Throughout this season, the Commanders have shown a maddening inability to maintain a level of play through two halves of football. Last week, against the Eagles, the offense struggled for most of the first half, then came alive before halftime and pulled away in the second half. This week was almost the opposite. The Commanders built a 7-point lead through the first half, and then allowed the Rams’ offense to pull ahead in the second half, while failing to keep pace when they had the ball.
The loss
to the Rams drops the Commanders’ record to 2-5-1. Yet, surprisingly, their hopes of making the playoffs are far from extinguished, thanks to playing in the second-weakest division in football. With the NFC East and South featuring 7 teams with losing records, and the East led by the paper tiger Giants, there is a good chance that at least one team with a losing record will make the playoffs this season. And it’s still too early to rule out the possibility that 2026 will be the first season with two losing teams making the playoffs.
Could Washington be one of the lucky losers? Thursday nights rematch with the Giants will be their best opportunity, and one of their last remaining chances to start making their case. Despite what the record says, the Commanders have shown the ability to play close with, and in one case, even beat good teams. But they have also found ways to lose to bad teams. So, I wouldn’t want to bet real money on the outcome.
The short week ahead of the Thursday night game didn’t allow me to do my usual thorough job with the Stats & Snaps. So, this edition of the Stats & Snaps is a lite version, just emphasizing the key stats from the major contributors.
There were a fair few so-so and worse performances in the 13-20 home loss to the L.A. Rams. But even in the doldrums of the Commanders’ fifth loss in 8 games, there were a few bright sparks. Were they enough for the team to catch fire down the stretch? Or were they the embers to feed the cleansing fire of another offseason recalibration? We might start to get a better idea after Thursday Night Football.
While we wait to see what primetime brings, let’s have a look at who stepped up, who dropped the ball, and where everyone lined up in the disappointing loss to the visiting Rams in Northwest Stadium.
OFFENSE
Jayden Daniels completed 24/35 passes (68.6%, ADOT 7.7 yds) for 274 yds and 1 TD.
He added 4 rushing attempts for 16 yds, with 1 fumble, forced by Myles Garrett. The fumble resulted in JD5’s first turnover of the season. His 50% rushing success rate was the highest on the team.
Jayden committed a costly delay of game infraction with 8:42 remaining in the 4th quarter.
His effort was good for a 55.7 QBR, and ranked 11th among starting QBs in Week 9.
Rachaad White led the Commanders’ rushing attack with just 28 yds on 7 attempts (4 Y/A) and 0 first downs (28.6% success rate). Rachaad also caught 2/3 targets for 41 yds, with a team-leading long reception of 45 yds, most of which was gained after the catch. As a result, White had elite level receiving productivity at 3.15 Y/RR.
White also had 2 fumbles and 1 recovery. The first was recovered by Washington. On the final play of the game, he recovered a fumble by Chig Okonkwo and then fumbled the ball for a turnover with time expiring.
Austin Ekeler had 8 rushing attempts for 16 yds, with a long of 7 (25% success rate). He caught 2/3 targets for 18 yds, with a long of 12.
Van Jefferson was the only WR listed as a starter. He led the WR group, catching 5/7 targets (71.4%), at a team-high ADOT of 12.6 yds, for 58 yds and 1 TD. That included 2 receptions out of 3 contested targets. After Rachaad White, Jefferson was by far the most productive receiver on the team at a very good 2.32 Y/RR.
Stefon Diggs played primarily in the slot. He caught 3/5 targets for 51 yds, with a long of 42. He was the Commanders’ third-most productive WR at a respectable 1.76 Y/RR, and generated an impressive 8.0 YAC/rec.
Despite getting the lion’s share of playing time, Antonio Williams only caught 3/6 targets for 25 yds, with 1 drop, at an ADOT of 9.8 yds. He was the Commanders’ least productive receiver at an anemic 0.68 Y/RR.
Jayden Bradley took advantage of his elevation from the practice squad to record his first NFL reception for 12 yds.
Luke McCaffery got on the field for 9 offensive plays and caught 1 pass for 6 yds.
Chig Okonkwo led Commanders’ receivers with 6 receptions on 7 targets (85%, ADOT 5.4 yds), and finished a close second to Van Jefferson with 57 receiving yards. He was the Commanders’ fourth-most productive receiver at a respectable 1.63 Y/RR.
Colson Yankoff caught his lone target for 6 yds.
The other two TEs were used primarily as blockers. John Bates received a team-high 82.2 run blocking grade; while Ben Sinnott received a sub par 48.0.
LT Brandon Coleman had a rough game in pass protection, allowing 1 sack, 1 QB hit and 2 hurries. His 9.8% pressure rate is about twice the acceptable rate for OTs. His 68.4 run blocking grade was the highest on the OL.
To cap off the up and down performance, Brandon was flagged for 2 false starts. They were his 7th and 8th penalties this season.
LG Chris Paul allowed just 1 QB hurry in pass protection (2.4% pressure rate). He received a season-high 60.0 run block grade, almost in the good range.
Starting C Lucas Patrick left the game early with a concussion. He had not allowed a pressure in 13 pass blocking reps.
