The Daily Slop – 11 November 2026
Editor’s note: Each day, Hogs Haven compiles a collection of articles, podcasts & tweets from around the web to keep you in touch with the Commanders, the NFC East, the NFL and sports in general, with a sprinkling of other stuff. Enjoy!
Commanders links
Articles
Washington Post (paywall)
Commanders’ season is on the line vs. the Giants; here are the X factors to watch
This game means everything.
Washington will face the New York Giants on Thursday night in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Given the state of the NFC East race, it’s easily the Commanders’ most important game of the season. Whether they come out
on top will probably dictate their fate.
While a win won’t ensure anything, it would at least give Washington a chance moving forward. A loss, however, would make the team’s road to the playoffs [effectively impossible].
After the Giants lost star outside linebacker Brian Burns to a torn ACL in Week 3, defensive coordinator Dennard Wilson…turned up the heat. Since Week 4, New York’s defense has blitzed opponents on 46.5 percent of their dropbacks (second-highest rate in the NFL). That has helped the unit generate a pressure rate of 36.4 percent (13th) and a sack rate of 9 percent (sixth).
Wilson hasn’t blitzed anyone more than he did the Commanders in Week 5. They blitzed on 62.2 percent of Washington’s dropbacks and sacked quarterback Jayden Daniels five times.
The Giants had a season-high seven sacks in their win over the Eagles. Although they have a talented defensive line, their most effective pass rusher has been inside linebacker Arvell Reese, who had three sacks against Philadelphia.
As the Commanders attempt to curb New York’s aggression, they will have to do so with a backup at center. Starting center Lucas Patrick suffered a concussion against the Rams and won’t be able to clear concussion protocol by Thursday. Veteran Nick Allegretti will start in his place against the Giants.
The Commanders are optimistic Burks (foot) will play Thursday after he sat out last week. They also believe cornerback Amik Robertson, who suffered an ankle injury late against the Rams, will be good to go.
To read more of this article, CLICK HERE
The Athletic (paywall)
Why the Commanders decided to stand pat at the trade deadline
With their season hanging in the balance in the form of a Thursday night game at the division-leading New York Giants, the Washington Commanders stood pat at the trade deadline Tuesday — a tacit acknowledgment that they’re trying to salvage the tenure of coach Dan Quinn but aren’t willing to part with draft picks to add to an injury-riddled group that has produced just two wins in the first half of the season.
The Commanders — at 2-5-1 — are within a victory at New York of pulling within two games of the 5-2-1 Giants. Given their tie against New York last month — a game the Commanders should have won if not for an egregious late-game management situation — it’s not unreasonable that Washington [are] holding out hope to get back into a divisional race that has no surefire winner.
Now, the Commanders head into the final nine games of the season — a stretch that will determine whether Quinn gets a fourth year or not — with a roster that is thinned by injury and hasn’t efficiently closed out games. The Thursday night game against the Giants provides the first test as to whether that was the right path forward.
To read more of this article, CLICK HERE
Commanders Wire
Commanders shuffle things at center ahead of Week 10 vs Giants
Patrick was signed on September 16 and performed better than Allegretti, who was still nursing a calf strain early in the season, so Patrick earned the starting role. Unfortunately, Patrick left Sunday’s game against the Los Angeles Rams with an apparent concussion. He has been ruled out for Thursday’s game against the New York Giants, and Allegretti will replace him.
Rookie center Matt Gulbin replaced Patrick against the Rams on Sunday and struggled to fill the role effectively. So, it makes sense that veteran Allegretti is getting the nod. However, the issue here is why didn’t the Commanders turn to Allegretti on Sunday? Quinn said after the game it was because Allegretti had been practicing at guard.
To read more of this article, CLICK HERE
Sports Illustrated
Commanders’ Must-Win Giants Rematch Hinges on Replacing Five Players From the Tie
Stefon Diggs and Jer’Zhan Newton missed October’s 27-27 tie; now five players from that game are on IR, leaving Washington to find answers across its offense and defensive front
The last time the Washington Commanders and New York Giants played, the game ended in a 27-27 tie after both teams missed chances to win in overtime. That day, Stefon Diggs was inactive, and Jer’Zhan (Johnny) Newton was on injured reserve. Terry McLaurin, Dyami Brown, Daron Payne, Jacory “Bill” Croskey-Merritt, and Javon Kinlaw played; all five are now on IR.
A month later, Washington has managed only one win since, and will enter the game at 2-5-1 after losing 20-13 to the Rams in Week 9.
Van Jefferson has a much bigger part in this offense now, too. He played just three offensive snaps against the Giants, compared with 36 against Los Angeles, where he caught five passes for 58 yards and a touchdown. Antonio Williams’ workloadhas grown from 42 snaps in the tie to 52 against the Rams. Jefferson should stay involved even if Treylon Burks returns from the foot injury that kept him out Sunday. He gave Blough another weapon to work with.
