, showing the potential for the offence to spread the ball around rather than rely on one target. The winning connection with Diggs, a 32-yard touchdown with 57 seconds remaining, was exactly the sort of decisive play Washington has needed.

It was not a flawless performance. Daniels threw two interceptions in the fourth quarter, his first two of the season, and those mistakes nearly proved costly. The encouraging point is that he did not allow them to define the night. He returned to the field, led the decisive drive and delivered when the opportunity came. That ability to respond will matter as much as the highlight plays if Washington is to become more consistent. In back-to-back weeks we have seen Jayden vocally rally, dare I say demand, the entire offense get with the script and vs the Giants shake off turnovers.

The growth is obvious to see.

The priority now is to keep him healthy. With Daniels under centre, the ceiling of this offence is undoubtedly higher; the challenge is keeping him available and giving him the support to make that difference count.

New coaches, new players, new beginnings – have we underestimated the settling-in period?

It is worth remembering just how much has changed in Washington. This is not simply last season's team trying to put a disappointing run behind it. The Commanders entered 2026 with new coordinators, a significant group of free-agent additions and young players expected to take on important responsibilities. Bringing all of that together was always going to require time.

Daronte Jones has taken charge of the defence, while David Blough has become the offensive coordinator. Both are establishing their own approaches, terminology and expectations. Players need to understand not only the playbook but also the responsibilities that come with each call.

Washington was active in free agency, adding players such as edge rushers Odafe Oweh and K'Lavon Chaisson, linebacker Leo Chenal, cornerback Amik Robertson and safety Nick Cross. On offence, Stefon Diggs, tight end Chig Okonkwo and running back Rachaad White brought additional experience and options. These are not minor adjustments to the roster; they represent a substantial effort to reshape areas of the team that needed attention.

The defensive improvement at linebacker is one area worth watching. Sonny Styles has quickly become a central figure, leading the team with 80 tackles through nine games. He recorded 13 tackles against the Giants, including a key tackle for loss on J.J. McCarthy during a late defensive stand. Frankie Luvu, rejuvenated in 2026, has also continued to make important plays, and his forced fumble on Malik Nabers in the third quarter against New York was a significant moment

There is still work to do across the defence, and one good performance does not mean the new system is fully established.

However, the signs of a more influential linebacker group, alongside contributions from the new pass-rushers, suggest that some of the investment is beginning to show. Perhaps we have expected a new coaching staff and a significantly refreshed roster to click too quickly. That is not an excuse for poor execution, but it is important context when judging where this team might go next.

The supporting cast is emerging – more weapons, more options

A dangerous offence cannot depend on one player doing everything. Daniels' return is a major boost, but Washington needs the supporting cast to make defences pay when they focus their attention on the quarterback or one particular receiver. The Giants game offered an encouraging glimpse of what that wider contribution might look like.

Stefon Diggs remains an important addition. His experience and ability to find space give Daniels a reliable option, and the pair's decisive 32-yard touchdown connection showed what they can produce in a high-pressure moment. Diggs finished the game with six receptions for 83 yards and a touchdown.

Antonio Williams also provided a timely reminder of his potential. He caught two passes for 42 yards, including a 31-yard touchdown that helped Washington take the lead in the second half. That sort of contribution matters because it gives opposing defences another player to account for and creates opportunities for the more established targets.

Perhaps the most encouraging individual story from the Giants game was TE Ben Sinnott. Ben caught all four of his targets for 42 yards and a touchdown.

His involvement was particularly welcome after opportunities had been limited, and it offered a glimpse of why Washington invested in him as a second rounder talent. Sinnott can provide a useful target over the middle, an option in the red zone and an outlet when pressure forces Daniels to get the ball out quickly.

His contribution against New York was not just about the touchdown; it was about showing that he can be part of the offensive solution.

The fight is still there – and confidence can grow

The Giants victory should not be treated as proof that Washington has suddenly solved all of its problems. There were still mistakes, and the two late interceptions from Daniels could easily have turned another promising performance into a damaging defeat. But the response to those setbacks is precisely why the result matters.

After the Giants moved ahead 21-17 with a 66-yard touchdown pass to Isaiah Likely, Washington had to find a way to respond. The Commanders had already seen two drives end in interceptions, and the game was threatening to follow a familiar pattern. Instead, the defence gave the offence another opportunity, Daniels regrouped and the connection with Diggs produced the go-ahead score with less than a minute remaining. Rasul Douglas then intercepted McCarthy to secure the 24-21 win.

There were useful statistical signs within the performance, too. Washington converted seven of 14 third downs, a 50 per cent success rate, and committed only four penalties for 17 yards. The Giants managed just four conversions from 12 attempts on third down and were penalised six times for 62 yards. Washington did give up more total yards, 399 to 340, so this was not a dominant performance on every measure. But the Commanders made important plays at important moments, and that is something they have not always managed this season.

The defensive contribution deserves particular credit. Styles' 13 tackles helped set the tone, Luvu's forced fumble created a valuable turnover and Douglas' interception finished the job. The offence, meanwhile, found a way to produce the decisive score after a difficult spell. That combination of response and execution is the kind of evidence from which confidence can grow.

At 3-5-1, the Commanders have left themselves little margin for error. There is no point dressing that up. They need to string performances together, reduce turnovers and improve their consistency on both sides of the ball. But the season is not defined by the record alone. The players are still competing, young contributors are emerging and the team has just delivered a late win in a game that could easily have slipped away.

A mini-bye at just the right time

The schedule now offers Washington a useful pause. Having played on Thursday, 12 November, the Commanders do not return to action until Monday, 23 November, when they host the Cincinnati Bengals. That gives the team an 11-day gap between games – a mini-bye that could be valuable at this stage of the season.

For Daniels in particular, the priority is to continue his return carefully and make sure he is as prepared as possible for the next stretch. There could also be some welcome reinforcements on the injury front.

Running back Jacory Croskey-Merritt and outside linebacker Javontae Jean-Baptiste are both eligible to return from injured reserve for the Bengals game, having completed the minimum period on IR. Neither return is guaranteed, but their potential availability would provide additional depth in two important areas.

Centre Lucas Patrick and TE Colson Yankoff are also worth monitoring after missing the Giants game, with the extended break potentially offering valuable recovery time.

The second half: a chance to become dangerous

Nobody is suggesting that Washington has suddenly become a finished product, or that the problems of the first half have disappeared. The Commanders still need to be more consistent, protect the football and find ways to turn promising passages of play into complete performances. The record makes that clear.

But perhaps this is a team still learning how good it can be. Daniels is back, the new coaching staff has had time to assess its personnel, the free-agent additions are continuing to settle and young players such as Styles, Williams and Sinnott are beginning to make their presence felt. The linebacker play is showing encouraging signs, while the Giants game demonstrated that the team can respond when momentum turns against it.

The mini-bye provides a timely opportunity to take stock and prepare for the challenge ahead. If Washington can use that time well, keep its key players healthy and build on the confidence gained in New York, there is no reason it cannot make the second half of the season much more uncomfortable for its opponents.

The next step is to turn that fight into consistency – and remind the rest of the league that Washington can still be dangerous.