Rookie Matt Gulbin replaced Patrick and took a beating from the Ram’s pass rushers. He allowed 1 sack, 1 QB hit and 1 hurry in 28 pass blocking snaps. His 10.7% pressure rate in pass protection is off the charts for interior blockers. His 57.3 run blocking grade was almost decent.
RG Sam Cosmi allowed 1 QB hurry in pass protection (2.4% pressure rate). His 50.9 run blocking grade was his second-lowest of the season.
Cosmi was penalized 10 yds for holding in the 2nd quarter.
RT Josh Conerly Jr took the brunt of the Rams’ edge rush. He allowed 1 QB hit and 5 hurries, resulting in the highest pressure rate on the OL (14.6%), which is saying something when two of his teammates were in double digits. He posted a 48.4 run block grade, his third-lowest of the season.
DEFENSE
The Rams did a great job of keeping the Commanders’ pass rush in check. As usual, K’Lavon Chaisson led the edge rushers in pressure rate, but only managed to generate pressure on 11.8% of pass rush attempts. Chaisson made 2 tackles, 1 assist and 1 forced fumble. He contributed to 3 defensive stops.
Joshua Josephs only saw the field for 18 defensive snaps. He recorded 1 tackle and 1 hurry in the pass rush (8.3% pressure rate).
Odafe Oweh recorded 1 QB hit and 1 hurry in the pass rush (7.7% pressure rate).
One week after one of his best games with the Commanders, Dorance Armstrong failed to record a single stat against the Rams.
NT Shy Tuttle recorded 1 tackle for loss and 3 assists and 1 hurry in the pass rush.
DE Charles Omenihu made 1 tackle and 2 assists. In the pass rush, he generated 1 QB hit and 1 hurry. He contributed to 2 run stops (11.1% run stop rate).
In his first game back from injury, Johnny Newton made 1 tackle and 2 assists, resulting in 1 stop. He generated a 1 QB hurry in the pass rush (11.1% pressure rate).
Ricky Barber was elevated from the practice squad for this game. While only playing 15 defensive snaps, he managed to record 1 tackle and 1 tackle assist, with 1 stop.
Deatrich Wise made 1 tackle assist, contributing to a stop. He generated 1 QB hurry in the pass rush (7.1% pressure rate).
Tim Settle’s only statistical output was 1 QB hurry in the pass rush.
Frankie Luvu led the team in tackling, with 7 tackles, including 2 TFL. Luvu contributed to a whopping 7 defensive stops, tied for 2nd most among defenders in Week 9. In 8 blitzes, he generated 1 sack and 2 QB hits for an impressive 37.5% pressure rate.
In coverage, Frankie was targeted 7 times for 5 receptions and 61 yards, for an acceptable 1.05 Yd/Cov Snp.
Sonny Styles made 6 tackles and 7 assists, with 1 TFL and 4 total defensive stops. In coverage, he allowed 5 receptions for 61 yds (1.65 Y/cov snp).
Sonny was penalized 4 yards for pass interference in the first quarter. It was the first penalty of his young career, and the only penalty called on the Commanders’ defense.
A week after a nearly perfect game in coverage against the Eagles, Trey Amos showed more vulnerability against the Rams, giving up 5 receptions for 55 yds and 1 TD in 46 coverage snaps. 37/50 yds and the TD was conceded to Puka Nacua. Trenayvian’s rate of yardage allowed (1.20 Y/Cov Snp) is just above the 30th percentile for CBs this season.
Amos also made 2 tackles and 2 assists with 1 stop.
There was slight disagreement between sources on Amik Robertson’s coverage stats. But PFF (0.60 Y/Cov Snp) and PFR (0.76 Y/Cov Snp) both had him above the 75th percentile for CBs. Amik made 1 tackle, 1 assist and 1 pass breakup.
Rasul Douglas made 1 tackle and 1 assist. He allowed 1 or 2 receptions for 13 or 19 yds in coverage, according to PFF and PFR, respectively.
Mike Sainristil played 1 defensive snap and, thankfully, was not targeted.
Nick Cross split time between the box, slot coverage and free safety assignments, and was the best player on the field for Washington. He allowed just 4 receptions for 10 yds in 45 coverage snaps (0.22 Y/Cov Snp), with 1 interception and 3 pass breakups.
Nick also contributed 6 tackles and 2 assists, with 1 TFL and 1 fumble recovery.
Jeremy Reaves made 2 tackles and 4 assists, with 1 stop. He allowed just 1 reception for 10 yds in 27 coverage snaps (0.37 Y/Cov Snp).
Quan Martin made 3 tackles and 3 assists, with 1 stop. The stats services could not agree on his coverage stats.
SPECIAL TEAMS
Luke McCaffrey returned 2 punts for 17 yds (8.5 Y/A), and 1 kickoff for 20 yds, with no fair catches.
Rachaad White returned 1 kick for 22 yds.
Tress Way punted 5 times for 233 yds (46.6 YPA) and no returns (1 TB, 4 FC). He landed 3/5 punts inside the Rams’ 20.
Drew Stevens was a perfect 1/1 on extra points and 2/2 on field goals of 37 and 41 yds.
Tress Way and Drew Stevens did not give the Rams many opportunities for returns. Consequently, the Commanders had just 1 tackle on special teams, courtesy of Quan Martin.
Kain Medrano missed one tackle.
Tyler Owens was penalized 10 yds for an illegal blindside block.
