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Riggo’s Rag
Commanders are building a physical identity, and everyone is buying in
John Bates is the Commanders’ tone-setter upfront
At 6-foot-6 and 260 pounds, Bates is the kind of tight end who could have played in any era of football. He’s not flashy, and he’s not a highlight-chasing pass catcher — but if you’re building a running game from the ground up, he’s the player you want setting the edge.
Bates has developed into arguably the most underrated blocking tight end in the NFL. There’s a growing case that he belongs in the same conversation with the likes of George
Kittle, the premier in-line blocker at the position. His ability to play with leverage, strike with violence, and maintain balance through contact is exceptional.
He doesn’t just occupy defenders; he eliminates them.
Turn on the film, and Bates is everywhere. One snap, he’s sealing off a 4i-tech defensive end to spring an inside zone run for Chris Rodriguez Jr. Next, he’s climbing to the second level to erase a linebacker, or driving a cornerback 10 yards downfield on an outside toss. His willingness to stick his face in the mud has made him the backbone of Washington’s offensive identity.
The Commanders’ success running behind Bates is no coincidence. On plays where he’s aligned in-line on the right side of the formation, Washington has averaged among the league’s highest yards per carry marks. He’s essentially a sixth offensive lineman on the field, but with the mobility to pull, fold, or reach depending on the call.
His versatility as a blocker allows the Commanders to use a wide range of zone and gap concepts without telegraphing their intentions.
For head coach Dan Quinn, who preaches physicality and solving problems with aggression on both sides of the ball, Bates embodies the kind of effort and toughness that sets the tone for the entire roster.
Ben Sinnott is carving out a niche for himself in Year 2
While Bates has been the steady, old-school anchor, Sinnott represents the modern complement — a younger tight end with hybrid athleticism who can move around the formation, but has embraced the dirty work with equal enthusiasm.
A second-year player out of Kansas State, Sinnott entered the league with a reputation as a flexible “F” tight end — someone who could line up in space, catch passes, and attack mismatches.
While the Commanders haven’t yet featured him heavily as a receiver, his growth as a blocker and tone-setter has been impossible to ignore.
Sinnott has been used everywhere: inline, in motion, at H-back depth, and even flexed into the slot as a lead blocker in perimeter screen looks. His ability to block in space — particularly against safeties and corners — has helped extend runs that might otherwise die at the edge.
That adaptability has allowed Washington’s run game to flourish despite personnel shifts and new names up front. Sinnott’s willingness to embrace his role has made him a key part of a system that relies on multiplicity. Tight ends aren’t just blockers or receivers, but interchangeable tools to create leverage and confusion.
Commanders Wire
Washington Commanders vs. Chicago Bears: 4 keys to a Week 6 win
Don’t let Rome Odunze take over
The Bears have a clear top receiver in 2025, and it’s Rome Odunze. Odunze leads the team in catches, yards, and touchdowns so far. The second-year receiver has five touchdowns already, while no other pass-catcher on the team has more than one.
As long as the Commanders can keep Odunze in check, there shouldn’t be anybody else who scares you. D.J. Moore has yet to get going by his standards in 2025, and Cole Kmet and Colston Loveland have been used sparingly in the passing game. Rookie Luther Burden is one name to watch.
Commanders.com
Practice notes | Deebo Samuel thriving as Commanders’ go-to weapon
Samuel, who the Commanders acquired by sending a fifth-round pick to the 49ers in March, is on pace to make 102 receptions for 1,020 yards and 10 touchdowns. If those numbers were to hold, it would be his best season since his First Team All-Pro campaign in 2021, with his receptions and receiving touchdowns being career highs.
Samuel’s first five games, during which he is ranked 20th in receiving yards and ninth in receptions, have been an upgrade from how the last season went for the 2019 second-round pick. He started 15 games but was limited to 806 total yards — the second lowest total of his career — with only four touchdowns.
