THE Washington Commanders were the biggest surprise in the NFL during the first half of the season. At 7-2, Washington led the NFC East heading into a Week 10 matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
The Commanders had many chances to win the game but made too many mistakes and lost 28-27. The loss marked the start of a three-game losing streak that saw the Philadelphia Eagles take first place in the division.
Washington ended a three-game streak Sunday with a dominant 42-19 victory over the Tennessee Titans. As the Commanders enter their bye week, they are 8-5, with four games remaining.
What has gone well for Washington through 13 games? What’s wrong? Remember, the Commanders won four games last season, so there’s not much negative to say. General manager Adam Peters and head coach Dan Quinn built the team ahead of schedule.
It’s time to review the good, the bad and the ugly of Washington’s first 13 games.
The good
Jayden Daniels: The No. 1 takeaway from the 2024 season is that the Commanders have their quarterback. There’s nothing more important than finding this guy. Washington has been looking for a quarterback for years, even before Kirk Cousins’ three record-breaking seasons from 2015 to 2017. Daniels was in the MVP conversation throughout the first half of the season. His worst performances came in back-to-back games against Philadelphia and Dallas, but Daniels still doesn’t look like a rookie this season.
The leading contender for NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year, Daniels gets the job done with his arms and legs. He completes 70% of his passes and has 21 total touchdowns. Great quarterbacks make those around them better. Daniels does this as a rookie.
The offense as a whole: Kliff Kingsbury has been pushing all the right buttons for much of the season. Washington consistently ranked in the top five in total offense, scoring offense and rushing attack. The offensive line was expected to be a weakness, but it was a pleasant surprise. Receiver Terry McLaurin is having a tremendous season and has already set a new career high for touchdown receptions. Washington’s rushing attack thrived on a combination of Daniels, Brian Robinson Jr., Austin Ekeler, Jeremy McNichols and Chris Rodriguez Jr.
Several individual defensive players: Washington’s defense has improved throughout the season. Commanders still need help, but many of the new additions have proven beneficial. Linebackers Bobby Wagner and Frankie Luvu, edge rusher Dante Fowler Jr., safety Jeremy Chinn and rookie cornerback Mike Sainristil have all been excellent this season. After the bye, the Commanders are expected to see cornerback Marshon Lattimore for the first time.
The bad
Run in defense: The Commanders have outperformed their performances in the first 13 games. Their pass defense is surprisingly good, considering Washington’s issues at the cornerback position. Part of the reason for success against the pass is that everyone can run at Commanders. Washington has the 27th-ranked rush defense in the NFL, allowing 137 yards per game. These numbers certainly don’t improve dramatically over the course of the season. If the Commanders make the playoffs as they currently plan, good teams will expose their inability to stop the run.
Austin Ekeler’s concussions: During the Week 4 win at Cincinnati, Ekeler suffered a concussion. He missed the following week but returned. Unfortunately, in the Week 12 loss to Dallas, he suffered his second concussion of the season and was placed on injured reserve. Ekeler is scheduled to miss four games, making him eligible to return in Week 18. It was a scary injury for Ekeler, who provided details on his condition this week. He could miss the rest of the season.
The ugly
Loss to Dallas: The Commanders were double-digit favorites against the Cowboys in Week 12 and fell behind early before finally deciding to come alive with five minutes remaining. Then the next few minutes of this match were the craziest of the season. After Daniels led a touchdown drive, the Commanders missed a tackle on the kickoff, allowing Kavontae Turpin to return it 98 yards for a touchdown. Washington had one last shot with 30 seconds left but 86 yards to go. Incredibly, Daniels finds McLaurin for an 86-yard touchdown and kicker Austin Seibert misses the extra point. It was a disastrous loss for Washington. The commanders made mistake after mistake and, combined with bad luck, wasted a very winnable game.
This article was originally published on Commanders Wire: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly of Commanders’ Week Off