It wasn't pretty. It wasn't perfect. But the Washington Commanders are off and running under new head coach Dan Quinn following their last-gasp victory against the New York Giants in Week 2.

The result was far more important than the performance, in all honesty. Washington is about to embark on a tricky set of fixtures - three of which are on the road - so losing to the Giants wouldn't have gone down well. Quinn acknowledged there was a lot to work on after the contest, but finding a way to get the job done emerged as the biggest positive of all.

Jayden Daniels proved that if the Commanders can do just enough to give him a chance in the clutch, he can deliver. That'll be easier said than done over the next few weeks, so nothing but quick adjustments and the same collective purpose will do in pursuit of coming out on the other end with something to show for their efforts.

With this in mind, We predicted how things might unfold for the Commanders over their next four games following a 1-1 start in 2024.

Washington Commanders' Next Four Games

The bright lights of Monday Night Football await the Washington Commanders in Week 3. This is the first chance for the new regime to prove they are not the same downtrodden organization of old in front of a national audience. Jayden Daniels will be aiming to announce himself on the NFL stage by getting one over on another former Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback out of LSU.

Washington Commanders vs. Cincinnati Bengals

The Cincinnati Bengals felt aggrieved following their narrow loss at the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 2. They haven't won any of their opening two contests, but head coach Zac Taylor will see this as an ideal time to get right and finally kickstart their campaign at Washington's expense.

If the Commanders' secondary can hold up - especially if Tee Higgins is once again missing for the clash - they have a chance to keep this competitive. I'm airing on the side of extreme optimism with this prediction. But if the offense manages to convert some red-zone opportunities into touchdowns, Washington has a shot at shocking the Bengals.

The Washington Commanders embark on their second-straight road game with a trip to the Arizona Cardinals in Week 4. Many fans saw this as one of the more winnable contests on the schedule before the campaign. That is not the case anymore.

Washington Commanders vs. Arizona Cardinals

After running the Buffalo Bills close before falling to defeat in their regular-season opener, the Cardinals demolished the Los Angeles Rams in Week 2. Quarterback Kyler Murray was nothing short of sensational throughout. Rookie wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. also turned on the style with a first-half performance for the ages.

Couple this with an explosive young defense, and it's not hard to see where the complications could emerge. The Washington Commanders will need to match Arizona's dynamism and beware of the explosive capabilities on both sides of the football. They'll also have the inside track on how to counteract Murray's superb skill set thanks to the presence of Kliff Kingsbury.

Washington's new offensive coordinator was the Cardinals' head coach and worked closely with Murray during his time at the helm. Having this extra knowledge will help, but keeping the former No. 1 pick contained in the pocket is imperative. That's a tough ask for a defense still going through some issues, but anything less will see the Commanders get punished in the air and on the ground.

The Commanders have enough to keep this contest pretty close. Relying heavily on the in-form rushing tandem of Brian Robinson Jr. and Austin Ekeler would be a good place to start. Much will also depend on whether Washington's cornerbacks can cope with the likes of Harrison and emerging tight end Trey McBride.

If the Cardinals can somehow beat the Detroit Lions this weekend, they'll be brimming with confidence. They look like a well-drilled operation and an exciting team to monitor closely in Year 2 of head coach Jonathan Gannon's tenure. Beating them isn't impossible, but the result could easily go the other way unless their high-octane offense is restricted.

The Washington Commanders are on the road again in Week 6. Fortunately for head coach Dan Quinn and his players, they don't have to travel far.

Washington Commanders vs. Baltimore Ravens

That doesn't make the proposition any less difficult. The Baltimore Ravens have started 0-2 to begin the campaign, but they remain a force to be reckoned with. There's a good chance head coach John Harbaugh will figure things out by the time Washington comes to town. And any team led by NFL MVP quarterback Lamar Jackson deserves the utmost respect.

Jackson started the campaign in his typically imposing manner despite results not going the team's way. He's the prototypical dual-threat and is a nightmare for opposing defensive coordinators to scheme against. Quinn and Joe Whitt Jr. have their work cut out, especially considering ferocious running back Derrick Henry is now alongside him in the backfield.

The Ravens' demise in Week 2 was down to situational mismanagement rather than any poor performance. They have more than enough talent to turn things around. At the same time, Harbaugh cannot afford any further slip-ups with the Pittsburgh Steelers topping the AFC North with two wins in as many contests.

This will be an exceptional measuring stick for the Commanders with the midseason point on the horizon. Testing their skills versus a team that still harbors Super Bowl hopes will give those in power an indicator of how far away they are from holding similar ambitions. The Ravens will improve. It's up to Washington to do the same.

The Commanders' defense doesn't look well suited to counteract Jackson as things stand. They'll need big performances from the likes of Bobby Wagner, Frankie Luvu, and Jeremy Chinn when the signal-caller takes off. Those in the trenches also need to wrap Henry up at the contact point, however impossible that might be when early momentum is generated.

This might be a step too far for the Commanders. But starting the campaign 3-3 wouldn't be the worst situation in the world by any stretch.