But the Commanders had a vision for Samuel when they traded for him, and it involved him doing a little bit of everything. He has touched the ball a total of 43 times this season through a mixture of receptions, rushing attempts and kickoff returns. He currently sits atop the NFL in average kickoff return yards, helped by his 69-yard return against the Las Vegas Raiders (that play is the third-longest return of the season for any NFL team).
Washington Post (paywall)
Caleb vs. Jayden? It’s deeper than that for the Bears and Commanders.
Chicago and Washington might have their franchise quarterbacks, but there are various ways to build around them.
The Commanders and Bears have prioritized their offensive and defensive lines, but they have done it in different ways. Chicago has spent big on both sides, while Washington has used a more mixed approach.
The Commanders rank just 18th in offensive line salary cap hit this season and have the fourth-lowest edge rusher cap hit, according to Spotrac. They rank eighth in defensive tackle cap hit, but that’s largely from defensive tackle Daron Payne’s $26.17 million cap hit from an extension he signed in 2023.
The Commanders’ offensive line has been one of the NFL’s best after a bumpy start. Meanwhile, the defensive line has helped Washington rank in the top 10 in both sacks and yards per carry allowed.
he Bears spent heavy on veterans this past offseason. On offense, they signed center Drew Dalman to a three-year, $42 million deal and traded for guards Jonah Jackson and Joe Thuney. Defensively, they signed defensive tackle Grady Jarrett to a three-year, $42.75 million deal and defensive end Dayo Odeyingbo for three years and $48 million.
Chicago ranks sixth in offensive line cap hit and ninth in edge rusher cap hit. The Bears have the eighth-lowest defensive tackle cap hit, but it’s worth noting that starter Gervon Dexter Sr. is still on his rookie deal.
The results haven’t panned out thus far, beyond pass protection. The Bears’ rushing offense, pass rush and rushing defense are among the worst in the NFL.
A to Z Sports
The Commanders have the league’s best rushing attack
The Commanders had the second-most rushing yards heading into Week 5 despite being 17th in carries, and offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury finally decided to stick with it. Rookie Bill Croskey-Merritt had his biggest role of the season, and it turned into his breakout performance.
The Bears can’t stop the run
It’s one thing to be bad at stopping the run, but it’s another to be at the bottom. The Bears are the second-worst rushing defense in the league, and allow 164.5 yards per game. One stat that stands out the most is how much they struggle to get contact on a ball carrier.
The Bears allow a league-high 2.10 yards before contact, which is where Croskey-Merritt thrives. He shows his vision and elusiveness through the offensive line to create big plays, and actually had 59 yards before contact on Sunday, according to ESPN, which was the most by a Commanders running back this season. Rookie running back Ashton Jeanty had his breakout game against the Bears’ defense in their last game, with 155 scrimmage yards and three touchdowns, and Croskey-Merritt can have the same success.
This is an awful matchup for the Bears’ defense, and that’s not even including what Jayden Daniels will do with a steady rushing attack. Kingsbury shows so many different looks to keep teams guessing, and it’s a nightmare for even Bears head coach Ben Johnson.
Heavy.com
Commanders LB Magee Set for More Snaps vs. Bears
Whitt identified second-year linebacker Jordan Magee after his active efforts during the 27-10 win over the Los Angeles Chargers. What the play-caller “saw was a kid that went out there and played fast, played physical,” per ESPN’s John Keim.
The latter also noted Whitt “said Magee made ‘no mistakes’ with his assignments. Could see good time Monday b/c the Bears use a lot of 12 personnel.”
Whitt’s reference to 12 personnel, one running back and two tight ends is significant. The Chargers “using 12 and 13 personnel allowed Whitt to deploy Magee more,” according to The Team 980’s Ben Standig.
What’s key here is that “Since the Bears are a 12-personnel team, Whitt says you can expect to see Magee on the field a bunch in 4-3 sets on MNF,” per Standig.
