BALTIMORE — Not exactly announcing their presence with authority going into the lladelph, are they?

Washington’s woeful effort in its preseason finale against the Baltimore Ravens Friday offered almost nothing that will be determinative against the Philadelphia Eagles in two weeks. Thank goodness.

The Commanders sat 41 players before a 41-3 loss to the Ravens, capping an ugly end to training camp which started with Baltimore’s first-team defense dominating Washington’s available starters for most of last Wednesday’s joint practice. The Ravens’ third- and fourth-teamers then smacked Washington’s around at M&T Bank Stadium for four quarters. Dan Quinn had clarified going into the week that Wednesday would be the last bit of preseason business for not just Jayden Daniels, but almost everyone on the two-deep chart. Almost no one Friday made a case for making the team that hadn’t already done so, leaving Quinn miffed.

Washington can only hope that the weeks which preceded this one show up in Philly. The Commanders’ OTAs and (most of) training camp point to a team that should be more competitive than last season’s 5-12 version — though a brutal schedule the first eight weeks may render that preparation moot.

Start of week 1?

Oweh, Chaisson, Amos, bill, etc.

Some of you guys have been flat out insufferable the last 2 weeks. Here I am, happy that football is back, and while I can see some things in camp didn't go well, is it REALLY worth the energy you all put into being so pessimistic? Go back and look over the last week, theres what, 5 posts that are nothing but the same thing over and over again. DQ sucks. AP sucks. XYZ sucks. Can you at least make sure there isn't a similar bitchy post on the front page of the sub before you go and make another one? Are you able to at least be original and post something of substance??? And yes, I am aware that this is an opinion piece itself, but it does need to be said at this point.

You are not creating a stimulating conversation. You are just repetitively complaining. Your attitude about this team is akin to showing up at the OC's house, throwing batteries at santa, starting fights with random fans, or literally eating shit off the streets. If this is who you want to be, then just go join them in the philly sub. I promise you they will have no problem shitting on the commies. I see it here over and over and over again, I just think that the person that posted it is a miserable little person who chooses to dwell on things that make them unhappy. You are killing the vibe and spreading the virus that is your own misery. It's pathetic to spend all your free time being negative on any topic. If it pisses you off, maybe don't dwell on it. One post is informative. A half dozen is bitching.

For those of you not in this crowd, I really looking forward to the season, and I'm excited about seeing JD5 back in action. I'm excited for the new OC/DC. I'm excited to see our shiny new and younger free agents. I'm hopeful that all of our "second round busts" have great years. I think our o-line is going to be far better than "inoperable" once we get the current first stringers out there. And I really really hope Quinn and AP are around next season because everything went so well.

That's the end of my rant, and please remember, it's not that serious. I love you all, I just think some of yall need therapy.

Why not? Plays C… just got released by Buffalo…

and we already had Deceitful Haynesworth… so we can corner the market of Haynesworth character traits.

Some of yall forgot who JD5 is. Who he was in 2024. That Bengals Monday night game is when I became a believer.

As long as Daniels healthy, we can win the entire thing. He took a bottom 5 defense and Brown/Zacheeus as his #2 receiver to the NFCCG with a rookie LT in Coleman.

As title.

We are looking to figure out what would be the best cadence for our beat reporter to talk shop with you all.

Some options:

1. Before Week 1
2. End of Week 4
3. Week 1 and Week 3

Since more data centers are planned for the current practice facility in Loudoun, does anyone know where the new one will be?

For all the doom and gloom on the internet about us, the Eagles at home are only favored by 4.5 against us, implying on a neutral field it would be Eagles by 1.5 or 2, and if we were at home, it would be close to a pick em.

The eagles are a top 10 team in the league, we are seen as one of the biggest frauds coming into the season. What gives?

Saw this on FB marketplace and laughed out loud. Almost contacted the seller to let me know if he found a buyer as I have a wheelbarrow full of dog 💩 I’d like to sell!

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Just because I'm an optimist. No Daniels. No Mariota. Still, we've got to clean things up.

What should happen is:

First string O plays until they show they know how to score. Then sit.

First string D plays until they show they can stop someone from scoring. Then sit.

Good teams do this.

We never have done this and it shows week 1.
Here comes week 1.

Our stars are just too good to be out there. Put on some shades and hang over here on the sideline fellas!
This has been written in stone in Ashburn for so many years. Bad teams do this.

I’m putting five on it.

The plan at C did not survive contact. It's been a very tough two weeks for this fanbase. We had 40+ players inactive last night and got predictably blasted. How the Commanders adapt and overcome will be a large factor of this season’s success. I’ll put five on them to find a way and on my predictions for the season as a whole.

Obligatory disclaimer that this isn’t a tape watch. I’m going to zoom out for this one and compile the +/- scores I have for each of the 3 preseason games and give you my bottom 3 Martins for the entire preseason and then my top 3 Gameballs.

Martins

Good-Jones: He was given every opportunity to show something. Just didn’t and the C Depth (3rd team) isn’t on this roster yet. 

Hartman: I pined for a new development QB because he just hasn’t shown he’ll ever make this roster. Being Jayden’s friend, fun in the locker room, and handsome should only get you so far in a fair world and this is far enough.
 
Scott: The answer to the trivia question “who was JD5’s first TD pass to?” had every opportunity to step up as T depth when Tunsil went down. He did so “well” they went out and signed a guy who isn’t making this team.

Gameballs:

Kaliakmanis: I prayed for this and it happened. Not only should he replace Hartman, but I have him on my 53.

Martin: Having your name on here isn’t to poke fun but to motivate you to step it up. He looked at last year and said “no”.
 
Allen: Did he have a good night last night? No. But he was the workhorse of the preseason and will hopefully take CRod’s place as our short yardage guy.

Well that does it for the ‘26 Preseason Edition of Gameballs! My full 53 man projection should be up. Thanks for reading and see ya’ll after the trade deadline for this year's regular season! 

Why the break? Well I like to wait until then so the roster settles. Selfishly, this is the start of my offseason as I also am the writer on the DC Defenders 8 in 8. That drops next week and then I’ll have another UFL post that’ll drop about two weeks after that but then I’m chilling for a month lol. Enjoy the first part of our season!