Five takeaways from Washington’s Week 9 win at the Meadowlands

Not many knew what to think of the Commanders going into the first season under Dan Quinn. Sure, there were parts of what could have been a good foundation, but it was optimistic to expect a dramatic turnaround. Many predicted they would win around six games, with the possibility of winning one or two more under the right circumstances.

As we look ahead to November, people are still wondering what this season’s Commanders might be, even if the details of that conversation vary. They are now just one game away from doubling their 2023 win total, sitting alone in first place in the NFC East and having the second-best record in the conference. The playoffs are no longer a hope but an expectation, and who knows what might come after?

However, the schedule gets more difficult from here, starting with the Pittsburgh Steelers at Northwest Stadium. The Steelers come off their bye week with a 6-2 record, undoubtedly the best for a Commanders opponent all season, and appear to be in good shape with Russell Wilson now at quarterback. They will be rested and ready for what the Commanders can muster with a top-10 defense and an offense that is efficient and does enough to win games.

The Commanders’ next matchup may not carry as much weight in terms of playoff positioning as some of the other conference opponents on the schedule, but in a situation similar to that against the Baltimore Ravens, the Steelers have been one of the most consistent franchises of the last three decades with zero Losing records under head coach Mike Tomlin. Quinn rightly believes that all games are important, but a win over the Steelers would be a big statement.