State of the Commanders: Accidents, shaky protection web 3-4 begin

ASHBURN, Va. — Practically 20 minutes after a 22-point loss to the Dallas Cowboys, Washington Commanders coach Dan Quinn stood earlier than the media clutching either side of a lectern, sporting an uncommon look: that of a ticked-off coach.

He did not lose management or scream. However he was agency along with his replies to the assembled media. And none was as brief as when Quinn was requested by one reporter if he was stunned the place his workforce — now 3-4 and having simply dropped its second straight recreation — was at this season.

“Sure, very,” he stated.

Later he was requested a couple of sequence simply earlier than halftime when the protection allowed a 72-yard landing drive in 4 performs over 34 seconds.

“Phrases cannot clarify. I used to be sizzling,” he answered.

Again within the locker room, Jeremy McNichols sat at his stall, nonetheless in full uniform and with a towel draped over his head lengthy after many gamers had showered. However he wasn't alone in these emotions. Longtime Washington participant Jeremy Reaves dropped a uncommon F-bomb — and shortly apologized for doing so — when describing his feeling because the workforce approached the halfway level of the season.

“I am pissed,” he stated. “We're so a lot better than what we're doing now.”

The Commanders entered the season as a feel-good story after going 12-5 in 2024 and advancing to the NFC Championship Recreation. They'd the new younger quarterback in Jayden Daniels, the NFL's Offensive Rookie of the 12 months. They have been tabbed to play 5 prime-time video games plus one other on Christmas Day. However after that magical yr, the Commanders discover themselves in a wrestle for his or her playoff survival as a result of accidents, an underperforming protection and a more durable schedule, in addition to a number of key performs that went their method final yr which have now gone in opposition to them.

Because the Commanders put together for Monday night time's showdown on the surging Kansas Metropolis Chiefs (4-3), they know that 10 video games stay and the guide on their season stays removed from completed, however they want a turnaround quickly. Final yr offered a style of success for a franchise that hadn't gained 11 regular-season video games for the reason that 1991 season. Gamers appreciated how that tasted. However with video games in opposition to Okay.C., Seattle and Detroit arising, the season's outlook may flip bitter shortly.

“I perceive what successful seems to be like now,” Reaves stated. “Final yr confirmed me what it feels wish to win and that s— is enjoyable. I am not making an attempt to take 10 steps ahead to go 5 steps again.”

QUINN DIDN'T WASTE time batting down an excuse for his or her poor play in opposition to Dallas.

“Accidents will not be the explanation we misplaced,” he stated.

Nevertheless it's arduous to disregard what Washington has endured to date in 2025, which has been in stark distinction to their luck in 2024, when 14 starters performed all 17 video games and one other three performed 16.

This yr, the Commanders have already got positioned three starters on injured reserve who're accomplished for the yr: defensive ends Deatrich Sensible Jr. (damage in Week 2) and Dorance Armstrong (Week 7); and working again Austin Ekeler (Week 2). Wideout Noah Brown, at the moment on IR, will miss not less than eight video games. And beginning sturdy security Will Harris was positioned on IR after Week 4 and would possibly return in December.

“That is arduous whenever you lose three actually good gamers,” defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr. stated. “Dropping [Armstrong], that is a giant one. He was taking part in pretty much as good as any defensive finish within the league.”

Receiver Terry McLaurin, who had performed in 72 consecutive video games and coming into this season missed solely three video games over his first six seasons, has missed the previous 4 video games with a quad damage. Daniels, who began each recreation final yr even after he broke a rib, will miss his third recreation Monday because of a low-grade hamstring pressure.

Additionally, with beginning proper guard Sam Cosmi returning final week from a torn ACL suffered in January, their projected beginning offense for the season has not taken one snap collectively since coaching camp opened.

“All people goes via it on this league,” offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury stated, “however we have not constantly been in a position to apply as a unit since coaching camp began. That is the place possibly a number of the inconsistency is displaying up.”

In August, Kingsbury sounded the alarm on the affect of participant absences. Then, McLaurin was holding in whereas looking for a contract extension and didn't apply in camp. Brown was recovering from a spring knee damage and Cosmi was rehabbing his knee whereas projected beginning left guard Brandon Coleman was in the course of a four-week absence as a result of a leg damage.

“Till we get a few of these different items again, we're not going to know precisely what we're,” Kingsbury stated on the time.

McLaurin's hold-in didn't trigger the workforce to be 3-4. One member of the group stated it was a disruption to the offense however that gamers understood it was about enterprise. He signed a three-year, $96 million extension in late August.

Regardless of his absence, Washington gained its opener and two of its first three video games earlier than McLaurin acquired damage. Nevertheless, he did say it took him a number of video games to return to the extent he is accustomed to. And that confirmed in his lack of reference to Daniels early on; Daniels had a complete QBR of 48.8 (out of 100) when concentrating on McLaurin this season, in comparison with 89.4 final yr.

“I believe there's correlation, however on the identical time, I believe what occurred to me was simply unlucky,” McLaurin stated. “It is the irony of lacking time. I am certain that [the data] exhibits some kind of correlation, however for me, it was by no means one thing that was on my thoughts or a priority as a result of I felt like I used to be in actually fine condition.”

BACK IN TRAINING camp, Washington's protection routinely defeated the offense. However a unit that appeared poised to enhance from the one which ranked 18th in factors and thirteenth in yards allowed final season has not materialized in 2025, at the moment rating twenty first and twenty seventh, respectively.

Not solely are they not stopping groups, additionally they aren't forcing turnovers. Washington is tied for twenty ninth with solely three takeaways — forward of solely the Jets coming into Week 8. They're additionally permitting 6.04 yards per carry.