Podcasts & videos
Washington Commanders’ Unstoppable Run Game Set to Dominate Chicago Bears on Monday Night Football
NFC East links
Bleeding Green Nation
Eagles-Giants final score: Philadelphia bullied by New York in blowout loss
This was supposed to be a get-right game for the Birds against a team that’s been one of the very worst in the NFL for years now.
A team that the Eagles have especially owned for a long time.
Instead, the Eagles got bullied and blown out.
Final score: 34 to 17.
A truly pathetic loss.
One of the very worst of the Nick Sirianni era.
The Eagles didn’t look ready to play from the jump, going down 13 to 3.
The offense is just a broken unit. Jalen Hurts played a really bad game. He was involved in two different 14-point swings, including one where he threw a red zone interception. The offensive line continues to struggle. The play-calling isn’t very inspired. The Eagles can’t run the ball.
Special teams sucked. The Eagles can’t properly field a kickoff return to save their lives.
Sirianni preaches “Tough. Detailed. Together.”
Which of those aspects are the 2025 Eagles living up to?
Bleeding Green Nation
Eagles vs. Giants: The good, the bad, and the ugly
It was simple: One team wanted to play football. The other, which happened to be the defending Super Bowl champions, did not.
The Eagles were a flat, listless team that suffered possibly their most embarrassing regular season loss in the Nick Sirianni era, 34-17, to what appears a spirited, likable New York Giants team on national TV Thursday night at MetLife Stadium.
It dropped the Eagles to 4-2 and marked the first time the Eagles have lost two-straight games since their historical collapse in the 2023 season, when they lost the last two games of the regular season—and five of their last six.
Giants’ rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart was exciting. He extended plays, threw accurately, and played with a verve that surpassed the entire Eagles’ team, who seemed collectively disinterested and bothered that they had to play on a Thursday night.
With two minutes to play, the Giants were in victory formation.
ESPN
Eagles’ Johnson calls for ‘less predictable’ attack after loss
Philadelphia Eagles right tackle Lane Johnson said that one of the keys to improving the offense following a 34-17 loss to the New York Giants was to be “less predictable.”
Johnson was focused primarily on the ground attack. Philadelphia entered the game ranked 26th in rushing with 95.3 yards per game after finishing second in that category in 2024 with 179.3. Reigning Offensive Player of the Year Saquon Barkley had 58 yards on 12 carries against his former team. It was the fifth time in six games that he has been held to 60 yards or less on the ground.
“It seems a lot harder than it needs to be,” Johnson said. “Maybe moving forward, just have a little bit more variety, hitting the perimeter some.”
Big Blue View
4 things we learned from the Giants’ 34-17 victory over the Eagles
I’m not sure what Jaxson Dart is, but whatever it is, he’s effective
Tonight was easily the best of Dart’s three starts so far. His scrambling ability is much more of an asset that I thought it would be at the NFL level. The great thing is that when he takes off, he keeps his eyes downfield for an opportunity to pass. Tonight he frustrated the Eagles several times by completing passes after he began scrambling and looked like he’d be hemmed in. When he does pass, he is throwing with anticipation, and he’s fitting the ball into tight windows. I haven’t decided whether he’s ever going to be a guy who routinely throws for 250-300 yards a game, even when he gets a full complement of good receivers. Right now, though, he is presenting a real problem for opposing defenses. He just has to make sure he stays away from injuries.
Big Blue View
Giants-Eagles ‘Kudos & Wet Willies’: It’s true — the Giants routed the Eagles
Kudos to …
Cam Skattebo — The rookie running back powered his way to 98 yards and three touchdowns on 19 carries. Skattebo, a battering ram of a runner, imposed his will on the Eagles. He had a 4-yard touchdown run and two 1-yard scoring runs. Perhaps the only think he did wrong was commit a taunting penalty late in the game after a pass reception for a first down.
