Hogs Haven
The 5 o’clock club is published from time to time during the season, and aims to provide a forum for reader-driven discussion at a time of day when there isn’t much NFL news being published. Feel free to introduce topics that interest you in the comments below.
2026 opponent preview series: Wk 1 Eagles | Wk 2 Cowboys | Wk 3 Seahawks | Wk 4 Colts | Wk 5 Giants | Wk 6 49ers | Wk 9 Rams | Wk 11 Bengals
In 2026, the Commanders will, like every other team in the NFL, play 17 games against 14 opponents. With the amount of roster change that NFL teams undergo annually along with the unusually large number of head coach and coordinator changes in 2026, it seems useful to spend some time to review each of Washington’s regular season opponents.
In Week 12, Washington begins a stretch of 6 games in which 5 of the opponents are ranked in the lower half of ESPN’s preseason Power Index. At #29, the Cardinals are the lowest ranked team on that Power Index that the Commanders will play in 2026. By Week 12, Arizona will have played 5 games against 3 teams ranked in the top-5 (Rams twice; Seahawks twice, 49ers), as well as the Lions (6th) and Chiefs (9th). They would have to have played far beyond expectations to enter this game with a winning record or much hope of reaching the playoffs.
While Washington faces 6 games against top-10 teams in the first 8 weeks of the season, the quality of opponents drops significantly from mid-season, while Arizona has to play the Niners (again) and Eagles in the final 5 games of the season. From this perspective in early July, this trip to Arizona has the makings of a ‘get right’ game for the Commanders if they are fighting to recover from a sub-.500 start to the season.
Date: November 29, 2026, 4:25 p.m. ET
Location: State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona
The Cardinals finished the 2025 regular season with a 3–14 record, placing last in the NFC West and missing the playoffs for the fourth consecutive year. After starting the year with wins in Weeks 1 & 2, the team lost 14 of its final 15 games, including a 9-game losing streak to close out the ‘25 schedule. The defense struggled throughout the second half of the year, allowing 37 or more points in 6 of those final 9 matchups. Following the conclusion of the season, the front office sacked head coach Jonathan Gannon and parted ways with quarterback Kyler Murray.
Expectations remain low for the 2026 season under new head coach Mike LaFleur. Most national publications project the team to win four or...