After the loss to Dallas, Quinn huddled with Whitt and the defensive employees to rethink what they have been doing. The consequence might be as a result of giving some gamers, equivalent to second-year linebacker Jordan Magee, extra snaps. However the larger change got here by simplifying playcalls and never having as many “layers” (totally different performs based mostly on whether or not the offense was in shotgun or beneath heart) on a name.

“The principle factor is that if we are able to decide up the play velocity,” Whitt stated, “the ball will come to life. And so, as a coach, it's a must to take doubt out of the equation. That is what we'll do.”

Communication points resulting in protection breakdowns have been a problem all season. The Commanders rank second within the NFL in variety of performs of 15 yards or extra allowed (54). Cornerback Marshon Lattimore has been a frequent goal of followers' ire for the massive performs, however the lapses have occurred throughout. Washington defenders have missed too many tackles and rank twenty eighth in yards after first contact.

A part of the issue, one participant stated, is that “some guys are taking part in an excessive amount of psychological gymnastics and making an attempt to be excellent.”

Regardless of the motive, Reaves stated it is time to begin getting issues fastened. “All people can level fingers wherever they wish to,” Reaves stated. “Folks can level fingers at whoever they wish to — scheme, no matter they wish to say. The hell with all of the scapegoats, with all of the copouts, this and that: ‘This ain't working. And why are the coordinators doing this, try this, all that?' That is a cop-out. We're taking part in, we ain't making performs. That falls on us. It is aggravating to listen to all people pointing fingers on the surface. Nah bro, we're not taking part in good soccer. We have to take the blame.”

WASHINGTON'S RUN LAST season was fueled by its success late in video games, with one opponent encapsulating the distinction between this season and final: Chicago.

The Commanders and Bears' final two conferences each got here all the way down to the ultimate play. Final season, Daniels tossed a 52-yard Hail Mary by which Bears cornerback Tyrique Stevenson tipped the ball to Noah Brown for an 18-15 win.

Two weeks in the past, Washington held a 24-22 lead vs. Chicago with 3 minutes, 10 seconds remaining on the Bears' 40-yard line when a failed change between Daniels and working again Jacory Croskey-Merritt handed the Bears a primary down at their very own 44. The Bears used the remainder of the clock to drive for a game-winning 38-yard area purpose. Additionally within the recreation: A 50-yard Commanders area purpose try clanged off the left upright and missed. In opposition to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers within the wild-card spherical, the Commanders gained when Zane Gonzalez's 37-yard area purpose hit the upright — and the ball ricocheted via.

If one play goes their method vs. Chicago, then Washington is 4-3 and the outlook is probably going totally different. As a substitute, the Commanders are 3-4 and annoyed. Final season, Washington gained six video games on the ultimate play or within the remaining 5 seconds. They harassed end-of-game conditions in apply final yr, simply as they did this yr. However to date they've had just one recreation by which the offense had the ball in a one-score recreation with beneath 4 minutes remaining (Chicago).

Final season, Washington's opponents completed with a .436 successful proportion. This yr the groups they've performed entered Week 8 with a mixed 23-22-1 document. Their remaining opponents went 38-31.

“Final yr was final yr, the issues that occurred final yr are gone,” linebacker Bobby Wagner stated. “You possibly can't management none of that; all you are able to do is management this. There's performs we may have made that we do not put ourselves in place to have the ball bounce our method.”

QUINN SPOKE TO the gamers within the locker room after the loss to Dallas. He advised the workforce they weren't dwelling as much as the usual they'd set in 2024.

“He was pissed,” punter Tress Approach stated.

Then, linebacker Frankie Luvu stepped up. He advised his teammates a Cliff's Notes model of, “We have to play higher if that is going to show round.”

“Frankie's only a dude, I do not even know if Frankie ever is aware of what the rating is ever. He is simply on the market swinging till they blow the whistle,” Approach stated. “And he simply sort of was like, ‘Hey, let's go!' And he is such a simple man to get behind with that.”

Quinn and the workforce do see some hope on the horizon. A number of gamers returned to the Commanders' facility after the loss to the Bears and watched movie till 3 a.m. That resonated after a crushing defeat. The defensive gamers, regardless of their struggles, proceed to satisfy as a gaggle for round half-hour every Saturday to go over the sport plan and speak via how they see performs and the way they wish to name them. Though these conferences have but to lead to improved play, they persist.

“What's nice is I do know we've got a gaggle of people of their coaches and gamers who will not be going to draw back from what we're dealing with proper now, and the season's not over,” stated McLaurin, who completed with a shedding season in every of his first 5 years earlier than 2024. “I have been on some robust groups [here] … and I believe this group could be very resilient, nevertheless it's about going on the market and doing it too.”

The Commanders have 10 video games remaining. They know they've a quarterback in Daniels and a passing assault with McLaurin and Deebo Samuel that may damage defenses. They only must be on the sector collectively for an prolonged time — particularly Daniels. As one rival government stated earlier this yr, “Daniels covers up a number of holes on their roster.”

And what mattered to Reaves is that his postgame feeling was shared by many.

“Lots of people really feel this manner, which lets me know that everyone in right here cares about it and all people in right here cares about getting out of this,” he stated. “You bought one man pissed, one other man simply [laughing] then that is the place you bought the discrepancy. With this group of dudes, no person likes shedding. And whenever you acquired a collective like that, the collective's going to seek out its technique to get out of it.

“It ain't no secret sauce, no secret recipe. … Typically you may need to crawl first, then get in your ft. However the level is you bought again up.”