Cor’Dale Flott — The Flott-Deonte Banks rotation at cornerback ended Thursday night. Flott celebrated with a game-clinching fourth-quarter interception of Jalen Hurts that he took back from the Giants’ 9-yard line to the Eagles’ 23-yard line, setting up a touchdown that gave the Giants their final 34-17 margin of victory. Flott also had a tackle for loss on a swing pass to Saquon Barkley and a pass defensed.
Flott earned the full-time job a while ago. He left no doubt on Thursday that it belongs to him now.
Safety Tyler Nubin called Flott’s interception “one of the best plays I’ve seen,” revealing that the Giants were in ZERO coverage and Flott was 1-on-1 with Jahan Dotson, a do-or-die situation. It was the first interception of Jalen Hurts this season.
“I knew the ball was actually coming my way,” Flott said. “I knew they wanted that quick out. I just reacted to it.
“I came through when the team needed it most and got us a ‘Dub.’ Felt good.”
Lil’Jordan Humphrey — So, why didn’t the Giants elevate Humphrey for last Sunday’s game against the Saints again? The 6-foot-4, 225-pound veteran wide receiver made an immediate impact with four receptions in eight targets for 55 yards, including a 34-yard reception to help the Giants to a touchdown on their first drive of the game.
Pro Football Talk
Brian Daboll apologized to team doctor for rushing Jaxson Dart concussion evaluation
Late in the third quarter, with the Giants holding a 10-point lead, rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart took a big hit at the end of a run. He was taken to the blue tent for a concussion evaluation.
During the evaluation, the Prime Video broadcast displayed multiple shots of an agitated Daboll, who wanted his starter back in the game ASAFP. At one point, he poked his head into the blue medical tent.
While Daboll didn’t walk into the tent (running back Cam Skattebo did), Daboll went to the opening and looked inside.
Coaches aren’t allowed in the blue medical tent. The purpose of the device is to give doctors a chance to evaluate the player with no distractions. The last person who should be creating a distraction is the head coach.
NFL.com
Eagles-Giants on ‘Thursday Night Football’: What We Learned from New York’s 34-17 win
Dart returned from concussion protocol to finish off impressive win. The Jaxson Dart hype train is officially back. Rallying from a tough loss in New Orleans, Dart came through with several big plays in the Giants’ shocking Thursday night win over the Eagles. Dart left the game to be evaluated for a concussion late in the third quarter and missed two plays, but he returned and helped finish off the Giants’ most impressive win in a few seasons. Early on, Dart was cooking, throwing for 101 yards and a touchdown and running for an impressive 20-yard score in the first quarter. Even with a few stalled drives, including right after his return to the game in the fourth quarter, Dart played under control – more impressive with center John Michael Schmitz leaving with injury. He also showed trust early in Lil’Jordan Humphrey, Dart’s preseason go-to guy, in Humphrey’s first game elevated from the practice squad this season and was rewarded with some nice grabs. This was a poised performance in a tough spot for Dart, coming off a three-pick loss, and the rookie passed the test with flying colors.
Hurts’ first INT of season came at worst possible time. Jalen Hurts would not be the first player to blame for the entirety of Thursday’s loss. On the whole, he played well. But Hurts’ first interception of the season – breaking a streak of 304 straight passes without one – came at an inopportune time for the suddenly stumbling Eagles. Down, 27-17, with 11 minutes left in the fourth quarter, the Eagles had a chance to flip a bad game on its head. But Hurts’ throw to Jahan Dotson was undercut and run back 68 yards for a massive momentum flip. An Eagles score would have made it a one-score game, with Jaxson Dart just returning from concussion protocol. Instead, the Giants were just outside the end zone, and they punched it in for a game-clinching score. Hurts made several big plays early but also mishandled the final possession of the first half, and once again the Eagles had a cold stretch on offense. The questions aren’t going away, even with some positives on offense.
