The opinions expressed in this article are from national reporters and do not reflect those of the team.
The Washington Commanders have improved to 6-2 after their 18-15 win over the Chicago Bears. Here's how the Commanders stack up with the rest of the league.
ESPN
Rank: 7
Week 8 ranking: 9
**John Keim:** Daniels, the No. 2 overall pick and early favorite to win NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year, has made intelligent and highlight plays -- not just the Hail Mary to beat Chicago. And he has provided hope for a franchise that has sought an answer at quarterback for decades. He has thrown for 1,736 yards and seven touchdowns and rushed for 424 yards and four scores. Daniels' 72.7 QBR ranks fifth in the NFL -- Washington's cumulative QBR was 40.3 from 2018 to 2023.
Pro Football Talk
Rank: 6
Week 8 ranking: 7
**Mike Florio:** They're looking like a team of destiny.
The 33rd Team
Rank: 8
Week 8 ranking: 8
**Marcus Mosher:** No team in the NFL is more fun to watch right now than the Washington Commanders. Even when all hope seems to be lost, they find a way to win. That's what happened on Sunday as Jayden Daniels delivered the play of the year, hitting Noah Brown on a game-winning Hail Mary touchdown pass. Sitting at 6-2, the Commanders are in a great spot to make a run to the postseason and win the NFC East. And with Daniels playing at an MVP level, this might really be their year.
NFL.com
Rank: 5
Week 8 ranking: 7
Eric Edholm: When Jayden Daniels is named Offensive Rookie of the Year, we'll look back at Sunday's Hail Mary as the moment he really pulled away. Daniels -- who seemed unlikely to even suit up for the contest throughout much of last week -- outgunned Caleb Williams for most of the game, but still needed the rabbit to come out of the hat. There was luck, sure, but Daniels also made that play happen by wearing out the Bears' rushers, keeping a confused secondary in scramble mode and delivering a well-placed teardrop that was tipped into the hands of Noah Brown.
Bleacher Report
Rank: 10
Week 8 ranking: 9
B/R Staff: Jayden Daniels' performance against the Chicago Bears is how legends are made. It's not just that Daniels played after missing most of last week's game with a rib injury. Or that he threw for 326 yards and ran for 52 more. It's that 52 of those passing yards came on a game-winning Hail Mary to wide receiver Noah Brown.
TheScore
Rank: 9
Week 8 ranking: 8
**TheScore staff:** Washington's defense played well against Chicago, but the team will need to do a better job of slowing down opposing QBs if it wants to be a Super Bowl contender. Through eight weeks, the Commanders' defense ranks dead last in EPA/dropback.
USA Today
Rank: 7
Week 8 ranking: 10
Nate Davis: Amazingly, a team led by a rookie quarterback (Jayden Daniels) is also on pace for 500 points – though Sunday was the first time it was held to fewer than 20 this season. Crucial stretch upcoming for the NFC East leaders, who will see all three of their divisional foes over the next four weeks.
Sporting News
Rank: 7
Week 8 ranking: 9
Vinnie Iyer: The Commanders saw Jayden Daniels add to his already immense rookie legend with a Hail Mary to beat the Bears, but they're not in position to win that game or many others without Dan Quinn's work to make the defense look a lot more daunting.
Check out the top photos of the Washington Commanders at Northwest Stadium during their Week 8 matchup with the Chicago Bears, #ShotonSony (Photos by Emilee Fails and Kourtney Carroll/Washington Commanders)
Yahoo Sports
Rank: 7
Week 8 ranking: 8
Frank Schwab: Lost in Hail Mary madness, the Commanders' defense played pretty well. At one point in the fourth quarter, Caleb Williams completed 4 of 16 passes for 36 yards. Washington's offense is good. If the defense keeps improving, the NFC East race will be a lot of fun.
Sports Illustrated
Rank: 4
Week 8 ranking: 6
Connor Orr: I did not see a holding call, or at least one that you would unholster the flag for, on that final drive. Sure, by the letter of the law, there was a hand on the back, but this was a coaching issue on Chicago's part. Washington took advantage. And, I'll credit Dan Quinn here. People make fun of his Pete Carroll-reminiscent relentless positivity, but boy does that resonate when you're trying to get into position for a one-in-a-million Hail Mary and you have to do a ton of little things right.