The backfield has changed as well. Croskey-Merritt ran for 82 yards and a touchdown on 11 carries in the first meeting. Rachaad White and Austin Ekeler handled the running-back snaps against the Rams.
Daronte Jones has two substantial workloads to replace up front. Payne played 63 of Washington’s 89 defensive snaps in the tie, while Kinlaw played 56. Payne also recorded a sack and a forced fumble. With both players now on IR, Washington will ask a different group to handle the interior work and create some disruption of their own.
Newton’s return to the lineup helps, but his first game back also shows how much work falls on the rest of the rotation. He played20 defensive snaps against the Rams, while Shy Tuttle played 43, Tim Settle 33, and Ricky Barber 15.
To read more of this article, CLICK HERE
Commanders.com
Commanders vs. Giants preview | A key division contest
To read more of this article, CLICK HERE
ESPN
Commanders running low on time to ‘put it all together’
Mathematically the Commanders remain alive, but with nine games remaining, any realistic hope the team has for a strong finish likely begins and ends vs. the Giants on Thursday (8:15 p.m. ET, Prime Video). A win and they would be two games back with eight to play and own the tiebreaker — if that eventually mattered.
“We all know how badly we need this,” Washington coach Dan Quinn said. “Everyone in this building understands that.”
Another loss would drop them to 7-18-1 since the start of last season and likely intensify the speculation by analysts over Quinn’s future. Owner Josh Harris has not publicly commented on Quinn’s job. Quinn said he regularly meets with Harris before and after games and also on Mondays.
But in training camp, one team source said what has been repeated by others at various points: “It’s a results business.”
And the results need to improve. Washington has now played five one-score games; the Commanders are 1-3-1 in those games — and 3-7-1 since the start of 2025. In 2024, when they went 12-5, Washington was 8-4 in one-score games — but that included a four-game winning streak at season’s end.
The Commanders were in another one Sunday before losing 20-13 to the Rams. They had the ball last, drove to the Rams’ 32-yard line with eight seconds left, but two failed plays ended the threat.
They lost 23-17 in Week 6 at San Francisco, failing in the red zone — a touchdown was nullified by a face mask penalty — and again on the last series when they reached the 28 with 22 seconds to play.
“We get in those moments and we have to finish,” Daniels said.
To read more of this article, CLICK HERE
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Bullock’s Film Room (subscription)
Commanders Film Review: Defending Puka Nacua
The Washington Commanders defense played relatively well in the loss to the LA Rams on Sunday. They held the Rams to below their season averages for total yards, passing yards, rushing yards and points, which tells you that ultimately it was a pretty solid performance. But the Rams are dealing with a lot of injuries on offense and only really had one receiving threat in this game, star receiver Puka Nacua. Nacua caught 14 passes for 150 yards and a touchdown, while no other receiver had more than two catches.
So it’s fair to ask if the Rams only really had one receiving threat in this game, how did the Commanders allow Nacua to be so productive? Surely you just double up on Nacua and stop the ball going his way and make others beat you? Well, it’s not quite that simple unfortunately. For starters, the Rams did a great job moving him around and forcing the ball to him. Four of his 14 catches were on receiver screens, for example.
There’s not really any way to stop a team throwing receiver screens if that’s the way they want to force the ball to their star receiver. You’ll notice that on three of those four plays, the Commanders were in a blitz look with multiple extra defenders walked up on the line of scrimmage. Those quick screens to Nacua were clearly a game plan option for the Rams to try and help deal with the Commanders tendency to load the box and send aggressive blitzes.
Ultimately, the Commanders did a pretty good job on these. Nacua gained some yards, but the first screen came on third and eight, Nacua only got six so the Commanders forced a fourth down. The second screen saw K’Lavon Chaisson punch the ball out and Nick Cross recover the fumble. The third screen came on third and 10 and Chaisson chased down Nacua to keep the gain to seven yards, again forcing another fourth down. It was only really the final one that did damage and that was just eight yards on first and 10, so that’s not the end of the world either.
But that’s only four of Nacua’s 10 catches, so what happened on the rest. Well, there was a good mix of plays where the Commanders actually had pretty solid coverage and Matthew Stafford made a great throw or Nacua made a great catch. There were also a few plays where I think the Commanders would like to have done a better job. So let’s first look at the plays where the Rams deserve credit, because I think the Commanders were pretty good on a lot of these plays.
To read more of this article, CLICK HERE
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Photos
Podcasts & videos
NFC East links
Upcoming opponent – Giants
Commanders next game is on Thursday Night Football in New York vs the Giants
Big Blue View
Jayden Daniels low key kryptonite
We already exercised one demon this week with a win in Philly. That was therapeutic for me personally. I don’t think we have beaten JD yet? [Note: no, the Giants have never logged a win vs Jayden Daniels] He always killssss us. [Defensive coordinator] Dennard [Wilson] looks up to the task and will hopefully have a plan for [Jayden Daniels’] running ability.
