How bad does one NFL analytics expert say the Washington Commanders‘ defense was in the 2025 season?
Warren Sharp of Sharp Football Analysis joined the “Al Galdi Podcast” on Friday to discuss the Commanders‘ defense, one day after speaking about Jayden Daniels and the offense. Sharp didn’t hold back, discussing how bad Washington’s defense was last season.
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One thing for certain: general manager Adam Peters and head coach Dan Quinn are not living in denial. They’ve shown they realize and accept how awful the 2025 defense was. The Commanders signed eight (yes, eight) free agents to rebuild their defense. Then in the draft with their No. 7 overall selection, they chose Ohio State LB Sonny Styles. They also had already fired DC Joe Whitt and hired Daronte Jones to replace Whitt.
Sharp told Galdi on Friday, “Even if Jayden Daniels were healthy in 2025, this team would have struggled because of this defense.”
Here are some brutal statistics on that 2025 Washington defense.
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“They were 32nd in most every statistic that matters, or at least bottom five in every defensive statistic that matters. Yards per play, yards per pass, EPA (Explosive Plays Allowed), etc.”
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“Dead last in yards per drive allowed, dead last in 3 & outs forced, 31st in turnovers per drive forced”
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“When teams reached the Red Zone, the Commanders defense allowed a touchdown 68 percent of those drives, which was second worst.”
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“They were the only defense in the NFL to allow over 35 percent of drives to reach the red zone and over 67 percent of those to score touchdowns. They were the only defense in the last five years to allow that combination.”
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“The defense allowed 101 points scored in the first quarter last year, which was the fifth most in the NFL.”
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“Therefore, they trailed by a combined 64 points after the first quarter last season, which was second worst in the NFL.”
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“The defense allowed opponents’ opening drives of games to average 49 yards, worst in the NFL last year. Even more, it was the worst of any Washington defense this century (26 seasons). It was the 13th worst of any defense this century.”
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“Of the 17 opening drives last season, the Commanders defense forced only three punts. It was the worst of any Washington defense this century, and the worst of any NFL defense this century.”
Sharp then discussed how the NFC East has very good offensive players, particularly in Philadelphia and Dallas. The Commanders’ defense will be tested, and they will need their new additions to be ready to produce. Sharp believes that if there is no big turnaround, Dan Quinn is in trouble.
Sharp also calculates Washington’s defense will face the ninth-best schedule of offenses in 2026. In addition to facing their division foes, the Commanders also face the NFC West, AFC South, and the Cincinnati Bengals.
This article originally appeared on Commanders Wire: Revealing some brutal statistics from Commanders’ 2025 defense
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