Can Washington's Recent History Be a Guide?

The Washington Commanders haven't had much to be excited about in quite a while. This is a sad state of affairs for a franchise that started playing pro football in 1932 and has three Super Bowl trophies and five total NFL championships.

Where have the Commanders gone wrong in recent years? Well, that's an interesting question because, in just the last year, the franchise has finally seemed to get back on the right track after owner Dan Snyder finally sold the team after over two decades of mismanagement.

Washington has been in pro football for almost a century, and although there have been good times and bad, the club has played in six championship games, winning two during its first decade and a half of existence, and made the playoffs 13 times during the 1970s, 1980s, and early 1990s. They also played in five Super Bowls and won three in that period.

However, since Snyder — a lifelong fan — took over the team in 1999, the Commanders have made the playoffs just six times. They only won two playoff games in those six appearances and had a winning record just five times with Snyder in charge.

The Commanders now have a new primary owner in Josh Harris, a new head coach in Dan Quinn, and a new potential franchise QB in the No. 2 overall pick of the 2024 draft, Jayden Daniels.

This should give the Washington fan base reason for optimism, as should some of the details surrounding the team's last playoff run in 2020. During that season, the team had a first-year coach, a No. 2 overall draft pick, and a fascinating QB. So, maybe history will repeat itself this season.

The last time Washington made the NFL playoffs was back in 2020, although it probably seems like this drought has lasted a lot longer. That’s because while they did make the postseason during the eminently strange COVID-19 season, they didn’t do so with a winning record.

The last time Washington reached the postseason with a winning record was actually in 2015, when they got in at 9-7 on the season. And their last winning season, overall, was in 2016, when they finished 8-7-1.

In 2020, though, the NFC East was not just the worst conference in the league that season, they were one of the worst divisions of all time. The Commanders made the playoffs with a 7-9 record because the even worse 6-10 New York Giants, 6-10 Dallas Cowboys, and 4-11-1 Philadelphia Eagles couldn’t take the division from them.

So, here’s how the Commanders became one of the worst teams in NFL history to host a playoff game the last time they made it.

Back in 2020, the Commanders weren’t even the Commanders yet. At that point, the team was playing under the Washington Football Team moniker, thanks to the bungled name transition by Snyder.

It was also the first year under head coach Ron Rivera, who the Carolina Panthers had fired following Week 13 of the 2019 campaign. Despite the 5-7 record in the NFC South that season, “Riverboat Ron” had been successful overall in Carolina, putting up a 71-56-1 record before that and making a Super Bowl in 2015.

The WFT's 2020 season was punctuated by two major storylines, besides making the playoffs despite being two games under .500.

One was that quarterback Alex Smith returned after his gruesome broken leg suffered in 2018. The team started 1-4 with Dwayne Haskins and Kyle Allen under center, but when poor performance and injuries forced them to the sideline, Smith came in and showed some of his old form.

He got in during a Week 5 loss to the Los Angeles Rams and again in a Week 9 loss to the Giants. But when he finally started in Week 10, he ripped off a 5-1 record in his next six games, including leading the team to a four-game winning streak that vaulted them into playoff contention.

For his heroics in just returning to pro football — let alone helping his team make the playoffs — Smith won the NFL Comeback Player of the Year Award.

The other storyline was second overall pick Chase Young. The rookie out of Ohio State had an excellent inaugural campaign in what would become, by far, his best NFL season to date.

Over the course of 15 games, Young recorded 44 tackles, 7.5 sacks, 12 QB hits, four forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries, and a defensive touchdown. These outstanding numbers helped Young win the Defensive Rookie of the Year Award.

So, between Smith’s heroics on one side of the ball and Young’s on the other, the Commanders had just enough to get over the finish line to become the fifth team in NFL history (now one of six, thanks to the 2023 Tampa Bay Buccaneers) to make the playoffs with a losing record.

It also helped that New York collapsed down the stretch, losing three of their final four games, and that the Giants’ only win came against the Cowboys, who were surging with three wins in a row coming into Week 17.

Washington's postseason run lasted just one game, as they were defeated by Tom Brady and the Buccaneers, who, of course, went on to win the Super Bowl. With Smith deactivated for this matchup with a calf injury, Taylor Heinicke stepped in and played well, but Washington ultimately fell short, losing 31-23.

All stats courtesy of Pro Football Reference unless stated otherwise.

No matter what the franchise has been called over the years, Washington has always had quality players on the roster.

What Does This Mean for the Commanders?

Washington has a real opportunity to make a run at the postseason in 2024, but it’s going to take some serious adjustments. The new regime, led by Dan Quinn, is already making moves to get the team ready for what could be a very exciting season. Daniels, their new franchise QB, is proving himself to be a clutch player and has a lot of potential. He’ll need to keep improving if he wants to lead the team to victory. The team needs to be able to create more red zone opportunities and get more points on the board. That will help them in their tight battles against other teams in the NFC East. Overall, the future looks bright for the Commanders, but they have a long way to go before they can be considered true contenders. With a little luck and the right guidance, they could surprise the NFL.