Hogs Haven
A collection of articles, podcasts & tweets from around the web to keep you in touch with the Commanders, the NFC East, the NFL and sports in general, and a sprinkling of other stuff
The Washington Commanders’ 2025 win total, 9½, is in the top half of the league and is the highest for the franchise at this point since 2001, its only season under then-coach Marty Schottenheimer. (The NFL still had a 16-game schedule in 2001, when Washington finished 8-8.)
the Commanders face a tougher schedule in 2025, especially on the road. Five of Washington’s nine 2025 away opponents — the Green Bay Packers, Eagles, Chiefs, Los Angeles Chargers and Minnesota Vikings — reached the playoffs last season. The Atlanta Falcons, another road opponent, were in the postseason mix until a late-season collapse, while the Miami Dolphins dealt with significant injuries in 2024 but made the playoffs the previous two seasons. Washington’s strength of schedule doesn’t project to be the most difficult of 2025, but it is among the top third of the league.
Given these considerations, a nine- or 10-win season could reflect continued competitiveness in a more challenging landscape. Washington’s franchise, in fact, hasn’t finished with double-digit wins in consecutive seasons since 1991, the previous time it won a Super Bowl. According to this analysis, there is a 32 percent chance the Commanders finish with 11 or more wins in 2025 and a 28 percent chance they finish below .500.
Rookie minicamp is underway in Ashburn. Here’s what you need to know.
• First-round tackle Josh Conerly Jr. stood out with his quickness in offensive line drills.
• Tight end Zach Ertz watched practice alongside Peters, Quinn, assistant GM Lance Newmark and director of player personnel David Blackburn.
• After practice, a John Deere tractor carried four large logs to the field. Quinn likes to incorporate Navy SEAL training, with the Acumen Performance Group, to build camaraderie and leadership among the players, and log carrying is part of it. Star wide receiver Terry McLaurin was among those who cited the value of the work and how it helped the Commanders establish their culture and chemistry last offseason.
4. Quinn doesn’t expect Week 1 or even training camp-level work from the participants. He considers these three days “onboarding.”
“These are the standards. These are the things that are important to us. These are the ways that we go about (our work),” Quinn said. “It doesn’t just take place over one weekend. It takes place all the way up through here and into training camp. This is an excellent team to come be a part of, knowing that there are people here that are gonna help them...
