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I asked ChatGPT this question.
“When was the last time a team that lost a pre-season game 41-3 made the NFL playoffs or won a Super Bowl?”
This was its response…if you want to feel a little bit better. Although what bothers me substantially more is not the scoreboard but the attitude.
“Yes — there’s a very recent precedent, and it’s almost comically close to what Washington just did.
The 2023 Los Angeles Rams lost their final preseason game 41–0 to Denver — actually worse than Washington’s 41–3 loss tonight. They then went 10–7 and made the playoffs that same season.
An even better example is the 2022 Philadelphia Eagles. In their preseason finale, Miami absolutely demolished them 48–10, a 38-point margin — exactly the same margin as Washington’s 41–3 loss tonight. Philadelphia then went 14–3, won the NFC, and reached Super Bowl LVII, losing to Kansas City 38–35.
And this isn’t just cherry-picking. When Buffalo was annihilated 38–0 by Chicago in the 2025 preseason, a historical review noted that the two biggest comparable preseason beatdowns of the previous decade were:
* 2022 Eagles: lost 48–10 → reached the Super Bowl
* 2023 Rams: lost 41–0 → reached the playoffs
So as ugly as Baltimore 41, Washington 3 was — 456–177 in total yards and 26–7 in first downs — Washington also kept 41 players inactive, and the game was largely deep backups and roster-bubble players.
Bottom line: a 38-point preseason loss tells us remarkably little about whether Washington can be a playoff team. In fact, the last two NFL teams before Washington to lose a preseason game by 38+ points both made the playoffs, and one went all the way to the Super Bowl.
So if your question is essentially, “Should I be panicking about the Commanders after tonight?” — no. Not because of this game. I’d be considerably more concerned if Washington looks remotely like this with Daniels, the starting offensive line, McLaurin, the starting defense, etc. on the field in September.”
“When was the last time a team that lost a pre-season game 41-3 made the NFL playoffs or won a Super Bowl?”
This was its response…if you want to feel a little bit better. Although what bothers me substantially more is not the scoreboard but the attitude.
“Yes — there’s a very recent precedent, and it’s almost comically close to what Washington just did.
The 2023 Los Angeles Rams lost their final preseason game 41–0 to Denver — actually worse than Washington’s 41–3 loss tonight. They then went 10–7 and made the playoffs that same season.
An even better example is the 2022 Philadelphia Eagles. In their preseason finale, Miami absolutely demolished them 48–10, a 38-point margin — exactly the same margin as Washington’s 41–3 loss tonight. Philadelphia then went 14–3, won the NFC, and reached Super Bowl LVII, losing to Kansas City 38–35.
And this isn’t just cherry-picking. When Buffalo was annihilated 38–0 by Chicago in the 2025 preseason, a historical review noted that the two biggest comparable preseason beatdowns of the previous decade were:
* 2022 Eagles: lost 48–10 → reached the Super Bowl
* 2023 Rams: lost 41–0 → reached the playoffs
So as ugly as Baltimore 41, Washington 3 was — 456–177 in total yards and 26–7 in first downs — Washington also kept 41 players inactive, and the game was largely deep backups and roster-bubble players.
Bottom line: a 38-point preseason loss tells us remarkably little about whether Washington can be a playoff team. In fact, the last two NFL teams before Washington to lose a preseason game by 38+ points both made the playoffs, and one went all the way to the Super Bowl.
So if your question is essentially, “Should I be panicking about the Commanders after tonight?” — no. Not because of this game. I’d be considerably more concerned if Washington looks remotely like this with Daniels, the starting offensive line, McLaurin, the starting defense, etc. on the field in September.”
