The NFL schedule is officially out, and the Washington Commanders have a clear path ahead for their 17-game season. Let's break down what lies ahead and how many wins we can expect from this squad.

It all starts with a tough two-game road trip against division rivals. First up, the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 1. The Eagles won the division last season but flamed out early in the playoffs. Washington opens as 4.5-point underdogs, but Week 1 games are always unpredictable with shortened preseasons and offseason roster shakeups. Then it's off to Dallas in Week 2 to face the Cowboys. The Commanders absolutely need to split these two games at minimum. Anything less, and they're already digging out of a hole in the division standings.

Week 3 brings the home opener, and it's a big one: the defending Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks. These two teams met last season in a game that saw Jayden Daniels suffer a nasty elbow dislocation. A win here would be a massive confidence boost after that brutal two-game start. But Seattle's defense is no joke, and Washington just hit the reset button on two coordinators, so chemistry could be an issue early.

The Commanders head overseas to London in Week 4 to face the Indianapolis Colts. Indy brought back QB Daniel Jones, but he tore his Achilles in December and might not be ready by early October. That means we could see Riley Leonard, Anthony Richardson, or a mystery QB under center. This should be a win for Washington, and a chance to avenge Dustin Hopkins' missed field goal in London a decade ago.

Here's the twist: Washington doesn't take a bye after their international game like most teams do. That avoids the dreaded Week 5 early bye, but it means they play their third division game in the first five weeks. They host the New York Giants in Week 5, now led by John Harbaugh. The Commanders swept the Giants last season, and they need to keep that momentum going at home.

So what's the verdict? With a brutal start but winnable games in Weeks 4 and 5, the Commanders have a chance to build some early momentum. If they can split those first two road games and take care of business against the Colts and Giants, we're looking at a 3-2 start. From there, it's all about staying healthy and finding consistency. Our prediction: 9-8 and a fighting chance at the playoffs.