The NFL schedule release arrives Thursday, and the Washington Commanders await the task at hand for the 2026 season.
In the latest episode of Commanders Daily, Bob Matthews broke down both the upcoming schedule release and the broader direction of the league as the NFL continues expanding nationally televised and international games.
Washington already knows its opponents for the season, but the timing and placement of those games will say a lot about how the league now views the franchise after last years turmoil following a dramatic 2024 turnaround under Dan Quinn and quarterback Jayden Daniels.
The NFL has already confirmed several nationally televised games across the opening weeks of the season, including international matchups in Australia, Brazil, and Spain. The league will feature a record nine international games this year, including Washington’s trip to London, as it continues pushing toward more standalone television windows throughout the week.
Matthews noted that the NFL’s long-term goal is clear: create nearly wall-to-wall football coverage every Sunday with early international kickoffs, traditional afternoon windows, prime-time games, holiday showcases, and streaming exclusives.
Could that shift could directly benefit Washington?
The Commanders are no longer viewed as an afterthought nationally. Between Daniels’ growing star power, the franchise’s aggressive offseason, and the attention surrounding the future RFK Stadium project, Washington has become one of the league’s more intriguing teams entering the season.
Matthews also discussed new developments involving the RFK Stadium site itself after reports surfaced that Metro officials are proposing a major renovation of the Stadium-Armory station ahead of the new stadium opening later this decade.
The proposed overhaul would expand station capacity, improve entrances and elevators, and help handle the massive game-day crowds expected once football officially returns to the RFK site. Concerns have also surfaced regarding parking, as new reports indicate a reduced number of parking spaces and parking lots could cause a logistical head ache as officials move closer to breaking ground on the multi-billion dollar project.
On the football side, rookie minicamp reactions also continued rolling in over the week.
Sixth-round running back Kaytron Allen received positive reviews after camp, with Matthews pointing to the physical identity Washington appears to be building offensively around Daniels.
That theme continues showing up throughout the roster.
From Sonny Styles on defense to Allen in the backfield, the Commanders are clearly building around speed, size, and versatility while trying to recapture the momentum created during the breakthrough 2024 season.
Now comes the next step.
With the schedule release approaching, Washington is about to find out just how often the rest of the country will be watching. Matthews breaks down the full schedule conversation, rookie minicamp reactions, and the NFL’s growing international push in the full episode below.
Conor Forrest is the Editor-in-Chief and Senior NFL Insider at SportsJourney.com, where he covers the Washington Commanders and the league at large. A Northern Virginia native and George Mason University graduate, his work has appeared in FanSided, NBC Sports Washington, Heavy.com, and The Fourth Estate. He is also the host of the “After Further Review” podcast, reaching a global audience with his analysis and storytelling.
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