The Washington Commanders (0-0) open the 2024 season on Sunday afternoon against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (0-0) from Raymond James Stadium in Tampa.
Sunday’s game features the much-anticipated debut of Commanders rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels. The 2023 Heisman Trophy winner and No. 2 overall pick had an outstanding training camp and preseason, giving Washington hope that its longtime search for a franchise quarterback could finally be over.
On the other side, the Buccaneers brought back quarterback Baker Mayfield on a multi-year deal after the 2018 No. 1 overall pick resurrected his career in 2023. Mayfield had the best season of his NFL career — on his fourth team.
Which team opens the 2024 season with a win? The Bucs are the favorites.
How does the Commanders Wire staff see this Week 1 battle shaking out? Here’s a look at our picks and score predictions:
Bryan Manning
Saturday’s news that the Buccaneers will be without defensive tackle Calijah Kancey is good news for the Commanders. Tampa Bay is down two starting defensive linemen. Washington offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury, unlike Eric Bieniemy, will run the football. You can bet Saturday’s news only reinforces that notion.
The Commanders are a complete unknown on offense, which is a positive. Will Kingsbury unleash Daniels’ dual-threat abilities on the Bucs, or will he have Daniels in more of a distributor role in Week 1?
The key here is Washington’s defense. How much has this unit improved under head coach Dan Quinn and defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr? The Commanders must limit wide receiver Mike Evans to have a shot.
Ultimately, I believe people are sleeping on the Commanders here. Washington will come into Raymond James Stadium and walk away with a close win, thanks to a big-time performance from Daniels.
Commanders 23, Buccaneers 20
Ivan Lambert
The Commanders have remade their defense, starting Sunday with only three primary starters from 2023. Washington’s secondary will have a tremendously difficult challenge facing the Buccaneers’ receiving trio of Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, and Jalen McMillan. Benjamin St-Juste, Emmanuel Forbes, Mike Sainristil, and Mike Davis will be praying for a pass rush from the Commanders’ front four and blitzing linebackers.
For his first NFL regular-season game, Jayden Daniels will face many differing blitz packages. The Commanders must establish a run game on Sunday; it will be the best way to slow down the Buccaneers’ pass rush, which absolutely embarrassed the Eagles in the playoffs last season.
It’s a road game, it’s a Todd Bowles defense, and those Buccaneer wide receivers can really produce. As much as I would love to see a Commanders win, I am thinking the Commanders come up short in this one.
Buccaneers 23, Commanders 16