Two big turnovers saved the Giants’ defense. The Giants’ turned in a pretty heroic effort defensively Thursday night, all things considered, yet the tides were shifting the Eagles’ direction late in the game. The Eagles marched into the red zone thanks to some chunk plays and penalties, and the upset bid looked in doubt. But that was when Cordale Flott stepped in and jumped Jalen Hurts’ throw, running it back 68 yards for a massive play. If that didn’t end it, the next big play did. After the Giants made it, 34-17, Dane Belton stripped AJ Dillon to officially drive a stake in the Eagles’ sides. Brian Burns also provided most of the Giants’ pass rush on Thursday, giving them a pair of third-down sacks, one in each half and each one very timely. There were some loose moments defensively early in the game, but the Giants fed off the offense’s success and really gummed up after halftime.
Eagles’ defense humbled with poor showing. Even if you consider that defensive tackle Jalen Carter (heel) was inactive and that cornerback Quinyon Mitchell left Thursday’s game with a hamstring injury, the Eagles were thoroughly unimpressive against the Giants. The Eagles came out a bit flat on offense, but they were downright sloppy and sluggish on their first two defensive series, allowing the Giants to take a 13-3 lead. There was bad (and lazy) tackling and missed coverages. The focus seemed to improve as the Eagles made it a game, but they eventually looked worn down and physically worn by game’s end. When was the last time the Giants beat the Eagles at the line of scrimmage? It’s a big reason why the Giants have had so little success in the rivalry prior to Thursday. The Eagles had trouble containing Jaxson Dart as a scrambler and seemed to want little part in bringing Cam Skattebo down. They also were guilty of two big penalties, a facemask and an illegal contact flag, prior to Skattebo giving the Giants a 27-17 lead. By then, most of the damage was done.
Blogging the Boys
NFL Secret Superstars 2025: Will somebody give James Houston starting reps to rush the passer?
Houston has done his level best to prove the point, with four sacks and eight total pressures — including two sacks and five total pressures in Dallas’ 37-22 Sunday win over the New York Jets — on just 23 pass-rushing snaps, which was his highest single-game total of the season.
Houston has just 54 pass-rushing snaps this season, and he’s gone over 10 in just two games.
Upcoming opponent
Windy City Gridiron
Week 6 game preview: Chicago Bears @ Washington Commanders
Key matchups: Slowing down the run game is going to be the key here. Croskey-Merritt and Daniels can be lethal on the ground. Washington is averaging 5.9 yards per carry. Washington has faced the second-fewest third down attempts in the league. Getting them to third and long will be important. The Commanders rank 14th in sacks allowed. If the Bears can get pressure (emphasis on if), it will disrupt their offense.
For the offense, Washington’s defense is middling. They need to get the run going. Washington ranks 21st in yards per play allowed. So there is an opportunity for the Bears to make some plays downfield.
Key stats
- Washington ranks 29th in third down conversions. But, they rank 31st in third down attempts.
- The Commanders rank sixth in redzone scoring.
- Washington’s defense ranks 27th in turnovers. Chicago ranks third.
- Opposing QBs have posted a 101.2 QB rating against Washington.
- Washington is allowing the sixth-worst ANY/A of any defense at 7.3. The Bears rank 14th, allowing 6.3.
NFL league links
Articles
Front Office Sports
Browns Paying $41.6M to 8 QBs, but Only 2 Are on Their Active Roster
The Browns have $41.65 million allocated to eight different quarterbacks on their salary cap, but just $2.37 million of that is for active players.
- Deshaun Watson: $35.9 million (on physically unable to perform list)
- Jameis Winston: $2.2 million (dead money)
- Dillon Gabriel: $1.1 million (on active roster)
- Joe Flacco: $999,000 (dead money)
- Shedeur Sanders: $955,000 (on active roster)
- Bailey Zappe: $315,000 (on practice squad)
- Dorian Thompson-Robinson: $171,000 (dead money)
- Kenny Pickett: $8,000 (dead money)
