The Commanders are riding high, but now comes the real test

Through four weeks of the 2024 NFL season, the Washington Commanders (3-1) are among the biggest pleasant surprises. They might be the biggest surprise if not for the 4-0 Minnesota Vikings .

Jayden Daniels is the truth. He's doing things in just his first month in the NFL that have been unmatched throughout all of league history and should be considered not only the Rookie of the Year favorite but a legitimate MVP candidate.

However, it's worth noting that Daniels and the Commanders have yet to play against an upper-echelon defense in 2024. It may be a small sample size, and one influenced in part by facing Washington's high-powered offense, but the three teams the Commanders have beaten — the Giants, Bengals and Cardinals — are ranked 13th, 27th and 29th, respectively, in points allowed this season.

Three of the team's next four opponents — the Browns, Ravens and Bears — are 17th, 19th and eighth. That undersells the Browns and Ravens, talented units that have underachieved thus far in 2024 and will be looking to get right. The Browns notably feature a Defensive Player of the Year-caliber player in Myles Garrett on that side of the ball, one of the league's elite pass rushers who can wreck a game.

Then there's the Ravens, a team considered a Super Bowl contender and stacked with playmakers on both sides of the ball. After starting 0-2, Baltimore has now reeled off back-to-back wins, including a domination of the previously 3-0 Buffalo Bills on Sunday night. The Ravens are a well-oiled machine and will be by far the best all-around team Daniels has faced to that point when they play on Oct. 13.

After the Ravens game, Washington will have what should be an easily winnable matchup against the cellar-dwelling Carolina Panthers. Then Daniels and Co. will play Chicago on Oct. 27 in a faceoff between the top two overall picks of the 2024 NFL Draft. QB Caleb Williams has shown some promise, but the Bears' top-10 defense could give the Commanders fits, as they've yet to allow more than 21 points to any opponent in 2024.

How Washington fares in this stretch of games will be a massive test. As great as Daniels has been, his start almost feels too good to be true — he has yet to face any growing pains in his development, and that's not sustainable for anyone. He's bound to be humbled back to Earth at some point, and how he and the Commanders respond to adversity determines their ceiling.