Commanders are better than their record says. No doubt high stress level close game.
I say it every week! When we rush too fast up field it leaves gaping lane for him to run. If we don’t get sacks fine. We cannot let him out of the pocket. You guys think we keep rolling [on Thursday night]?
To read more of this article, CLICK HERE
NFL league links
Articles
ESPN
Vikings reunite with QB Kirk Cousins, send 3rd-round pick to Raiders
The Vikings reacquired quarterback Kirk Cousins in a trade with the Raiders on Tuesday, sending a 2027 third-round pick to Las Vegas.
With the trade, 2026 No. 1 pick Fernando Mendoza will take over as the Raiders’ starting quarterback, beginning this week at home against the Seattle Seahawks. Aidan O’Connell will be Mendoza’s backup.
Cousins posted a goodbye to the Raiders on his Instagram story, writing, “Thank you Raiders Nation! Go get em @fernandomendoza.”
Trade talks between the teams didn’t materialize until Tuesday, according to Las Vegas general manager John Spytek, who said the team was not actively looking to trade Cousins. Spytek said he received a few phone calls about Cousins until the most important one came from Vikings GM Nolan Teasley. He and Teasley spoke on the phone for a while to hammer down the framework on a deal that made sense for both sides.
Spytek said he did not speak to Cousins before Tuesday about the possibility of him being traded.
To read more of this article, CLICK HERE
NFL.com
Dolphins place QB Malik Willis (groin) on injured reserve; Kyle McCord in line for first start
Willis was placed on injured reserve Tuesday due to a groin injury. With Willis shelved, second-year quarterback Kyle McCord will fill in, beginning Sunday on the road against the Indianapolis Colts.
The 27-year-old Willis, regarded as one of the best running quarterbacks in the NFL, was noticeably hobbled in his team’s Week 9 defeat to the Detroit Lions.
A free-agent signing after renewing his career and promise under the tutelage of Matt LaFleur with the Green Bay Packers, Willis has shepherded a rebuilding Fins squad to mixed results. The Dolphins are 1-7 and he’s completed 58.2% of his passes for 174.5 yards per game, six touchdowns, six interceptions, and rushed for 232 yards and three scores.
To read more of this article, CLICK HERE
The Daily Aiyuk
Front Office Sports
Brandon Aiyuk Will Try to Settle $13 Million Dispute With 49ers, Agent Says
Drew Rosenhaus told Pat McAfee the $13 million that Aiyuk “allegedly” owes is “separate and distinct” from his playing status
Wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk has not yet repaid the 49ers any of the $13 million in bonus forfeiture that he “allegedly” owes the team, his agent said Tuesday.
Agent Drew Rosenhaus said during an appearance on The Pat McAfee Show on ESPN that he will attempt to reach an agreement on Aiyuk’s behalf on that matter “separate and distinct” from resolving Aiyuk’s playing status.
Aiyuk was reinstated from the reserve/left squad list, and NFL commissioner Roger Goodell granted the 49ers a two-game roster exemption for him that expires Nov. 23, according to Monday’s NFL daily personnel notice.
“Brandon will either play for the 49ers when the two weeks is up or they can decide to release him, by which he will be a free agent and I expect that there will be interest in him,” Rosenhaus told McAfee. “I definitely expect him to play this season. Judging [by] the comments from coach [Kyle] Shanahan, it doesn’t sound like they plan on bringing Brandon back.
“So when the two weeks is over, it’s my job to potentially find a new team for him. And I’m confident, now that he’s healthy, that he will play. As far as the money that’s allegedly owed … the $13 million, whatever it is—he hasn’t paid anything yet. That’s something that we’ll work out separate and distinct from the issue of him playing. Hopefully we’ll work something out to the benefit of Brandon’s and something that’s fair. And that’s also part of my job.”
Aiyuk passed his physical with the 49ers, according to Rosenhaus.
“I think that in all likelihood Brandon would probably sign with a team that knows him, [with] somebody that has somehow been affiliated with him, either in college or the 49ers,” Rosenhaus said Tuesday. “That’s just my guess ’cause, you know, there’s a lot of that in the NFL. You see people connect the dots where they [have] history, where there’s relationships.”
[GM John] Lynch told the station that “we can talk a little more in detail about the process” this week because it is “kind of a fluid situation.” He was asked whether the 49ers would listen to anything that Aiyuk and Rosenhaus might have to say about a possible reunion.
“I think everything’s possible,” Lynch said. “You know, I will say this: We’ve worked with Drew a lot. You know, Drew is a good guy to deal with. He’s reasonable. He’s got integrity. … That’s all good. We’ll see how this thing goes. I think I’ll just leave it at that.”
To read more of this article, CLICK HERE
