Commanders’ Week 16 Rooting Guide: Matchups that will drastically impact Washington’s 2026 NFL Draft pick order this week
The Commanders’ pick order in the 2026 NFL Draft can be heavily impacted by many games around the league in Week 16.
The Washington Commanders are preparing for a Saturday NFC East matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles, and both have a lot on the line in Week 16.
The Eagles are competing for the NFC East title and playoff seeding, while the Commanders aim to finish the season strong and secure the highest possible draft pick. Week 16 is loaded with matchups that will help or hurt the Commanders’ draft pick order, especially when it comes to strength of schedule and the tiebreakers. Here’s who you need to root for this weekend after the Commanders game on Saturday.
Los Angeles Rams @ Seattle Seahawks
The Seattle Seahawks beat the Commanders weeks ago, which was the lowest point of the season, and they don’t play the Los Angeles Rams this season. The Commanders need the Rams to win so the Seahawks’ record will be worse, which improves Washington’s strength of schedule. The lower the SOS, the better for tiebreakers, and the Commanders currently have a SOS of .506. This will be the game of the week, and honestly, a tough one to call for TNF.
Minnesota Vikings @ New York Giants
The Commanders are two games behind the New York Giants after beating them last week. The Giants do have a chance to win two more games with the Vikings, the Las Vegas Raiders, and the Dallas Cowboys remaining on their schedule. But, even if they lose this game, the Vikings already beat the Commanders, so their SOS would improve regardless. The Giants winning is the best-case scenario, but only if they win another game this season.
Kansas City Chiefs @ Tennessee Titans
This seems like a stretch, but the Commanders need the Titans to win since they lost to the Chiefs this year. It wouldn’t sound possible, but the Chiefs are eliminated from the playoffs, and lost Patrick Mahomes with a torn ACL. We have no clue what that Chiefs team will look like, and hopefully Cam Ward can play the best game of his rookie season. The Titans would also drop down the draft board with another win.
Cincinnati Bengals @ Miami Dolphins
Both teams are down badly right now, but the Dolphins just benched Tua Tagovailoa, and Quinn Ewers will be starting. The Commanders need the Bengals to win, and they absolutely should with Joe Burrow still playing. The overtime loss in Madrid, Spain, could end up being a blessing for the Commanders in a lost season.
Los Angeles Chargers @ Dallas Cowboys
The Commanders beat the Chargers earlier in the season, and still have to play the Dallas Cowboys one more time on Christmas Day. The best case for the Commanders would be the Chargers beating the Cowboys since they’re on the schedule twice. The Chargers should be able to stop Dallas’ offense enough to outscore them, even though the Cowboys’ season could be over after the Commanders’ game.
Atlanta Falcons @ Arizona Cardinals
The Commanders need the Cardinals to win, which doesn’t look promising with them on a six-game losing streak. The Falcons are still playing motivated despite being eliminated from playoff contention. There could be major changes in Atlanta after the season, so people are playing and coaching for their careers. The Commanders are also just one game behind the Cardinals in the draft, and would jump them if they win.
Jacksonville Jaguars @ Denver Broncos
The Commanders lost to the Broncos after a failed two-point conversion, so they need the Jaguars to get a win in Denver. This is another game that has major implications for the AFC playoff picture, so anything is possible. The Jaguars are the most unpredictable team in the league, and they need to show up at their best.
Las Vegas Raiders @ Houston Texans
Let’s be honest, there’s a zero percent chance the Raiders get a win, and they’re the favorite to land the No. 1 overall pick. A Raiders’ loss helps the Commanders’ SOS with no real chance of them jumping the Raiders. The Texans will wipe the floor with them, and the Raiders will inch closer to the top pick.
Pittsburgh Steelers @ Detroit Lions
The Lions were another team that beat the Commanders, so they need the Steelers to get a win on the road. Both teams are playing for playoff spots in their own conferences, and this can be a slugfest. The Commanders’ SOS will take a boost if the Lions lose and end up missing the playoffs.

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